European Union and English Nationalism

My avid reader knows I am in favour of withdrawal from the European Union and that I long to see a resolution of the West Lothian Question.

Both issues have risen up the political agenda; Europe because of the problems in the eurozone and the likelihood that the EU will use the current travails to press for greater integration  and also proposals for the EU to have tax raising powers.  Resolution of the West Lothian Question becomes more pressing following the stunning victory of the Scottish Nationalists in the recent elections for the Scottish parliament.

Recent opinion polls suggest that a majority of voters for each of three largest political parties is in favour of withdrawal from the EU.  The parties though remain europhile.  None of the parties has addressed the West Lothian Question in any meaningful way, although some progress is being made.  See:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_lords/newsid_9535000/9535684.stm

In England two political parties have a clear policy of withdrawal from the EU - the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) and the English Democrats (ED).

The parties differ on how to deal with the West Lothian Question.  UKIP's policy is for Westminster MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to be barred from voting on purely English legislation.

The ED policy is for a separate English legislature and English government which I consider to be preferable to the UKIP proposal.

What needs to be determined is should the governments of the four nations be part of a federal structure and if so, what would be the responsibilities of the federal and national governments?

Fascinating as constitutional issues are, it has to be recognised that the electorate votes in UK elections on a wide range of issues, although a US President was probably right when he said: 'It's the economy stupid' which determines how people vote.

UKIP do well at European Parliament elections, but have not had any success at Westminster elections and little success in local government elections.  The problem UKIP and the ED have is that what unites the membership are the constitutional issues.  Both parties have policies on a wider range of issues, but these are seldom debated.  To be successful both parties need to develop a supporter base which goes beyond constitutional issues.