Letter: Shropshire Star (not one of mine)

Parliament could sit in derelict factory

I, like your correspondents Messrs Parr and Higginbottom, object to English matters being determined by Scottish and Welsh MPs and also English departments being presided over by Scots.

Lord Baker is attempting to introduce a Bill through Parliament to prevent Scottish and Welsh members from voting on English-only affairs. It will probably not run far because this Government could not exist without Scottish and Welsh support.

However, it may highlight the plight that English voters are in.

The Westminster Parliament is originally an English institution which the Scottish Parliament, after several months debate voted to join, by the Act of Union, mainly because their own country was bankrupt.

So why should we give up pur Parliament for them? It is ours and we should keep it for England. Then if, as Edward Higginbottom suggests, we have a separate parliament for matters concerning the whole of the UK, it could be located in a much more central position, such as Doncaster where there are a lot of empty factory units that could be converted.

Those key departments and ministers could then move north, benefit from cheaper housing and spread a little prosperity.

My desire to see England self governing in no way detracts from the immense contribution made by Scots, Welsh and Irish. I only wish we hnd the same control over our affairs and can see no benefit in the break-up of the English kingdom into the regions being attempted by this Government.

John T Thornicroft
Market Drayton