English Constitutional Convention

I wholeheartedly welcome the the establishment of the above Convention. I have been unable to find any press coverage of the launch so have posted below a press release from the Chairman of the English Democrats party issued ahead of the launch: SCOTTISH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION CHAIRMAN TO CALL FOR A "STRONG ENGLISH PARLIAMENT" AT INAUGURAL MEETING OF PATRONS OF THE ENGLISH CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION "I have become convinced that England has a growing sense of national identity as strong as ours, and therefore that an English Parliament, if the people want it, is as much your right as we claimed it to be ours." Canon Kenyon Wright, the Chairman of the Scottish Constitutional Convention that paved the way for devolution in Scotland, will call for a 'strong English Parliament' to be established, 'alongside the Scottish Parliament and a strengthened Welsh legislature - all equal parts of a reformed and healthier UK', when he addresses the inaugural meeting of the Patrons of the English Constitutional Convention at 4pm on Tuesday October 24, 2006, in the Strangers' Dining Room, House of Commons, Westminster. The English Constitutional Convention has been established jointly by the English Democrats Party and the Campaign for an English Parliament. Canon Wright, formerly an active campaigner for the regionalisation of England, will declare that he now believes only the establishment of a Parliament for England will answer "the so-called West Lothian Question". He will describe the current constitutional settlement as "undemocratic nonsense" and argue that simply banning Scottish MPs from voting in the Commons on English legislation will "create more problems than it solves". Canon Wright will say: " Two things have changed my personal view. First, it is now clear after the North East Referendum, that regional government is a non-starter in the foreseeable future, and we cannot wait for further change. Second, I have become convinced that England has a growing sense of national identity as strong as ours, and therefore that an English Parliament, if the people want it, is as much your right as we claimed it to be ours. Could the 'Claim of Right for Scotland' with which we began our work be followed now by a 'Claim of Right for England'?" Canon Wright will also state that, "the initiative must come from the people, not just the official political structures. In this context I commend to you the recent Report of the POWER Inquiry (chaired by Helena Kennedy). It brings out the growing disengagement with formal politics, and makes 30 important recommendations for change. It concludes with this statement: 'An alliance for change needs to be built amongst the most clear sighted (politicians) but only a sustained campaign for change from OUTSIDE the democratic assemblies and parliaments of the UK will ensure that meaningful reform occurs. We, the people, have to stake our claim on power.' That is what the Scottish Convention did. I believe it is what you will do." At the meeting Mark Gill, Head of Political Research at MORI, will also set out the results of a recent opinion poll that indicates over 40 per cent of voters support 'England as a whole to have it own national Parliament with similar law-making powers to the Scottish Parliament'. Robin Tilbrook, Chairman of the English Democrats, will set out the reasons for establishing an English Constitutional Convention: "1997 will mark 300 years since England's parliament was abolished and 10 years since devolution for Scotland and Wales was agreed. During the referendums that preceded devolution in Scotland and Wales the people of England were promised a debate by our political masters about the future of its governance, yet for a decade they have declined to enter into such a debate. Now we are starting the process". Other Patrons who have lent their support to the Convention and are likely to attend the inaugural meeting include: Lord Hylton; the Earl of Mar and Kellie; Lord Beaumont of Whitley; Lord Stoddart of Swindon; Professor Roger Scruton; Air Vice Marshall George Lamb; Dr Vernon Colman; Professor Simon Lee; Professor Christopher Bryant; Professor Jeremy Dibble; Hugo de Burgh (Head of Journalism, University of Westminster); Andy Smith (Director, Otterson Smith Gordon); Peter Facey (New Politics Newtork); Reverend Richard Martin; Jervis Kay QC; Bishop Michael Reid (Penial Church); Iain Dale; Neil Addison (Barrister); and Roy Faires (Editor, This England).