Alternative Routes to Power: The Potential
for Political Regionalism in England
John Osmond
Thus far England has participated very little in the devolution debate,
yet what happens in England will be crucial to the outcome of the devolution
project. Now there are signs that England is about to become involved.
The example of devolution to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is
one reason. Moves to European integration is another. There are new
uncertainties about the nature of English identity and the options for
constitutional change. Pressures are growing for democratic devolution
to the English regions. At the same time these have to contend with
inertia, Whitehall centralisation, and an English political culture
focused almost exclusively on Westminster. Yet a timetable has been
set for a referendum followed by elections to the first Regional Assembly,
for North-East England, in 2004. Can England sleepwalk into devolution
for its regions in the absence of a widespread debate?
This 21-page Paper is based on a presentation made by the author
to the 20th British-Bavarian seminar Britain Today: Key Policy Changes,
at Hohenkammer near Munich, July 2001.
Download the paper
(PDF format, 48K)
Would you like to respond? Please email us: debatewales@iwa.org.uk
John Osmond is Director of the Institute of Welsh Affairs.
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