After the Referendum: Now is the Time for Radical Political Reform

“A revolutionary moment in the world's history is a time for revolutions, not for patching.” – William Beveridge

The Scottish Referendum

Scotland has just voted to remain a part of the United Kingdom by 55% to 45%. The Scottish referendum has been the most extra ordinary display of democracy and political engagement. The turnout figure of 85% in itself has broken all modern records for British electoral turnouts. Now the UK will never be the same again. Britain must see radical political reform in the aftermath of the Scottish referendum.

                                                              

Time for a Constitutional Convention

This radical political reform must come across the United Kingdom. The move towards Scottish Home Rule is now inevitable, but power must also be shifted to Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions. Britain is on its way to becoming a federal country. In the aftermath of the Scottish referendum, the constitutional settlement of the UK must be renewed. This can only be achieved by establishing a Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention should aim to disperse power away from Westminster towards all the other parts of the UK, but it should also make British politics fit for the 21st century. England is one of the most centralised nations in Europe; therefore it is necessary to give power to England on a regional basis. This would take account of the English North-South divide. It could take the form of Regional Assemblies or the form of empowered English city regions and empowered English counties. 

In time, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions should have full federal powers. This would leave the Federal Parliament in Westminster to have authority over issues such as foreign affairs, defence, immigration, national security, foreign development, international trade, Constitutional affairs, national economic policy and national welfare policy. The states of a federal Britain would have control over the other policy areas.

The cornerstone of this federal system would be a formal written constitution accompanied by a Bill of Rights. A Bill of Rights should not only protect political and civil rights, but also social rights. Social rights such as a right to free health care, a right to a free education, a right to have access to social security, a right to join a trade union and the right to be paid a fair wage. When scare stories about federalism are told they usually refer to the inequality of the American system. A federal Britain would not be viable without the very commitment to social rights that the American Constitution is lacking. As a centre-left liberal I could accept nothing less.

A British Constitutional Convention should also determine whether it is acceptable to have a second chamber made up of aristocrats, bishops and political appointees. Surely, the House of Lords will have to be elected and accountable to the British people. This also raises questions about what voting system should be used to elect the Houses of Parliament. First past the post is clearly an outdated and unfair voting system a move towards a more proportional system such as the single transferable vote (STV) is much more desirable.

Finally, one of the outstanding successes of the Scottish referendum debate was the decision to give 16 and 17 year olds the right to vote. The momentum behind votes at 16 is now unstoppable. 16 and 17 year olds should be fully enfranchised and entitled to vote in time for the next general election in 2015.

                                               

A Voice for the Disenfranchised

            Thousands of voters who had never voted before were engaged by the Scottish referendum debate. These were not just 16 and 17 year olds but thousands of adults who have never been willing to vote before. It is vital that politicians from across Britain realise that they need to engage with a disenfranchised minority who do not believe that the main parties represent them. This is most notably the case in poorest areas of Britain. A process of federalisation and constitutional reform is certainly a means to engage more people in politics. Hopefully the decentralisation of power will make politicians at the grassroots level more responsive to the concerns of those disenfranchised voters who feel they haven’t got a stake in our political system.

            People should avoid the dog whistle politics of English nationalism coming from UKIP and the Tory backbenchers. Nationalism only seeks to divide people. It is up to the progressive parties namely the Liberal Democrats and Labour to oppose this nationalism and actively seek to engage with disillusioned working class voters.

The Liberal Hour has come               

                                                                   

As of this morning, political reform is in the mainstream. MPs of all the main parties are talking about reforms to the British Constitution. What is a liberal party for if not to champion political reform. The Liberal hour has truly arrived. The Liberal Democrats for so long have been the masters of political reform and they must lead the debate to come. Liberal Democrats are the vanguard of constitutional reform; now is the time for a more liberal and a more democratic Britain to emerge.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to overhaul the entire British constitution and it is an opportunity that the Liberal Democrats cannot miss. For decades Lib Dems have been discussing constitutional reform now it is being discussed at the highest level. There may not be another opportunity like this again for several more decades. Hence it is up to senior Lib Dems to ensure that Britain makes a bold break from the past and that British politics is fit for the 21st century.

It is now very likely that in the 2015 general election the West Lothian question (also called the English question) will be a key issue. The Lib Dems must answer this question with a single word: federalism. The Lib Dems must position themselves as the party of federalism. Political reform and federalism must be a central pillar of the 2015 General Election campaign.

The Last 24 Hours

            After the last 24 hours no one can say that British politics is boring. Scotland might have voted to stay a part of the United Kingdom but the whole British Constitution is now up for review. The Scottish referendum which was so long represented the possibility of breaking up the UK now has the potential to renew it. Only Liberal Democrats can lead this change because we have political reform in our blood. The Scottish referendum reinvigorated democracy in Scotland; now let's reinvigorate democracy across the rest of the UK.

Why I Hope Scotland Remains a Part of the UK

The Progressive Tradition of Scotland, the North and Wales

Next week on 18^th September, the people of Scotland will have the ability to decide the future of the United Kingdom. In the Referendum next week, the people of Scotland get to choose if they want independence from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The debate between the Separatist Yes campaign and the Unionist No campaign is getting increasingly heated and the opinion polls show that the campaigns are neck and neck.

As someone who lives in the North of England, I have been reluctant to get involved in the Scottish Referendum debate. However, I am passionate that Scotland stays within the United Kingdom and says No to Scottish independence. My reasons for wanting Scotland to remain a part of the UK are not formed out of a misguided sense of British nationalism or out of any strong love for the British establishment in Westminster. To me, as a Northerner; Scotland, the North and even Wales share a common progressive tradition.

