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October 26 10:00 - 25 October 2007
English hospitals are shedding services while Wales can offer cheap prescriptions and Scotland free care for the elderly because of the out-dated Barnett formula.
This formula, created at the end of the 1970s, awards a greater proportion of public funds per head of population to Scotland and Wales than to England.Eighty per cent of the UK's wealth comes from England, allowing the devolved bodies now set up in those countries to provide generous benefits to their populations.
The Barnett formula has allowed the Scottish Parliament to introduce free long-term care for the elderly and abolish university top-up and tuition fees.
The Welsh Assembly froze prescription charges two years ago and has done away with them to those under 25. It also intends to scrap all prescription charges as soon as possible.
The Barnett formula was intended to be short-term only, but 20 or so years later, it's still going.
Its creator, Joel Barnett, has called for it to be replaced, but the main political parties, worried about handing a coup to Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties, lack the political will to reform it.
There is now a party that has the people of England's best interests at heart.
The English Democratic Party is a growing force in the world of politics and if you do not receive a leaflet through your door soon, then please look it up on the web. It is also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and spreading the word.
Until we, in England, get either a political party capable of shaking the complacency of the main parties, or an English parliament, answerable to the English electorate, to call for a fairer allocation of funding, we will be expected to just sit by and do nothing.
Kevin Hunter, Old Mill Court, Grimsby.
Reader comments
| It is heartening to hear that Kevin Hunter and people like him are waking up to the fact that England is now the only country in Europe that does not have a dedicated Parliament/Assembly. The "Scottish" government in Westminster have all signed the "Scottish Claim of Right" in which they vow to put the interests of Scotland paramount in their political dealings. Devolution has changed, forever, the relationship between the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. Scotland, having been given a taste of independence wants even more and will sue for complete independence in the near future, why New Labour could not see this coming is beyond me. The Welsh Assembly is about to be given more autonomy over Welsh affairs and they are not far behind Scotland in their wish for complete independence. In today's news, Northern Irish MPs have been invited to attend the Dail, the "Parliament" in Southern Ireland, it does not take a degree in rocket science to see where this might lead. England is to be split into 9 European "regions" thereby losing all sense of identity and culture, the age-old Counties and Shires will disappear to be replaced by "Regional Assemblies", "Unitary Authorities" and "Local Area Authorities". It's not too late - Vote English Democrats" whenever you can.
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| Patrick Harris, English Democrat., Portsmouth, England | October 22
Should English taxpayers fund Scottish healthcare?
Posted at: 00:01
While millions of patients in England and Northern Ireland are expected to pay for lifesaving drugs, Scottish ministers have joined their Welsh counterparts and pledged to abolish prescription charges north of the border.
Scots already have access to free eye and dental check ups, free personal care for the elderly, extra central heating grants and a number of drugs deemed “too costly” for the NHS in England and Wales.
Critics claim the Barnett formula, the calculation which allocates Treasury funding to Britain’s regions, and currently gives Scotland £1,500 more per head than England, forces English taxpayers to subsidise Scottish largesse.
Even Joel Barnett, the inventor of the formula, has called for his system to be re-evaluated.
Should prescriptions be free for all or should they be means tested?
What can the Government do to fix the “extreme form of postcode lottery”?
With all of the discrepancies in standards and accusations of a two-tier service, can we actually say that we have a National Health Service?
To send a letter to the editor of The Daily Telegraph, email dtletters@telegraph.co.uk
Comments (60)
No wonder the Aussie's refer to the English as "whingeing poms"! Differences in policy? Wake up and smell the coffee! It's called devolution.
Posted by mike docherty on October 22, 2007 8:45 AM
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Instead of going on about the Scots why don't they
introduce the same benefits in England and Wales?
Isn't that what people would really want?
Posted by Barrie Redfern on October 22, 2007 8:45 AM
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The Scots and Welsh would be well advised to dismantle the National Health Soviet on their side of the border and introduce a patient based system similar to that of the French. The English could then be left to 'enjoy' the worst health care system in western Europe.
Posted by Tom Kilcourse on October 22, 2007 8:45 AM
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Why are we complaining.For the last ten years we have been ruled by mainly Scottish background MP'S.Gordon Brown,Alistair Darling,John Reid to name just a few.They have been buying Scottish votes for years.
We voted them in so are now suffer the consequences.
Posted by George Williams on October 22, 2007 8:44 AM
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Oh absolutely! And Zimbabwe, France, the Cayman Islands, Massachusetts, Tesco, the South African Rugby team, my goldfish...
Is there anybody sane left in British politics?
October 12
| U-KIP, U-Turn, on U-nited Kingdom
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As the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) continues to haemorrhage members to the growing English Democrats, desperate Deputy Leader David Campbell-Bannerman, has announced a complete U-Turn on U-Kip, U-nited Kingdom policy of one British Parliament for the United Kingdom.
He recently announced on a visit to South Suffolk
"UKIP will stand on common sense policies, campaigning against green taxes, a five year freeze on immigration, lower taxes, tougher measures against crime, stronger defence forces, workfare not welfare and an English Parliament nationally,” said Mr Campbell Bannerman.
