Constitutional Reform

Given the shameful lack of media coverage of our recent online Autumn Federal Conference some of you may well be unaware that the party members present voted overwhelmingly in favour of a major reform of our parliamentary system. Given attempts, notably during the Brexit process to undermine the role of Parliament and judiciary plus recurrent sleaze and other abuses of power we are proposing creating a written constitution alongside Lords reform and devolution of powers comparable to those enjoyed by the Scots and the Welsh to an English regional tier of government. (This would also resolve the infamous "West Lothian Question" where Welsh and Scottish MPs can speak and vote on matters which, since devolution, apply only to England). The principle of subsidiarity would be applied to ensure, as a minimum, no diminution in the role of existing local authorities in England.

These proposals would enable the UK to function as federation of the four nations with the UK parliament deciding only those matters affecting the UK as a whole. An alternative means of achieving this, an all England parliament, was decisively rejected by Conference for two principal reason; fragmented and limited devolution within England to date and the imbalance within a Federal UK a centralised parliament for England would engender.

The attached documents illustrate the model proposed, the powers retained at UK level and those which a new regional tier of Government would adopt. The policy working group that developed options for consideration at Conference considered it premature to look at the size and boundaries of regions before a decision in principle in favour of a regional tier of government had been taken. However, it seems probable that Macclesfield would be part either of a NW region or a larger region covering the North of England.

While this new policy may have gone under the political/media radar for the time being it will clearly come under scrutiny at the next election. Our will be to show what use we could make of newly devolved powers so our regional conferences will take on new significance.

If you don't already receive or regional "Notes and News" from the regional party and wish to do so you can be added to the relevant list by emailing office@northwestlibdems.org.uk.

If, in the absence of news coverage, you want to keep up with what went on at recent national conferences you can log in as a member to the party's website and find conference links under "get involved" where all motions passed can be found.

England in a Federal UK - Slides from 2021 North West Liberal Democrats AGM

Andrew Haldane,

abhaldane@btinternet.com

President Macclesfield Liberal Democrats,

Vice Chair (Policy) NW Liberal Democrats