Federal Britain for all? - Another British Last Minute Plan similar to the 1940 Franco-British Declaration of Union in the face of possible defeat in WW2? The only offer that can now persuade Scotland not to secede is to trump that half-cock quasi-federalism with a proper version. Westminsters party leaders must offer to create a federal Britain and irrevocably commit to a constitutional convention to discuss its implementation if Scotland votes no. This is not devo max, or further incremental powers to control social security or taxation. This has to be the real deal – a wholesale recasting of the British state so that Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and all Britains great cities and towns have the autonomy they need to create the societies and culture they want but within the protective umbrella of Great Britain. This really would be the best of both worlds, and not just for Scotland. The first casualty would be the Treasury, which would lose its powers to set spending, taxes and borrowing for the constituent parts of federal Britain. It would be little mourned, – an institution dedicated to controlling the rest of government in its uncreative iron grip and personifying the investment-aversion that informs the British state. Instead it would become a humbler finance ministry. The next casualty would be the House of Lords. Federal Britain, like the federal US and Germany, would need a second chamber that represents all parts of the federation. The House of Lords would become the House of Britain. The elected assemblies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be in control of the whole spectrum of domestic public activity, with a freshly created English assembly joining them. Cities and towns would be afforded the same autonomy, within broad indicative guidelines set by elected national politicians in the now smaller House of Commons. Gordon Brown is asking for a two-day parliamentary debate on devolution after the referendum: it is a step in the right direction, but hardly rises to the scale of the risk. Only a commitment to a fully fledged constitutional convention to discuss how to federalise Britain will now stop the yes campaign in Scotland. The whole country could be energised – and Scotland, in forcing these long overdue reforms, will have done everyone a huge favour. theguardian/commentisfree/2014/sep/06/will-hutton-10-days-to-save-the-union-scottish-independence
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 10:19:39 +0000