Politics of England - English Political Parties

English Political Parties

Most of the parties that operate within England alone tend to be purely interested in English issues. Examples include the English Democrats Party (although they too have stood candidates in Monmouthshire), One England, the English People's Party, the English Radical Alliance, the England First Party, and the English Independence Party.

The Green Party has had an amicable split from Scottish counterpart, and the Wales Green Party section is becoming increasingly autonomous.

The Conservative Party has recently adopted a policy of English Votes on English Legislation (EVoEL). The Conservative policy of EVoEL aims to prevent MPs with constituencies outside of England from voting on legislation that only affects England. There is a significant element within the Conservative Party that supports full devolution for England with the establishment of a devolved English Parliament and English Executive, along the lines of those in Scotland.

Some English people and parties go further by calling for the dissolution of the Union entirely, such as One England, the English Independence Party and the English Radical Alliance. However, the approach favoured by the current Labour government was (on the basis that England is too large to be governed as a single sub-state entity) to propose the devolution of power to the Regions of England. Lord Falconer claimed a devolved English parliament would dwarf the rest of the United Kingdom. Referendums would decide whether people wanted to vote for regional assemblies to watch over the work of the non-elected RDAs.