Poll finds support for English parliament

The majority of people in the UK want the union of England, Scotland and Wales to continue – although support for a separate English parliament is growing. A new poll for BBC Two’s Newsnight to mark the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union joining England and Scotland finds widespread support for the status quo. […]

Tensions increase over state of the union

Welsh secretary Peter Hain has added his voice to warnings that the Conservatives’ call for English-votes for English laws risks the “Balkanisation of Britain”. As celebrations begin for the 300th anniversary of the Acts of Union that brought together England and Scotland into the UK, rhetoric for and against separatist elements both north of the […]

Brown calls for stronger Britain

Gordon Brown has called for supporters of the United Kingdom to “speak up” against growing separatist calls, saying it could be a “beacon for the world”. Writing in this morning’s Telegraph, the chancellor describes a growing threat from secessionists in Scotland, Wales and even England who seek a break-up of the union as it heads […]

SNP boosted by independence poll

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has received a major boost ahead of next May’s Holyrood elections as a poll finds more than half of voters now back independence. An ICM poll for the Scotsman finds 52 per cent of Scottish voters would like an independent Scotland, the highest level of support since the survey began […]

Scottish devolution chief calls for English parliament

One of the architects of Scottish devolution has backed the idea of a separate English parliament – and said there was a “real possibility” of it happening within a decade. Kenyon Wright, who chaired the committee which paved the way for the Scottish parliament’s creation in 1999, will today speak at a meeting of English […]

Salmond challenges ‘at bay’ Blair

Scottish National party (SNP) leader Alex Salmond has challenged Tony Blair to meet him in a “head to head debate” about the future role of Scotland in the UK. His call for an open dispute on the future of Scotland follows the prime minister’s express wish to tackle the SNP “head to head”. “I am […]

English votes plan ‘completely wrong’

Tony Blair has described proposals to ban Scottish MPs from voting on English issues as “completely wrong”. The prime minister fielded questions from two Labour backbenchers on Tory plans to only allow English MPs to vote on issues that only affect England, but not from Tory leader David Cameron who chose to focus on Afghanistan […]

SNP wants end to Catholic discrimination

Scottish nationalists are calling for the prime minister to repeal legislation that discriminates against Roman Catholics. The Act of Settlement states that Catholics cannot become king or queen of England and bars members of the royal family who marry Catholics from taking the throne. Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), challenged Tony […]