tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197085881344465476.post4676316507715470045..comments2023-10-24T14:38:36.695+03:00Comments on Living Outside Time: Affairs Of StateJonathanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467412541030183747noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197085881344465476.post-28630405920675455552008-07-21T04:34:00.000+03:002008-07-21T04:34:00.000+03:00Thanks for your comments.Zenobia: Yes I'm sure you...Thanks for your comments.<BR/><BR/>Zenobia: Yes I'm sure you are right (though Westminster does still have real influence in some matters affecting the Celtic nations). I was wondering, though, whether he may have disliked my Monarchical perspective, and my belief in the UK. After all, one could totally share the thought that England needs to be defended against an advancing anti-Englishness, while still disagreeing about the future status of the UK, its ultimate rationale, and whether England needs a Parliament. I am not of firm opinion about the English Parliament question. I can see potential dangers in it. On the other hand, I could see how some version could work. The question , though, is what effects its existence will have on the integrity of the UK, and whether or not we want to keep it going. Matters, of course are always complicated by prospects of Scottish independence (which would arrive as fait accompli), and the very sense in which our ability to be a sovereign group of peoples at all is brought into question by the EU. <BR/><BR/>Gadgie: Thanks for info about the enforcer. Sounds dramatic (at least in theory). Will look into it.<BR/><BR/>I need to reflect more on the motivations behind so many Politicians' reluctance to use the England word when it is appropriate. Find how many cans of worms are festering there, and of what type. Or whether this reluctance, and to what degree, is motivated by the fear that speaking of England would increase pressures to weaken the integrity of the UK. After all, Labour said at the time of Devolution that it in no way wanted to weaken the UK - and that Devolution would not weaken it. Events don’t seem to have panned out in quite that way. Perhaps they fear that by detaching the English people’s’ identity from Britain and moving it more officially onto England, by speaking more of England, the prospects for the UK would get even shakier. Not that I approve of the dishonesty involved nonetheless.Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03467412541030183747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197085881344465476.post-37976110771517770492008-07-20T02:17:00.000+03:002008-07-20T02:17:00.000+03:00coincidence, but here is a letter to the scotsman ...coincidence, but here is a letter to the scotsman today.<BR/><BR/>"BBC bias against the English<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryTHE BBC's response to Professor Anthony King's criticism that its journalists pass off English stories as 'British' was to point out, correctly, that the Government, led by Gordon Brown, does exactly the same thing ('Tartan enforcers target BBC bias', July 13).<BR/>Brown and other members of his Government use the term 'this country' to describe policies that only apply to England. One would not know, for example, that an item about the NHS applies only to England. It is not just that the BBC does not give enough attention to the devolved nations but also that both the BBC and the Government try to avoid reminding the English that they are, well, English. They are worried that the English might realise they too are a nation and a nation without its own government. <BR/><BR/>Viewers and listeners in England will be only too pleased if as a result of Professor King's report both the Government and the BBC start to come clean about what applies to England and what doesn't. Some people in England have been complaining about the BBC's institutional anti-Englishness and its British bias for years. It takes the Scottish mafia to get something done".<BR/><BR/>Ian Campbell, West Horsley, SurreyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197085881344465476.post-66164885250736038112008-07-20T02:06:00.000+03:002008-07-20T02:06:00.000+03:00The Tories are no better than the lib/dems or New ...The Tories are no better than the lib/dems or New Labour when it come to making clear who they are talking about.The Libs do have a disclaimer on any press releases saying who they are talking about,(England) or (England and Wales), but then they will stil rabbit on about britain or the uk.<BR/>All the political parties have played a massive con trick on England since devolution.<BR/>The bbc fell into line with regions and nations and steadfastly refuse to acknowledge the existence of England in their reports. We're hoping the new bbc enforcer will force mp's and journalists to clearly say which country they are refering to in future.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7197085881344465476.post-40556509457968680432008-07-20T01:35:00.000+03:002008-07-20T01:35:00.000+03:00Perhaps he's upset because the Minister tries to p...Perhaps he's upset because the Minister tries to pretend that he's talking about the UK when, due to devolution, the only place he can legislate for is England. Now, as he cannot actually admit to that, he has to pretend that the 'unamed' place is actually a new conglomeration of ubiquitous 'regions', when actually it is England whose historical subdivision has always been to counties. PerhapsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com