The Scottish Play

[doodab]

Sounds like a good amount to invoice the rUK on an annual basis.

And as long as you vote yes and bugger off you can have it.

[DodgyAgent]

Too late.

The history books of the future will ask why London hoarded so much power in the first place.

Clearly we don't like when Brussels acquires too much power. The union of the UK is no different. The economics of the north are very different from the south.

CMD wants to do down in history for the right reasons then he needs to devolve power to the major cities of the UK in a big way. Return the Birmingham exchange, all cities to control their own taxes etc.

Allister Heath has a view on this which I quite like:

The rise of Ukip shows Britain is full of anger and must change - Telegraph

Last but not least, the UK needs a revolution in its domestic institutions. Voters should be given the right of recall; under certain circumstances and if enough people sign an online petition, a by-election would be called. There ought to be more referenda and political parties should reinvent themselves as loose networks.
The UK, if it survives the Scottish referendum, must be turned into a proper federation, with tax-raising and tax-spending powers decentralised. We need to embrace a US-style separation of powers, with Parliament focused on scrutinising legislation and the prime minister given the right to appoint non-Parliamentarians as ministers.

[doodab]

Allister Heath has a view on this which I quite like:

The rise of Ukip shows Britain is full of anger and must change - Telegraph

Last but not least, the UK needs a revolution in its domestic institutions. Voters should be given the right of recall; under certain circumstances and if enough people sign an online petition, a by-election would be called. There ought to be more referenda and political parties should reinvent themselves as loose networks.
The UK, if it survives the Scottish referendum, must be turned into a proper federation, with tax-raising and tax-spending powers decentralised. We need to embrace a US-style separation of powers, with Parliament focused on scrutinising legislation and the prime minister given the right to appoint non-Parliamentarians as ministers.

There is always a rising tide of anger in a screwed economy. Fix it and all the problems go away, or at least slip back under the rug for a while.

[scooterscot]

Exactly, a decentralisation of powers is a must. The question for the establishment is how bad should they allow things to get. Personally I don't believe they have the will to act.

[DodgyAgent]

There is always a rising tide of anger in a screwed economy. Fix it and all the problems go away, or at least slip back under the rug for a while.

I am not sure that rule will apply for much longer. It seems that there is a growing unease with politicians and ruling classes that is gathering a momentum of its own. The focus is turning towards creating wealth for everyone rather than just a few.

Other important reasons include the decline in real wages, the fact that so many parts of the country are still suffering from elevated unemployment and post-industrial economic stagnation, and the woes of many unskilled workers left behind as a result of the technological revolution.
Rather than putting their heads in the sand, pretending to be listening or lashing out at voters, rational politicians should accept that there is a major problem and that it is time for genuinely radical action. The salience of a few of the issues are likely to recede as the economy continues to recover; but most will fester if they are not addressed.

[DodgyAgent]

Exactly, a decentralisation of powers is a must. The question for the establishment is how bad should they allow things to get. Personally I don't believe they have the will to act.

Can local councils be trusted with power?

The 'socialist firebrand' Derek Hatton screwed Liverpool just as much as Margaret Thatcher did - Comment - Voices - The Independent

[original PM]

Allister Heath has a view on this which I quite like:

The rise of Ukip shows Britain is full of anger and must change - Telegraph

Last but not least, the UK needs a revolution in its domestic institutions. Voters should be given the right of recall; under certain circumstances and if enough people sign an online petition, a by-election would be called. There ought to be more referenda and political parties should reinvent themselves as loose networks.
The UK, if it survives the Scottish referendum, must be turned into a proper federation, with tax-raising and tax-spending powers decentralised. We need to embrace a US-style separation of powers, with Parliament focused on scrutinising legislation and the prime minister given the right to appoint non-Parliamentarians as ministers.

20% of the US states are bigger than the UK anyway??


Linky

[doodab]

I am not sure that rule will apply for much longer. It seems that there is a growing unease with politicians and ruling classes that is gathering a momentum of its own. The focus is turning towards creating wealth for everyone rather than just a few.

But that won't happen until either capital is massively redistributed or the real rate of return on capital is made less than the rate of growth in the economy. The first option is unpalatable and the second requires the overthrow of capitalism with some improved system nobody has invented yet.

rational politicians should accept that there is a major problem and that it is time for genuinely radical action

Quite. But there are plenty of radical politicians advocating radical policies. They are usually dismissed as nutjobs and don't make it into power. Even if the mainstream do decide on radical action try getting it past the voters. It ain't going to happen. What will happen instead is massive upheaval, social disintegration and reorganisation because that is what happens when a method of social organisation fails, and make no mistake, democracy + capitalism is creaking. The problem is we don't really have a viable alternative.....

[DodgyAgent]

20% of the US states are bigger than the UK anyway??


Linky

Not in population

[darmstadt]

Too late.

The history books of the future will ask why London hoarded so much power in the first place.

Ukip are already on it with their Manifesto for Manchester:

UKIP has launched its 'Manifesto for Manchester' which would see the Department for Culture, Media and Sport moving north to the city.