... might it be the political "Chekhov's gun", a deceitful prop being introduced to induce further disintegration of the United Kingdom into 21st century fiefdoms. Miserable writes briefly of this "English question" as a small dissertation focussing upon issues that are shared between England and Wales and issues that are of England or Wales in isolation.
The position taken by Miserable is by and large that of most political pundits and the occasional media hack, it revolves around decision making, it focuses upon the minutia of "issues" and a determination as to geographical influence. In Wales the example of an emotive Wales issue is the failing Welsh language TV channel S4C, it is a prime example of a Wales issue that is in fact an England and Wales issue, it is not a Wales specific issue because the funding is UK wide, an imposition upon every taxpayer no matter where domiciled. By the same token each and every area of political influence is not an England "or" Wales issue but an England "and" Wales issue because every issue is concerned with funding.
When the vociferous amongst us speak of the "English question" I think it important we ask the question "where are you positioned", what are your politics, because it seems to be very important to those of a Nationalist bent, whether English or Welsh and occasional Scot if Alex Salmond can sense any mileage in it for him. I remember shortly after the Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan was appointed, she used an expression that today might have some meaning, she said ...
... I have wondered whether it is the intention of politicians to equalise funding across England and Wales for the devolved responsibilities, will politicians have the cojones continue the equalising journey across Hadrian's wall into Scotland ............
........... or might the answer be to cut loose from the fringes of Britain "be done with the question!"
The position taken by Miserable is by and large that of most political pundits and the occasional media hack, it revolves around decision making, it focuses upon the minutia of "issues" and a determination as to geographical influence. In Wales the example of an emotive Wales issue is the failing Welsh language TV channel S4C, it is a prime example of a Wales issue that is in fact an England and Wales issue, it is not a Wales specific issue because the funding is UK wide, an imposition upon every taxpayer no matter where domiciled. By the same token each and every area of political influence is not an England "or" Wales issue but an England "and" Wales issue because every issue is concerned with funding.
When the vociferous amongst us speak of the "English question" I think it important we ask the question "where are you positioned", what are your politics, because it seems to be very important to those of a Nationalist bent, whether English or Welsh and occasional Scot if Alex Salmond can sense any mileage in it for him. I remember shortly after the Secretary of State Cheryl Gillan was appointed, she used an expression that today might have some meaning, she said ...
... funding that is fair to everyone in England and Wales ...
... I have wondered whether it is the intention of politicians to equalise funding across England and Wales for the devolved responsibilities, will politicians have the cojones continue the equalising journey across Hadrian's wall into Scotland ............
........... or might the answer be to cut loose from the fringes of Britain "be done with the question!"
just more abstract stuff from political class, gonna be more of more of that crap, proportionaity to how pithy think about the bay,
ReplyDelete... true.
ReplyDelete