[TopHat]

(Original post by MacCuishy)
Nay. We don't need all these, maybe just 1 English assembly.

(Original post by Moleman1996)
Agreed. At the most it should be North and South england.

Much of this Act is designed to strengthen the bonds of the Union. The reason the Assemblies are so created is so that they are within regional limits of population of each other while stile respecting cultural lines. As such, no single Assembly will dominated the Union. In contrast, I feel an English Assembly, or even a South English Assembly, would create the same south-England focused and dominated politics that is steadily repelling Scotland, and increasingly Wales; simply due to the sheer disparity of the resident populations. As a Conservative and Unionist, Moleman, I hope that addresses your concerns.

MacCuishy, in response to you, I'd like to quote Milton Friedman. "The second broad principle [of libertarianism] is that government power must be dispersed. If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the state than in Washington." This is one point I will very happily agree with the Libertarians on. The greater the level of devolution, the greater control people have over their own lives, and the greater the extent of central government is limited. Hopefully, your leader jesusandtequila will agree with me on this point. Is that a good enough answer?

(Original post by obi_adorno_kenobi)
There are significant differences between West and North West Wales and the South and the Wrexham region. There are similiar divisions between the Highlands, Islands, Borders and the Central Belt. At some point your use of regions in England and nations for the rest breaks down into local challenges ad nauseam. As you object to the differences between English regions so too should you recognise Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish regions. Otherwise, it is brazen hypocrisy.

I absolutely agree these divisions must also be recognised. However, the Assemblies are largely created the way they are so that they have populations that are not entirely out of line with each other, Northern Ireland being the only obvious stand-out. I promise you that I do not intend to ignore the differences between, as you say, West and North West Wales, however, they shall be covered in the forthcoming Local Government Act.

(Original post by jesusandtequila)
Why are there 4 section 1's etc.?

Good point, I'll fix that up in a Second Reading.

I hope the regional taxation will be amended should the Welfare Bill pass. I'll have more comments again after we see the passage of the Welfare Bill - since I'd like to know where we're changing the law from.

If you would like, I can place this on hold until you have passed the Welfare Bill. Given Libertarians are often vital defenders of localism, I wouldn't want you to turn against this as it conflicts with your Welfare Bill.

[MacDaddi]

(Original post by TopHat)
Much of this Act is designed to strengthen the bonds of the Union. The reason the Assemblies are so created is so that they are within regional limits of population of each other while stile respecting cultural lines. As such, no single Assembly will dominated the Union. In contrast, I feel an English Assembly, or even a South English Assembly, would create the same south-England focused and dominated politics that is steadily repelling Scotland, and increasingly Wales; simply due to the sheer disparity of the resident populations. As a Conservative and Unionist, Moleman, I hope that addresses your concerns.

MacCuishy, in response to you, I'd like to quote Milton Friedman. "The second broad principle [of libertarianism] is that government power must be dispersed. If government is to exercise power, better in the county than in the state, better in the state than in Washington." This is one point I will very happily agree with the Libertarians on. The greater the level of devolution, the greater control people have over their own lives, and the greater the extent of central government is limited. Hopefully, your leader jesusandtequila will agree with me on this point. Is that a good enough answer?



I absolutely agree these divisions must also be recognised. However, the Assemblies are largely created the way they are so that they have populations that are not entirely out of line with each other, Northern Ireland being the only obvious stand-out. I promise you that I do not intend to ignore the differences between, as you say, West and North West Wales, however, they shall be covered in the forthcoming Local Government Act.



Good point, I'll fix that up in a Second Reading.



If you would like, I can place this on hold until you have passed the Welfare Bill. Given Libertarians are often vital defenders of localism, I wouldn't want you to turn against this as it conflicts with your Welfare Bill.

Don't quote Friedman on me, I just find it stupid having assemblies for each area in the UK. What do you think councils are for? Maybe one English assembly yes, but definately not one for each area.

[TopHat]

If we use one Assembly for England, we have an Assembly of 1,789,000 constituents, an Assembly of 3,006,400 constituents, an Assembly of 5,222,100 constituents, and an Assembly of 51,456,400 constituents. The sheer disparity in terms of size means it is inevitable the English Assembly would dominate the other three with reference to national politics. That focus on England will mean that the current disillusion which Scotland and Wales have towards the Union will simply continue. As for councils, councils are concerned with local minutiae, and aren't appropriate to run areas as large as the regions. However, I am looking at expanding local council powers and improving the electoral process for mandate.

[jesusandtequila]

(Original post by TopHat)
If you would like, I can place this on hold until you have passed the Welfare Bill. Given Libertarians are often vital defenders of localism, I wouldn't want you to turn against this as it conflicts with your Welfare Bill.

It's going to vote tonight - so it'll be 4 days (but we should have an idea of it passing/failing before then). If you could hold a second reading until then I'm sure I can be more constructive. I shan't be turning against it if it's goes through passage at the same time - but I feel I can't express (or form) my opinion fully until I know where we stand previous to this Bill, you know?

[TopHat]

(Original post by jesusandtequila)
It's going to vote tonight - so it'll be 4 days (but we should have an idea of it passing/failing before then). If you could hold a second reading until then I'm sure I can be more constructive. I shan't be turning against it if it's goes through passage at the same time - but I feel I can't express (or form) my opinion fully until I know where we stand previous to this Bill, you know?

Understood. In that case, I'll put this and the Local Government Act on hold til then.

[RoryS]

Aye - a well thought out bill.

[Metrobeans]

This is in cessation.

[TheCrackInTime]

This has been withdrawn.