To Represent England
England should have a democratic institution that represents England as a nation. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own devolved institutions. An English Parliament would give the people of England a clearly identifiable national democratic voice.
To Decide the Laws Imposed Upon the Citizens of England
Laws that apply specifically to England should be decided through a democratic institution representing the people affected by them.
An English Parliament would provide clear responsibility for English domestic legislation and give the people of England a direct democratic means of holding those making those laws to account.
To Ensure the Accountability of MPs
People should be able to identify who is responsible for decisions affecting their country.
An English Parliament would create a clearer line of accountability between elected representatives, the decisions they make and the people of England. It should be clear which politicians are responsible for English matters and which are responsible for UK-wide matters.
To Ensure Equality of Funding
The funding of public services across the United Kingdom should be fair and transparent.
An English Parliament would be able to scrutinise England's financial settlement and determine priorities for spending within England, while ensuring that England is treated fairly within the wider United Kingdom.
To Oversee Taxation
Where taxation relates to devolved English responsibilities, the people of England should have democratic oversight of how that money is raised and spent.
This would create a much clearer relationship between taxation, public spending and political responsibility.
To Allow the People of England to Control Their Own Assets
England's public assets, resources and infrastructure should be managed in the interests of the people and communities they serve.
An English Parliament would provide democratic oversight of those assets and resources where responsibility has been devolved to England.
To Deliver Government Appropriate for England
England has its own economic, social, geographical and cultural needs.
Policies designed specifically for England should therefore be developed through an institution accountable to England. This does not mean every decision has to be taken nationally. Powers can and should be devolved further to counties, cities and local communities where appropriate.
To Provide Equality Within the United Kingdom
An English Parliament does not have to mean the end of the United Kingdom.
It could instead provide the foundation for a fairer federal structure in which England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland each have their own democratic institutions, while the UK Parliament remains responsible for agreed UK-wide matters.
This would give each nation a recognised place within the constitutional structure of the United Kingdom.
To Support and Protect England's Culture
England has its own history, traditions, institutions and cultural identity.
An English Parliament could recognise and support that identity while continuing to respect the different cultures and identities found throughout the United Kingdom.
To Prevent England Being Submerged Into Britain
England and Britain are not interchangeable terms.
Many people are proud to consider themselves both English and British, and there is no contradiction in doing so. But an English national identity should not disappear simply because England forms the largest part of the United Kingdom.
An English Parliament would provide formal recognition that England exists as a nation in its own right.
To Separate English and British Political Identities
A clearer constitutional settlement would help distinguish between matters concerning England and matters concerning the United Kingdom as a whole.
An English Parliament would deal with English matters. The UK Parliament at Westminster would continue to deal with those responsibilities agreed to be UK-wide.
That distinction could make government more transparent and easier for people to understand.
To Prevent Conflict and Discourage Discrimination on the Grounds of Nationhood
A fair constitutional system should recognise the legitimate national identities of everyone within the United Kingdom.
Providing England with formal democratic recognition could help reduce resentment caused by perceived constitutional inequalities rather than allowing those grievances to grow.
Equality between the nations should strengthen relationships within the United Kingdom, not weaken them.
Because the People of England Should Be Asked
Ultimately, England's constitutional future should not simply be decided by politicians or administrative structures.
The people of England should have a meaningful say in how their country is governed and whether they want their own parliament.
If major constitutional changes are proposed for England, the people of England should be part of that decision.
Because Other Proposals Do Not Answer All the Questions
Regional devolution may bring some decisions closer to communities, and there can be good reasons for devolving greater powers locally.
But regional devolution does not by itself answer the English national question.
Creating mayors, combined authorities or administrative regions does not provide England with national constitutional recognition.
Nor should we have to choose between an English Parliament and local government.
England could have a national parliament while substantial powers are devolved from that parliament to counties, cities and communities. This would allow decisions to be made closer to the people while maintaining England as a single political and constitutional nation.
Protecting England's Future
There is a much bigger question at the heart of this campaign.
Every nation should have the right to its continued existence and identity. England should be no different.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have political institutions through which their national interests can be represented. England remains the only nation of the United Kingdom without an equivalent national democratic institution.
We believe that imbalance should be addressed.
An English Parliament could provide England with constitutional recognition, democratic representation and responsibility for its own domestic affairs while allowing the United Kingdom to continue on a fairer and more balanced federal basis.
This is not about creating another unnecessary layer of government. Nor is it about concentrating power in another distant institution.
It is about deciding where power belongs.
Some decisions belong at UK level. Some belong at an English national level. Many others should be made much closer to people in their counties, towns, cities and communities.
That is the debate we want to reopen.
England should be recognised as a nation, governed democratically as a nation and treated equally alongside the other nations of the United Kingdom.
That is why we are launching this new website and why we are asking people across England to join us in making the case.
Chairman
Stephen Davis
Campaign for an English Parliament
Key Takeaways
- National Democratic Representation: An English Parliament provides England with an equivalent devolved voice alongside Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
- Constitutional Equality & Transparency: Separates English domestic legislation, taxation, and funding decisions from UK-wide responsibilities within a federal structure.
- Preserving English Identity: Prevents English political identity from being submerged into Britain while formally protecting England's cultural traditions and heritage.
- Complementary Local Governance: Works alongside regional and county authorities without dividing England into competing administrative regions.
