A Discussion of Federalism
How to bring democracy closer to home
- My, admittedly occasional and casual, thinking on this started about 30 years ago, after discussing political systems across the EU with various Europeans I worked and shared accommodation with.
- My ideas were against the undue influence of Nationalism and the Council of Ministers, but for a balanced distribution of power.
- I wanted the dissolution of the larger countries (Germany, France, UK, Italy, etc…) into Scotland to Netherland sized Administrative Regions.
- I started thinking about it much more seriously in Spring when I thought about what sort of Political party I might feel truly enthusiastic about…
- The answer was a Federal Socialist Party
•Though Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are important in any discussion of Federalism in the UK, I will only touch on them briefly and will concentrate on England. (Personal note: I can’t help thinking that some are now mentioning Federalism as a Blackadder type “cunning plan” to stave off Scottish independence!)
•Since thinking about this more seriously, in the Spring of 2020, the need to move decision making away from London to the Regions of England has become stark. The lack of any sensible planning, or care, for the Regions under Covid has made this discussion essential.
The Redcliffe-Maud report of 1969 would be my starting point.
It’s on Page 2, below…
•I might make a couple of references to “Blick”… This is who he is.
Andrew [Blick] has written extensively on constitutional issues and worked in academic, political and public policy environments. He is Director of History and Policy and Senior Lecturer in Politics and Contemporary History at King’s College London. He is the author of Stretching the Constitution: the Brexit shock in historic perspective (Hart/Bloomsbury, Oxford, 2019).
Andrew acts as senior adviser to The Constitution Society.
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/andrew-blick
He’s worth reading…
Democracy
Federalism: The UK’s Future? Andrew Blick
Part Three: A federal UK
•The most powerful case for the desirability of federalism for the UK is founded in democratic principle, to which it is closely connected in the contemporary context. Federalism is a means by which people can achieve self-government at an appropriate territorial level of representation. While devolution is sometimes justified as a means of attaining other goals, such as economic growth or an intact UK, democracy should be treated as an end in its own right. Federalism provides for the dispersal of authority. Governmental functions can be subject to public accountability at a level as close and appropriate as possible to the people involved. Furthermore, within a federal system, different democratic mandates are regarded as possessing the same intrinsic value – the central tier does not simply and arbitrarily trump all others. Each level is equally legitimate within its prescribed sphere of competence. At the same time, a federal system is founded in the recognition that some functions – including those that are essential to the maintenance of democracy – must be exercised by a central authority. They include international diplomacy, intelligence and security, and core aspects of economic, fiscal and (for states outside the European single currency) monetary policy.
And
•Discerning a set of English territories each of which would command enthusiasm among the people who lived within them may be a difficult task. However, regions that might initially seem somewhat artificial might be expected in time to achieve acceptance. •But what powers should be vested in these ‘states’, and how great should they be? It would not be appropriate or politically realistic to reduce the autonomy currently possessed by Scotland, which is the most extensive of any of the devolved territories… Divergence regarding internal arrangements – such as voting systems and the configuration of the legislature and executive – could be permitted, though it would probably be necessary to prescribe certain basic requirements.
Federal Eco-Socialism 