Friday, 19 September 2014

BETTER TOGETHER FOREVER...BUT WHAT NEXT? TIME FOR A WRITTEN FEDERAL CONSTITUTION?

THANK YOU SCOTLAND


Not only have you saved the Union, but you have given us an historic opportunity to draft a new Written Constitution for the whole of the Union and its constituent parts.  The Prime Minister's speech this morning heralds too quick a process; we need to slow down, convene a Convention and work out a lasting and final settlement, in a written federal constitution, to lay down a fair mode of collective, rights, obligations and governance for the future.  Nothing less will do and nothing less will respect the feelings of the large numbers of people in Scotland and the rest of the Union who are now, but so rarely, politically engaged on these issues.  There are lots of things to think about, from the tinkering with the Westminster Parliament considered by the Mckay Comission to the full blow written Constitution as proposed by Richard Gordon QC and others.  I have written on this subject before.

We need to do some serious thinking, not least on what do about England, with her large population, economic dominance (at least in her South-Eastern regions) and inherent majority in the Westminster House of Commons.

But for now, we can sigh relief in abundance and rejoice that Article I of the Union of Scotland Act 1706 shall remain in force:





That the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland shall upon the First day of May which shall be in the year One thousand seven hundred and seven and for ever after be united into one Kingdom by the name of Great Britain..... 



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