Won’t an English Parliament simply create an extra layer of politicians, bureaucracy and cost?
This is indeed something that has to be avoided. That is precisely one of the reasons why the people of England’s North East voted against having a regional assembly. No one wants more government. No one wants more politicians. No one wants to spend any more money on either. Unfortunately the devolution programme of 1998 took a form which carefully avoided anything that disturbed, even threatened to disturb, the salaries and ministerial prospects of existing UK MPs from Scotland and Wales and the concomitant civil service in any way whatsoever. Otherwise it wouldn’t have got through so smoothly, if at all. The parliamentary payroll paid for by the taxpayer was added to by 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament and 60 Members of the Welsh Assembly in the form of salaries, expenses and paid assistants. Yet, even though the MSPs took over the responsibilities of the Secretaries of State for both Scotland and Wales, both Offices were retained as were their place in the Cabinet, and with th
