We don't appear to be absorbed by tradition - a few years ago I went to Biarritz in France and every house had the same type of heavy net curtin up at the window no one really moved around the world (so consequently didn't come back with their own individual ideas of what to wear, how to wear it and make an individual statement.

WE really do admire other nations and traditions but find our own difficult to swallow or make light of them to the point of humour.

Other nations find it easier to live here because we embrace other traditions and customs just as easy as dismiss our own. In the regions some customs are kept alive and honoured - we could say that that in London the Nottinghill Carnival is the epitome of just how much we want to embrace the world stage - can you imagine the same carnival happening in Switzerland!?

Fiona Kellam, Greenford, Middx

Never mind client councils, the guardians of our civic pride? They have descended dramatically to being estate agents and tax collectors, the modern day Sheriffs of Nottingham. Enough of those overpaid supernumeries. What about the really insidious intrusion into public life and private intention, the unelected Regional Assemblies. We are increasingly ruled by Brussels, direct rule that not only ignores councils but also operates without any nationally elected, manifesto-led Government. The increase in funding groups, planning authorities and redevelopment assessors are all directly attributable to this regional phenomenon. They have a free hand to form communities, to negate and remodel, to overrule local accountability at every level. They specialise in those schemes viewed as iconic, express a form of dynamism. Their legacy is city centre Birmingham expensive looking but vacuous, trans-European bland in spades. Why are they amongst us? When was power handed on and by whom?

Malcolm Turner, Alsager, England

Simon by all means give England its parliament and upgrade Wales' while you're about it. And yes give power back to the cities and the counties. And reinvigorate and reinvent parish councils for towns and villages. So far same page.
Here I take a turn for the better.
And okay call me old fashioned - how about fulfilling the Chartists demands for annual parliaments? That would give the place-people a fright.
But can we spread power up as well as down? The list is long but let you and me start with something symbolic.
How about direct elections to the United Nations. How rich and raw would that democracy be? A general assembly of the general public. And oh one more thing.
Mao, for whom I have no great liking, said something about every journey starting with a single step.
Here's mine.
The BBC is considering scrapping its planned local TV service. It is a secret process. The scheme is not expensive in BBC terms. Research shows we want it. So let the people vote. Openly. Democratically.

Steve, London, UK

I am the United Kingdom's good servant, but England's first!

Brian Lewis, Manila, Philippines

The regions suggested for regional assembly were not "fashioned in whitehall" they were fashioned in Brussels! they are coincidentally co-terminous with the European regions imposed on us by mandarins with no understanding or interest in the historical or cultural development of England. And politicians wonder why there is an anti federal Europe feeling in the UK?

Rick, Lincoln,

How true - loyalty to England is pretty low. Its because I have nothing in common with most of population that lives in our SE quadrant. Loyalty is at a sub-regional level and although I no longer live there for career reasons, I'd much rather be by the Mersey.

Al, Newcastle,

Simon Jenkins asks why England has not been invited to the party of revived local democracy. The answer is that devolution was never about England. It was a Labour party ploy to marginalise England politically because it is in England that its electoral support will always be weakest. The scheme is beginning to unravel because Labour's assumption of permanent control of the Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly is proving to be illusory. Experiencing the media coverage of last Thursday's elections and the inevitable concentration on Edinburgh and Cardiff, it was easy to forget that the devolved administrations there represent a mere 14% of the population of the former UK. The rest of us are just expected to cough up the money to pay for it all.

Martin Litchfield, Wimborne , England

I don't know what you people in Britain do, but we Cornish love Cornwall.

penelope shuttle, falmouth cornwall,

how to do the rest of the rich western countries manage without 'English expertise'. I am a unionist scot but i think many of the negative comments about the scots on such messageboards go far beyond grievances about the west lothian question and the barnett formula etc. There is an element in England particularly from the southern areas who have never - ever had any respect for scotland or its achievementsas a small country of 5 million. Many of these comments at are best patronising at worst blatant racism which the English would dare not use on any other minority sharing these isles.

alan, edinburgh, uk

Hello how are you? I am my nam nuch from Thailand i have to make e-mail with mysefl i am know alitter. I am know look not very nice because i have to send only one.
What your nam? Whear you from? Are you live alone?
Please send e- mail to me back. I am sorry if you think about my e-mail look very nice.
Nuch

nuch, Burirum, Lumpaymath

Please, please, no English parliament, and yet more expensive politicians. We already have a parliament, just stop Scots voting on issues that don't concern them.