            This progressive tradition is the shared political culture of Scotland, the North and Wales. All three of these areas have a strong historic commitment to public services, the redistribution of wealth, a strong education system, and a National Health Service that is free at the point of use. This is reflected in the strong political support for the Labour Party and considerable support for the Liberal Democrats, especially in North Scotland, Cumbria and Central Wales. It is therefore not surprising that both Yes and No campaigners have sought to capitalise on this left wing political heritage in Scotland.

Shared Industrial Economy

            The historic foundation of this progressive tradition is a result of the shared industrial economy of Scotland, the North and Wales. These areas fostered the working class movement and the campaign for welfare provision. Great industrial cities like Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield and Cardiff were the economic backbone of Great Britain. Together these cities (and many other areas besides) literally built a modern nation. Often throughout British industrial history English workers have defended their Scottish and Welsh colleagues. Often the same was true of Scottish workers as well. It was consciously understood that it was the industrial link that bound Scotland, the North and Wales together. This industrial backbone defined and maintained Great Britain.

Democracy, War, Welfare and Healthcare

            It is often questioned by Scottish Nationalists, whether Scotland has benefited from the union at all. Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest benefit to Scotland of the union has been the welfare state and the National Health Service. Scotland wouldn't have a welfare state or an NHS without the United Kingdom. Scots, Welsh and Northerners struggled together in the battle to achieve democracy for workers and for women almost a century ago. A few decades later, people from across the UK were struggling to defend democracy against the tyranny of the Nazis during the Second World War. No doubt many English soldiers died in the arms of their Scottish comrades and vice versa. There can be no greater display of the brotherhood between these nations than that commitment to defend democracy.

            It was during the Second World War that an English radical Liberal, William Beveridge founded the welfare state. As for the NHS, it was famously the product of the radical Welsh Labour Health Minister, Nye Bevan who created the best health service in the world. Ever since Scotland has benefited from these English and Welsh political institutions and they have no doubt benefited millions of Scots for decades.

Thatcher’s Legacy

            There is no doubt that Margaret Thatcher has had a strong impact on modern Scotland. Her right wing policies devastated Scottish industry and devastated many of the poorest communities in Scotland. This is viewed by the Nationalists as the awful result of being in the union with England and being betrayed by an English Prime Minister. How dare the Scottish Nationalists make out that it was only Scotland that suffered at the hands of Thatcherism; Thatcher devastated the industry of the North and the industry of Wales undermining many of the poorest communities in the process. Ask the people of Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Wrexham and South Wales, whether Thatcher only undermined Scotland. For that matter ask many people in the poorest London Boroughs or parts of the Midlands whether Thatcher only undermined Scotland. Thatcherism has had a negative impact on many of the poorest people across the UK. Thatcherism has undermined the industrial base across the UK. It is not just a problem for Scotland.


United Against The Right

            Scotland, the North and Wales have been united through the fact that they have suffered immensely from right wing politics and the economics of Thatcherism. We are a progressive family and only together can we succeed in achieving a more progressive society. How dare the Scottish Nationalists seek to abandon the poorest communities in the North and in Wales. Scottish independence will absolutely undermine the progressive cause in Northern England and Wales. The politics of England and Wales will shift to the right as the Conservative Party and UKIP grow stronger. Scottish independence will weaken the cause of social justice in England and Wales and it will no doubt strengthen the right wing forces which oppose social justice.

            Of course, the SNP state that with independence they can be "free" from the Conservative Party. The truth is that an independent Scotland would still face the encroachment of a free market economy. Every major democracy in the Western world has both a major centre-left progressive party and a major centre-right conservative party. Scotland would be no different. Only together can Scotland, the North and Wales further the cause of progressive centre-left politics. Scotland is a thorn in the side of the Tories. In the absence of Scotland, the political prospects of the Tories would be strengthened because as Labour would lose 40 MPs, and the Lib Dems would lose 11 MPs, the Tories would only lose one MP.


A Federal Family of Nations


            The United Kingdom is a family of four nations; Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is vital that Scotland gets home rule federal powers. Gordon Brown has begun to outline moves to enact Scottish home rule in the event of a No vote. Scotland deserves and Scotland needs federalism. Federalism will ensure that Scotland has the power and autonomy it needs but within the security and stability of the United Kingdom. I hope in time that federal powers are also granted to the regions of England as well as for Wales and Northern Ireland. Federalism will give Scotland the political respect it requires without the economic risks of separation.

Scotland stay with your Progressive Brothers and Sisters in Northern England and Wales

           As a Northerner, I will be utterly heartbroken to see Scotland leave the United Kingdom. It is not just a simple matter of geography or misplaced patriotism, but a real sense that together Scotland, the North and Wales can achieve a fairer society for everyone. Together we can champion the progressive politics that will redistribute wealth, defend workers rights, and ensure a strong education and health service. Together these three areas make up a progressive family. I don't want to see the Conservatives strengthened in England and Wales because of the political ambitions of Alex Salmond. I don't want to see the poorest people in England and Wales undermined because Scotland is no longer there to stand in solidarity with us. I don't want to see the rise of right wing English nationalism just because of an equally misguided sense of Scottish nationalism. Nationalism only seeks to divide; progressive politics only seeks to unite.

            The British family of nations has a great future and I'm sure that Scotland, Northern England and Wales will have a great future ahead of them but only if they stay united in their common progressive tradition. Together we built modern Britain. Together we achieved democracy. Together we fought side-by-side during two World Wars. Together we created the welfare state and the NHS. Together we stood against Thatcherism. United, Scotland, Northern England and Wales will stand; divided, our societies will fall.