Warning Scottish vote could trigger ‘English eruption’

Growing English resentment around the Scottish independence referendum is set to get an airing this week in Westminster.

An event calling for a separate English parliament will be held in the Houses of Parliament.

The organisers claim the nation will face a series of constitutional crises without English devolution.

One MP has warned of an “eruption of English discontent” triggered by the Scottish vote.

It’s a sign of how true that could prove that the Campaign for an English Parliament (CEP) event due to take place on Thursday has already had to be moved to a larger room, such is the interest in the issue.

It’s not coincidental that it takes place just days before the Scottish Government unveils its blueprint for an independent Scotland.

Organiser Eddie Bone, of the CEP, said: “Westminster is waking up to the strength of resentment felt in England around this. Lots of MPs and peers want to come along to hear what we have to say and share their views.”

One of the MPs who will be attending is Frank Field, the maverick Labour backbencher. He backs the CEP’s call for an English parliament and wants Labour to be leading the political charge for one.

He said: “There will be devolution for England, I’m trying to ensure England wakes up to it. We need people on parliament’s side who at least recognise that this is an issue.

“There’s always a lag in time between us catching up with where this is in the country. This debate left the station ages ago.”

Field has warned of friction fuelled by what some see as Westminster attempts to appease Scottish voters ahead of the independence poll and fears the Scottish government will wring concessions from London in the inevitable discussions over the future of the constitution that follow the referendum.

Field said: “As with all bullies, making concessions only makes them braver. Scotland is bullying England because the leadership here don’t want Scotland to be independent.

“If Alex Salmond gets away with his strategy and outfoxes us again, there will be an eruption of English discontent.”

The Barnett formula of funding for Holyrood has been a long-running sore. Field, MP for the Merseyside seat of Birkenhead, added: “The Scots get more cash per head than the rest the of country. I would like my constituents to get what the Scots get per head.”

Eddie Bone claims discontent is already brewing with the recent MoD decision on shipyards that saw those in Govan stay open while Portsmouth’s shipbuilding history is to end.

He said: “The British government is buying Scottish support at the referendum with this decision. It builds resentment among the English.”

“Increasingly there’s a feeling in England that if Scotland wants to go then just let them, rather than trying to buy them off.

“Free prescriptions, free eye tests these are things for the people of Scotland to decide, I’ve no problem with that. The issue is who pays for them and, as an Englishman, I think the money comes from England.”

The CEP have previously been written off as fringe headbangers or extremists, and sometimes their rhetoric makes it easy to see why.

Hosting an event in Westminster, part of the official Parliament Week programme aimed at increasing voter engagement, is progress for them. It’s also a sign that their calls are gaining traction.

Bone added: “We’ve turned a corner. The current constitutional settlement is untenable.”

He points to a series of potential crises, not just the result of the independence referendum but the 2015 election, that could see a Labour government elected with a small majority of Scottish MPs.

Then there’s any future European referendum that might be expected to see Scotland and Wales vote to stay in the EU and England vote to leave.

The problem with calls for an English parliament is how it would work in practice for whatever federal body is set up to deal with UK-wide policies on the likes of foreign policy, defence and the constitution. It would be utterly dominated by English representation given its population amounts to about five times that of the other three nations combined.

Former Lib Dem leader Lord Maclennan, who is also due to speak at Thursday’s event, wants a British constitutional convention to consider the future shape of the UK.

Bone added: “It’s a good idea but the option of an English parliament has to be in there.”