David Bannen, Oxford, UK

Yes, let’s have a bicameral Parliament for England somewhere in the middle of the country, and then let’s apply the present House of Lords as an elected Upper House for the whole of Britain -- England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland -- to look after matters that relate to all.

Richard Pollard, Stafford, Virginia, USA

Say you are good. Pet the dog and stave him also at the same time.. read this ... Exit pursued by McBear. This week Tony Blair will announce his going as prime minister. Let us give him a break. His boldest legacy to British history, devolution, has come good.

Firozali A.Mulla MBA PhD, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania

We English want an English Parliament /Executive/First Minister at the very least. Many of us want full blown independence. We will not settle for regionalism, localism or whatever else you want to call it UNLESS we English decide for ourselves on that course through those democratically elected representitive English bodies..
I don't need Gordon Brown telling us English how to run our government, NHS,education or any other 'devolved' matter.

Derek, Southampton, England

one word-Cornwall.

IanWraith, Truro, Cornwall

The 3 big parties won't support devolved government for England because the only model the EU allows is the break up of England in Regions (with approximately the same population each as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It's as simple as that.

David Scott, Chester,

I find it quite odd, reading these commrnts, that the two supporting Britishness come from people living abroad!

j.b.windmill, brierley hill, England

I am a Scottish Unionist but I know enough to realise that this 300 year old unitary state is on its last legs! Scottish Nationalism cannot suddenly be replaced with another form of out-dated British patriotism? It is finished! Unless Unionists face the realpolitik that some other political arrangement has to be found, possibly in a loose federal or confederal constitution, then in all probability we must go our separate ways? I suspect the majority of English people will probably be relieved, instead of attempting to halt this inevitable outcome? England deserves better and Scotland can only hold it back! Lachie Todd

Mr Lachie Todd, Edinburgh, Scotland, U.K.

Why have the English allowed the current crop of foreign born MP’s to dominate their traditional way of life? English people are not only deprived of having a recognised country, but have the largest electorate, land mass, and pay the majority of taxes within the UK.
Yet is deprived and hung out to dry, in favour of paying for the privilege to support the smaller, lame duck nations of the Union.
Any other nation would be up in arms against this blatant discrimination against the major stakeholders. Yet the English sit and moan about the Football, celebrity lives, and the immigration problem.
Time for an English only Parliament.
I have read Kilroy-Silk at least tried to do something, by reporting the government’s discrimination process against the English to Brussels, of course, as ever the E.U. did nothing, and failed the very people that that pay most towards their corrupt club.
Is K-S the only Englishman with any backbone, among amongst this feeble nation of donkeys

David Croucher, MALAGA, Spain

Since Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are already dependant administrative regions of the EU, let them be independent from England (which comprises 9 EU regions). They have their own national parties so when will the Conservative party grasp the opportunity of becoming the national party for England, dropping its pretensions of British-ness and letting the New Labour party sink into a mire of their own making?. Independence will get the baggage of the dependent nations off the backs of the English and end the Scottish and Welsh block votes on the English Parliament

Allen Burton, Shipley, England

Wth so much power now in the hands of the unelected and unaccountable of Brussels, it is fast becoming irrelevant whether Parliament claims to represent the English, the Scots or anyone else. Solve that problem, and the internal structure of UK politics might become meaningful again.

Nick (ex-England), Seattle, USA

If the Union was is so dearly loved, why no celebtarion of the 300th anniversary - last week??????

The Queen was not even in the country.

Actions (or non actions) speak very loudly, a once great country now falling apart.

cameron martin, Sydeny, Australia

Why don't you try out the Australian system?
Three tiers - local councils for garbage collection, parks, libraries etc - State governments (England,Scotland,Wales) for hospitals, police, schools etc - and a National ( Westminster) government for Defence, Taxation, national policies on industry, science and so on.
In Australia, our VAT is collected by the Federal Govt and passed back entirely to the State governments.
It's not perfect - but it would allow the Union to stay intact and the regional adherents to have true self funding. self regulating, distinct entities with their own holidays, festivals etc.
It works reasonably well in Aus.

