"The Northern Party seeks 'devomax' power from Westminster to bring the traditional counties of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Westmorland and Cumberland into a democratic state.
"The democratic state would have powers equal to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland or London, and retain membership of the European Union.
"The proposed Northumbria would cover the territory that was ruled 1,000 years ago by Erik Bloodaxe, the last 'king of the north' killed in battle in 954."
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Would this propose restoration of Northumbria still have the Queen as sovereign? Would Northumbria still be a part of the UK? If so, it would make the UK look increasingly like a federation, rather than a unitary state.
Sean
Sean,
They would retain the Queen, thus making the UK more federal and increasing the pressure for full independence in some regions.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
All this reminds me of analogous movements in some states of the US, esp. California and Colorado. There are people there who advocate breaking up those states into smaller units. But I doubt they will get much real support, sufficient to actually break them up, any time soon. And I suspect the Northern Party won't get much support.
Looks like the Tories have done better in the General Elections than most pundits expected. With Labour and the Liberal-Democrats taking a bad whacking and the Scottish Nationalists winning most of Scotland's Commons seats.
Sean
Sean,
I always tell people to disregard opinion polls and concentrate on the issues.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
True! Even the best opinions polls will always have to allow for a degree of uncertainty.
It's only decent and right to wish well of PM David Cameron and hope he can successfuly manage the strains within the UK represented by the mere existence of the Northern Party.
Sean
Sean,
I don't think the Northerns are his problem! The Scottish National Party have got most of the Scottish seats in the British Parliament.
Paul.
Sean,
56 of the 59 seats. The Scottish have expelled both of the main British parties.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
True, the Scot Nats are a far greater threat to the unity of the UK than the slightly comic Northern Party! I hope David Cameron can successfully "federalize" the UK adequately enough to meet Scottish demands for autonomy without it breaking up the Union.
At the same time the sheer dominance of the Scot Nats in Scotland might not be good for her. It runs the risk of becoming a one party state, with all the dangers that can bring. A strong and vigorous opposition would moderate and temper the Scot Nats.
Sean
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