The Real North South Divide

The electorate living in the part of England, which the current government still contrives to become the North East Region (of a non-existent country formerly known as England), returned around 28 New Labour MPs to Westminster in this year's General Election. This represents roughly 70% of New Labour MPs returned in Scotland. These same English people also resoundingly rejected elected regional assemblies in the only part of their country (everlastingly known as England) that has actually been consulted about devolved government. That the Deputy Prime Minister mysteriously believed his carve-up of England would be supported in last November's referendum shows just how out of touch this government is with English people. To thank its voters, the government has imposed a non-elected regional assembly upon them. To rub salt into the wound people in the Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland area are united in being punished with student tuition fees, foundation hospitals and expensive care for the elderly. This also applies to English people living in the "North West", an area which starts at the Scottish border and dribbles down to Wales. Of course, these impositions do not apply in Scotland, as it was Scottish New Labour MPs who did the imposing. The real North/South divide is between Scotland (the north) and the north of England (the south). Essentially, what we need is an English Parliament, located where English people desire, which focuses clearly on the needs of England as a whole. Local government can then be returned to County Councils, where it belongs. Carving England into pieces leads to piecemeal government.