Campbell Gorrie, Sydney, Australia

At last an Englishman who can articulate an understanding of what is real in the surreal world of politics!
The days of placidly doing what Westminster decrees are over! The humble electorate in the United Kingdom,thoroughly deserve control of their own affairs with an emphasis on what happens at a local level.
Simon Jenkins is absolutely correct when he points out the majority of Scots voters do NOT want to dissolve the Union.Bear in mind that Scotland is not a REGION of the U.K. it is one of two equal partners! The Welsh assembly & the N.I.Executive are NOT parliaments of sovereign states,but Edinburgh & Westminster ARE,and can and MUST exist shoulder to shoulder in the Union. That way each can work to satisfy its own electorate and respect the other within the wider context of the UNITED Kingdom.
The ex Lib-Dem and Conservative voters like me,realised this point finally this time.Knowing that a vote for the Scottish NATIONAL party did not mean automatic dissolution of the Union!

George Thomas, Hamilton, Scotland,U.K.

Why have the English allowed the current crop of foreign born MP’s to dominate their traditional way of life? English people are not only deprived of having a recognised country, but have the largest electorate, land mass, and pay the majority of taxes within the UK.
Yet is deprived and hung out to dry, in favour of paying for the privilege to support the smaller, lame duck nations of the Union.
Any other nation would be up in arms against this blatant discrimination against the major stakeholders. Yet the English sit and moan about the Football, celebrity lives, and the immigration problem.
Time for an English only Parliament.
I have read Kilroy-Silk at least tried to do something, by reporting the government’s discrimination process against the English to Brussels, of course, as ever the E.U. did nothing, and failed the very people that that pay most towards their corrupt club.
Is K-S the only Englishman with any backbone, among amongst this feeble nation of donkeys

David Croucher, Malaga, Spain

The need for national assemblies has been brought about soley be the consequences of the accretion of central power by Governments since the last war, prior to which private and public organisations in their localities raised the finances and provided the services for the people they served. That system worked. The one we have doesnt and also costs vast amounts in administrative overheads.
One example of the appalling consequence of this is that so-called asylum seekers can be provided with brand new furnished council houses at the exchequer's expense, to which they have never contributed one penny and probably never will..

John Englishman, Bromley, UK

From this American's perhaps naive perspective, Britain's regional problems do not really seem all that dire. Why not just do the following:

1. divide up England into regions with their own devolved governments equal in power to those of Scotland and Wales and
2. end the over-representation of Scotland in Westminster.

Wouldn't these measures address the two major grievances of English citizens of the UK? Would people in Scotland and Wales have any reason to object to them?

Matt, Northampton, Massachusetts, USA

1. Facts

Mr Jenkins is not as accurate as he should be. The turnout in the Scottish elections last week was 52.0%, not 60% (if the BBC is correct). His figures for the Welsh elections are correct but he might also have mentioned that this figure is still below that of the 1999 election. So let's not get carried away with talk of a democratic revival in Scotland and Wales.

2. Arguments

Mr Jenkins wants the Scottish and Welsh assemblies to have 'full taxing powers, including over property, transport and business' . What of income? 'Full' implies it should be included. He also wants 'powerful, directly elected first ministers'. Directly elected? So he seems to want elements of a presidential system introduced into the UK. Giving more power to the assemblies and more power to the first ministers can only mean gridlock and even less effective government. Some confusion here, surely?

Please check facts and think through your ideas before rushing to judgement, Mr Jenkins.

Pete Browning, Kingsclere, Hants , UK

"You cannot vote SNP without voting for indepenence so what is this 'still part of the Union' about. "

Rubbish. I voted SNP for a variety of reasons. Not sure about independence though

David Millar

David Millar, Edinburgh, Scotland

"Englishness" is not an invention, "Britishness" Is.

This appears to be an article in favour of regionalism, though it poses some thought provoking questions. But at the end of the day any constitutional changes should be put before the people of England in the form of a referendum, the question that should be asked is, do you want an English parliament, YES OR NO.
That's DEMOCRACY.

Anthony Ellis, Kirkby in Ashfield, England

Unlike Chris who lives in Australia, I am very clear that I am English first and British second. If the Scots take the independence route, then good luck to them say I. But what of poor neglected England? At a minimum, MPs with constituencies in Scotland or Wales should be barred from voting in Westminster on competencies which have been devolved to their respective regional assemblies. It is time for England to stand up and be counted!

