Federalfuture

John Henderson’s letter (Scotsman, May 21) proposing a federal system for the UK raises an issue that should have been at the core when devolution was first proposed.

Instead, the UK has a halfbaked system, with an unbalanced distribution of powers.

Writing as an ex-pat Scot from Canada, we have a federal system that allows regional differences to be acknowledged, accommodated, and a pride in ones home province and also particularly in the federation of Canada as a whole. Australia is similar.

At this critical time, the ‘Act of Union Bill’ put forward by the Welsh Lord Lisvane should be moved forward as quickly as possible.

Establishing an English parliament, physically different and away from Westminster is fundamental. The British parliament and the English parliament have to be seen to be different.

There may be and argument for regional parliaments in England (and possibly Scotland) to break up the Anglocentric nature of the UK, but a separate English parliament at the very least.

It would be a tragedy and ironic, that the nation that essentially on its own defended European democracy just over 80 years ago, should be broken up by home grown nationalism.

Every country in Europe, including those that fought against, and those that stood by and watched, owes their democratic existence today to the UK.

No, the UK did not win the war, but it prevented it from being lost and Europe from being possibly permanently subjugated.

After 400 years, the Union no doubt needs repair, if not rebuilding. That is why the Act of Union Bill needs to progress to provide a meaningful alternative to separatism and a more balanced distribution of power within the UK.

DAVID A CLARK Saanichton, British Columbia,

Canada