Englsh Democrat, Steven Uncles speaking from Kent said earlier today:-
" UKIP have finally realised that English voters and UKIP party members have no affection for 'The United Kingdom' - passion and loyalty is with their country 'England', many UKIP activists have joined or are considering joining the English Democrats over the past 18 months - this U-Turn of UKIP policy by Mr Campbell-Bannerman, is a desperate attempt to stop the flow of members and activists to the English Democrats; he continued "the reality is the only way this will be stopped would be to change the UKIP name, and also to reform the unpopular internal structures of the UKIP party"
The policy of an English Parliament within a Federal UK, has been at the forefront of English Democrats policies, since the party was created 5 years ago. |
| Student forced to apologise for being English
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| The rugby captain at one of Britain's most ethnically diverse universities has been forced to apologise after inviting students to an 'English party'.
Fellow students accused Timothy McLellan of racism after he sent out an invitation to the event, promising 'no bongos, shisha pipes or Arabic music'.
The backlash was so severe that he has emailed more than 3,000 students at the School of Oriental and African Studies admitting the poster was 'naive and ill-conceived'.
'Naive': SOAS student Timothy McLellan - made to feel ashamed for being English by the University thought police The law student said he was only trying to make a joke out of the fact so many social events at SOAS, part of the University of London, had ethnic and multicultural themes.
In his email Mr McLellan, 20, said: "The aim of the poster was not to alienate or discriminate but rather to express that this party was, unlike most SOAS events, going to have a more mainstream vibe.
"The choice of the word 'English', which I now regret, was not intended to mean that it was a party for white English students but was rather intended to express that the party's vibe reflected England's mainstream culture, which in itself is not racially exclusive.
"Equally, the decision to use the examples of bongos, shisha pipes and Arabic music, which I also regret, was not designed as a slur on their respective cultures or to suggest that they are not a valuable part of English multi-culturalism.
"They were simply singled out as typical stereotypes of student life at SOAS."
Mr McLellan admitted he was wrong not to have said sorry immediately when students first confronted him.
SOAS is thought of as one of the most 'right-on' colleges in the country and is the only one specialising in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Its patron is the Queen.
Of 3,700 students, more than 1,200 are from outside Europe.
Aileen Puhlmann, co-president of sports and society at the SOAS student union, said: "When I saw the poster I could see the irony in it but at the same time you could make a big deal of it, especially here.
"You could blow it up into something it clearly wasn't meant to be other than a good night out."
"It could either make people laugh or offend and, unfortunately, it offended."
It is understood the event passed off without incident at a pub in Holborn last week. | October 11
Your country needs you.
English hospitals are shedding services while Wales can offer cheap prescriptions and Scotland free care for the elderly because of the out-dated Barnett formula.
This formula, created at the end of the 1970s, awards a greater proportion of public funds per head of population to Scotland and Wales than to England. 80% of the UK’s wealth comes from England. Allowing the devolved bodies now set up in those countries to provide generous benefits to their populations.
The Barnett formula has allowed the Scottish Parliament to introduce free long-term
Care for the elderly and abolished university top-up and tuition fees. The Welsh Assembly froze prescription charges two years ago and done away with them to those under 25. They also intend to scrap all prescription charges as soon as possible.
The Barnett formula was intended to be sort-term only, but 20 or so years later it’s still going. Its creator, Joel Barnett, has called for it to be replaced but the main political parties, worried about handing a coup to Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties, lack the political will to reform it.
There is now a party that has the people of England’s best interests at heart. The English Democratic Party is a growing force in the world of politics and if you do not receive a leaflet thru your door soon then please look them up on the web. We are also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and spreading the word.
Until we in England get either a political party capable of shaking the complacency of the main parties, or an English Parliament, answerable to the English electorate, to call for a fairer allocation of funding, we will be expected to just sit by and do nothing.
E-mail me for more information or joining details at : grimsbyenglishdemocrats@hotmail.co.uk
http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/ October 04
Your country needs you.
English hospitals are shedding services while Wales can offer cheap prescriptions and Scotland free care for the elderly because of the out-dated Barnett formula.
This formula, created at the end of the 1970s, awards a greater proportion of public funds per head of population to Scotland and Wales than to England. 80% of the UK’s wealth comes from England. Allowing the devolved bodies now set up in those countries to provide generous benefits to their populations.
The Barnett formula has allowed the Scottish Parliament to introduce free long-term
Care for the elderly and abolished university top-up and tuition fees. The Welsh Assembly froze prescription charges two years ago and done away with them to those under 25. They also intend to scrap all prescription charges as soon as possible.
The Barnett formula was intended to be sort-term only, but 20 or so years later it’s still going. Its creator, Joel Barnett, has called for it to be replaced but the main political parties, worried about handing a coup to Scottish and Welsh nationalist parties, lack the political will to reform it.
There is now a party that has the people of England’s best interests at heart. The English Democratic Party is a growing force in the world of politics and if you do not receive a leaflet thru your door soon then please look them up on the web. We are also looking for volunteers to help with fundraising and spreading the word.
Until we in England get either a political party capable of shaking the complacency of the main parties, or an English Parliament, answerable to the English electorate, to call for a fairer allocation of funding, we will be expected to just sit by and do nothing.
http://www.englishdemocrats.org.uk/
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