Richard, Worcester, England

"Union? What Union?"

You just can't see that Scots have being saying the same thing for a lot longer than you, eh, Carol?

Barry Lees, Greenock, Scotland

Simon Jenkin's article offers two examples of what George Orwell called the corruption of thought by language.

We'd almost used to the English using "federal" to mean "centralised" in the EU context. It's the old Gaullist dichotomy of "federal" and "confederal" fertilized by the English inability to conceive of any form of subsidiarity, the very disease of which he complains. Extending this usage to UK politics deprives the language of any adjective to describe the goals of devolution. What you can't name, you can't think. Dismantling the UK altogether thus becomes the only thinkable (literally) alternative to the present centralisation.

Jenkins then hijacks "majoritarian", the principle of any democratic system, to mean only "first-past-the-post". The merits he urges for it, clear results, apply at best only to governments and electoral colleges, not to legislatures, whose ability roughly to reflect public opinion is their only, but only, defence against executive tyranny.

Nick Strange, Cologne, Germany

It is now de rigeur on these occasions for journalists in the South to trot out the per capita expenditure figures for Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) to support a premise that Scots are "subsidy junkies". Per capita spending is not the only public spending which takes place. For example, the entire state apparatus based in Whitehall is not cheap; houses our highest paid public servants and works in our most expensive real estate. Major public sector institutions base themselves in the South and deliver to the Southern economy (consider the BBC for example).

Southern England, by virtue of its geography, offers easy access to the markets abroad through ports and through the heavily subsidised Channel Tunnel which has brought fantastic benefit to individuals and business in the South East, but leaves us here in Glasgow (from where promised services never materialised) a little cold.

The story is not so simple.

Frank, nr Glasgow, Scotland

What has happened to Gordon Brown? Is he unwell? Where is he?
It is a concern that when things are not going well he hides away; what will happen when there is a crisis and he is Prime Minister?

Bethany, Bradford, England

Enough of foreign residents telling us what to don in the comments. They do not have to tolerate a Scottish MP denying their sick and elderly the life saving drugs that the Scottish get for free. 11 cancer drugs are now denied to our dying in England, plus sight saving drugs, plus tests for serious illnesss and even certain chemotherapy.

Union? What Union? Get England out of this system of apartheid, before we're drive to civil war in order to obtain democracy.

The chattering classes are as guilty as the Westminster bunch who are pushing their Auld Enemy policies onto England. NO MORE OF IT!!!!

Carol Banks, carlisle, England

Devolution of England might begin with changing London to a City State, with a similar government system to that in the historic republic of Venice, and a financial obligation to other regions.

For the remainder of the country, loss of identity is the problem, with population mobility and the reduced importance of counties. The points of the compass might suffice, unless an additional ‘Middle England,’ needed to be accommodated, not necessarily located at the geographic centre.

Language and dialect are other possibilities as differentiator, but the phrenological difficulties of precisely linking specific location with vocabulary, idiom, usage and pronunciation – not to mention an increasingly prevalent vernacular - in a multicultural context (with subcultures) should not be underestimated.

dr venables preller, Warminster, UK

I'm not English, I'm British... maybe European at a larger level... maybe from the small region of Arun at the other, but I know of no real concept of West Sussex or Englishness.

Looking ahead: a sense of belonging will probably exist for a larger entity (the EU?) and a smaller regional one, but maybe both Englishness and Britishness will just be concepts from a colonial past.

James Capon, Brussels, Belgium

The Union must be a collection of a vitual parties. Devolution is clearly part of that.
Whilst devolution is strengthened so should the Union. The Union has to be a greater force than untempered nationalism.

If the Scottish people want independence they should say so now as the Union is at stake. It cannot exist wihout them - nor will the Monarchy. Or have they spoken? The mandate of the SNP is clearly independence. You cannot vote SNP without voting for indepenence so what is this 'still part of the Union' about.

Perhaps, the Queen should be asked to stay in America until minds have been made up and her position resolved.

Wigglesworth, Gachnang,

Don't confuse the pointless extra layer of snouts in the trough in Scotland, Ulster and Wales with democracy - once elected they do as they like just like all the other layers...

