Further english devolution essay plan

power of metro mayors is too little

Andy burnham believes in subsidiarity (the idea that the best decisions are the ones made locally)

Greater Manchester has power over transport but the mayor of west England does not

Burnham says that current agenda relies on Westminster and Whitehall civil service who do not understand the north

metro mayors is not the best idea

turnout from metro mayors is very small (Andrew burnham got in on 30% turnout in 2021)

Accountability decreases at the centre if power is distributed to local areas (during Covid Johnsons government blames Covid spike in Manchester on the mayor because he did not want a lockdown).

Central government shifts blame in mayors so there is a lack of accountability

the West Lothian question has created discontent

Scottish MPs have the right to vote at Westminster on issues only affecting England, whereas English MPs cannot do this seeing as large policy areas such as health, housing and schools have been devolved to national parliaments

EVEL

government tried to tackle the West Lothian question with English votes for English laws but it was a weak piece of legislation. The tories abandoned EVEL, the SNP usually avoid English only issues in parliament such as voting for lockdown rules that would not have affected them

English parliament

an English parliament would resolve asymmetrical devolution somewhat

Scottish people get more money per head than the English get which is unfair

No need for an English parliament

turnout already low in general elections

English MPs already dominate Westminster so no need

Sovereignty would lie in many places and Westminster would just become symbolic