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English parliament support grows
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Support for an English parliament is growing as voters increasingly resent the way public spending is shared in the UK, a report has suggested.
The findings revealed that 40% of people in England feel that Scotland receives more than its fair share - an increase from 22% in 2003.
Just under half of those asked believe England's laws should continue to be made at Westminster and 29% now back a new parliament for the country.
The report was published by the think tank Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) with NatCen, a social research institute, on attitudes 10 years on from devolution in Scotland and Wales.
Professor John Curtice, who wrote the report, said: "It is too strong to speak as yet of a widespread English backlash but the research does suggest there has been a marked growth in resentment about the level of funding that Scotland enjoys.
"Moreover, this seems in part at least to be generating increased support for the idea that England should have its own parliament.
"If these trends continue, then politicians may no longer be able safely to assume that England can be ignored in the devolution debate."
The number of people supporting an English parliament increased from 18% to 29% in 10 years. The report showed support was strongest among those who described themselves as English rather than British.
Associate director of IPPR Guy Lodge said: "This report demonstrates that whichever party wins the general election will need to address the growing concerns of English voters about the impact of the devolution settlement.
"Politicians from all sides have ducked the issue of how England should be governed for too long and it seems that English public opinion is becoming increasingly frustrated."
Reader views (7)
Our parliament should only vote on English matters,and all its MPs should only have English constituences, not Scottish, or Welsh, they have devolution,so they should not interfer with English matters.
- Peter King, oxford England, 03/03/2010 09:18
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The Welsh, Scottish and Irish proudly have there own individual patriotism, national day, national flag and assemblies, it's only right the English should be allowed to be equally proud and patriotic!
- Mark Wheeler, Singapore, 03/03/2010 08:57
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Think before you vote. The Lib Lab Cons deny the English their rights and continue to pick our pockets through the Barnett Formula.
If you want Democracy for England vote English Democrat.
- Mark Lancaster - English Democrat, Winchester, ENGLAND, 03/03/2010 08:01
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That England, the country credited with being the 'Mother of all Parliaments' does not actually have a parliament of its own is truly disgraceful. The major political parties have treated England with disdain for far too long. More power to the English Democrats who will definitely get my vote this time around.
- T. Brown, London, England, 02/03/2010 23:22
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Seeing as all the other parts of Britain along with Northern Ireland have their own parliament or assemblies, what argument could there possibly be for England not having one? ...What are our "representatives" waiting for?
I fear Clifftop might be right!
- Croyboy, Croydon, 02/03/2010 08:38
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We already have an English parliament, it is just polluted with Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish MPs - more immigrants that England doesn't want or need.
- Casper Slides, London, 02/03/2010 08:34
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...sounds a bit too democratic for our politicians taste!
- Clifftop, London, 02/03/2010 08:11
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