A cursory examination of the economies of these regions should also show that they were better off when they were run directly from London, and that it was achieved with a fraction of the public sector employees now living off our backs...

John R.Walker, Caernarvon, U.K.

the current system allows voters in the devolved regions to elect Westminster MPs, knowing that their choices will be unable to influence many local decisions. However all these regionally elected Westimster MPs are allowed to vote on english local issues, such as tuition fees and care of the elderly. These MPs, not being accountable for their votes in their own constituencies, are more likely to vote based on personal ambition or whim. This surely is not right. Those who think there is nothing wrong with this, would presumably be happy if we invited the french and irish to send representatives to Westminster as well.........

andrew, cirencester- future capital , england

Fair Play will end the union, at least as we understand it now. The British – although in this case I probably mean the English – have a strong sense of fairness. Struggling English families, weighed down by much higher regional costs of living, will grow to resent the disproportionate power of Scottish MPs and the associated disproportionate spending on the Scots if it is repeatedly thrust in their faces.

At the moment the necessity for the Conservatives to win a far higher share of the British vote to win a working majority is considered to be only a consequence of constituency boundaries and the distribution of Conservative support. But when a Scottish leader with a Scottish cabinet with minority support in English polls starts to lord it over the party that won the most English votes at the next elections unfairness will start to sway public opinion.

John , Epsom, Surrey

England and Scotland are on a collision course that will see an end to Westminster Parliamentary system as we know it.

If the support demonstrated in recent local elections is replicated in a general election the Conservative party will have an absolute majority of English MPs and yet will be only the largest party in a hung parliament.

Over the next five years we will probably see the formation of an English parliament or a two-tier Westminster system that will prevent MPs representing devolved constituencies. The trigger for this will be the next election, although the imminent coronation of Gordon Brown as Prime Minister and the probable preponderance of ministers from Scottish constituencies in his new cabinet. We will hear a lot more about the West Lothian Question and the Barnett Formula over the next five years, at least if the Conservatives intend to play this card.

John , Epsom, Surrey

Prior to the Local Government Act 1972, most Englishmen held a strong affinity for their Counties, exemplified by the once great popularity of County Cricket. Those who had lived all their lives inside the larger cities, such as Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool were unable to identify with a county as they could travel far and wide without ever needing to leave their home city boundaries. Back when our schools were attached to County Councils our education system worked, and worked well. I remember proudly wearing the gold, 'Three Cheshire Wheatsheaves' badge on my school blazer, and recall that my examinations were set by the educational authority in Chester. Things started to go to pot when the Metropolitan districts began to take precedence. Simon raises an interesting point about how an English parliament could be structured. Our own history impels us to return first to our County roots, and then build upwards from there with an English Parliament, in York or Cirencester?

Errol Flynn, Chester, England

I don't want to be English. I like being British. I like the South Downs Way and Snowdownia. I like Edinburgh and Bath.
I don't need an invented sense of 'Englishness' just like I don't need to feel 'Berkshire-ish.'

Indeed, as time goes on, I begin to feel more European than British. Perhaps if devolution continues and can no longer claim to be British, I should instead claim to be European and leave it at that.

Chris, Buderim, Australia

Let us not forget that the ruthless centralisation of wealth and political power in London was established by Thatcher to buy Southerners' votes. Their wages and house prices were raised by her policy of trashing the local economies of the rest of England, Scotland and Wales. Of course Labour continued with this policy, there is no difference between greedy and arrogant metropolitan politicians, only the colour of their rosettes differs. The English (i.e. those outside London) suffer the consequences of being too well-behaved: They have never banded together and fought hard like the Scots and Welsh did. The sheer apathy is painful to watch.

Kit , ex-England, Australia

Cumbrian devolution? Mmm...there are certainly smaller countries in the EU, let alone regions.

John Campbell, Kendal, Cumbria

Scottish politicians can't go into smoke-filled rooms, only smoke free rooms.

Huntly loon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Why not an English Parliament?

We are fed up with being told what we should have without even being asked.

If an English Parliament leads to the end of the UK then that's not the fault of the English.

Anyway, if it's a choice between England bwing destroyed or the Union being destroyed, then it's goodbye UK as far as I'm concerned.

Stephen Gash, Carlisle, England - there'll always be one