The Scottish independence referendum has got people talking about the broader constitutional situation within the UK. The West Lothian Question, regional assemblies for England, devolution to the cities, House of Lords reform, and many other constitutional questions have been brought to the surface. Given the energy of the nationalist movement in Scotland and the implication that it has for Northern Ireland and Wales, I don't think these questions are going to be going away.
The further devolution promised to the Scottish Parliament is going to make the issue of Scottish MPs voting on English-only issues even more problematic. It seems to me that despite the No victory, the constituent parts of the UK are going to be increasingly going their own way, and this trend will be irreversible if the many anomalies and injustices of the present system are not addressed.
So, this thread is to be for people to discuss just how they would go about constitutional reform within the UK.
As for me, I would make a progressive constitution that settles some of the core issues the separatists have been using to sow discontent - enshrine the right to government-run healthcare and require a referendum on entering/leaving any international organisations. This would silence all the scare tactics the separatists have been using about the NHS/EU.
Abolish the devolved parliaments, and leave the Commons as it is. However, there needs to be big changes in the House of Lords. I would say have 400 seats - 200 taken in the existing way, and 200 to go to elected Lords representing the regions. Divide these into 5 blocks - Southern England, Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Each block gets a veto on any constitutional change, to silence the SNP with their NHS/EU scaremongering about what Westminster will do against Scotland's wishes. And finally they will be exposed as separatists at heart and not champions of social justice.
Thoughts?
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