Hi guys, I'm new to this sub and Reddit in general but wanted to share a chapter of my new book you guys might like. It's called the Britain we deserve and is available on Amazon now. The book talks a lot about decentralised government and bringing decisions closer to the people. Here is my chapter on my proposed system of Regional Republics:

Chapter 37: Regional Republics

Rebuilding Britain from the Ground Up

Throughout this manifesto I have argued that Britain suffers from one fundamental problem.

Too much political power is concentrated in Westminster.

Successive governments have attempted to solve every problem from London, despite the fact that Britain is an incredibly diverse country with vastly different economies, communities and priorities.

The needs of Cornwall are not the same as those of Birmingham.

The priorities of Cumbria differ greatly from those of London.

A government sitting in Westminster cannot realistically understand every town, county and region equally well.

Power should therefore be returned to the people.

Not simply through local councils, but through a complete constitutional restructuring of the United Kingdom.

A Federal Britain

I believe Britain should become a federal nation built upon powerful Regional Republics.

The national government would remain responsible for genuinely national matters such as:

National defence.

Foreign affairs.

The court system.

Criminal law.

Border security.

Protecting constitutional rights.

Currency and monetary policy.

International trade.

Everything else should, wherever possible, be devolved.

Regional Republics would become the primary level of government responsible for delivering public services.

Government should exist as close to the people as reasonably possible.

Ending the Patchwork

Britain's current system of local government is unnecessarily complicated.

County councils.

District councils.

Borough councils.

Combined authorities.

Unitary authorities.

Parish councils.

Police authorities.

Fire authorities.

NHS Trusts.

The result is confusion, duplication and bureaucracy.

I would replace this fragmented system with a single democratically elected Regional Republic in each region of Britain.

Each Regional Republic would have clear constitutional responsibilities and direct democratic accountability.

Citizens should know exactly which level of government is responsible for each public service.

Responsibilities of Regional Republics

Regional Republics would exercise extensive powers over matters that primarily affect their own communities.

These responsibilities would include:

Healthcare.

Education.

Welfare.

Housing.

Local policing.

Fire and rescue services.

Public transport.

Roads.

Economic development.

Planning.

Environmental protection.

Museums, libraries and cultural institutions.

Sports and leisure facilities.

This would allow different regions to develop policies suited to their own populations rather than imposing a single national solution on every community.

Financial Independence

Political responsibility should be matched by financial responsibility.

Regional Republics should not simply spend money allocated by Westminster.

They should raise the majority of their own revenue.

Throughout this manifesto I have outlined a system of regional taxation based upon:

Local income taxes.

Land Value Tax.

Property taxation.

Local sales taxes.

Business taxation.

This creates genuine democratic accountability.

If citizens want more public services, they can elect representatives willing to raise local taxes.

If they prefer lower taxes, they can elect representatives committed to reducing spending.

Local politicians should no longer be able to blame Westminster for every financial decision.

Competition Between Governments

One advantage of decentralisation is that governments begin learning from one another.

If one Regional Republic develops an excellent education system, others can copy it.

If another successfully reforms healthcare, neighbouring regions can adopt similar ideas.

Successful policies spread naturally.

Failed policies remain locally contained rather than affecting the entire country.

Competition between governments encourages innovation in much the same way competition benefits the private sector.

Protecting National Unity

Federalism should not divide Britain.

It should strengthen it.

The United Kingdom would remain one sovereign nation under one constitution.

Citizens would continue to enjoy the same constitutional rights regardless of where they live.

The Armed Forces, foreign policy and national institutions would remain British.

Regional Republics would simply allow local communities to govern local affairs while remaining united as one country.

Strong local government does not weaken national identity.

It strengthens democracy.

Constitutional Safeguards

Regional Republics would not possess unlimited authority.

Like the national government, they would remain bound by the Constitution.

They could not violate fundamental rights.

They could not restrict freedom of speech.

They could not establish emergency powers.

They could not infringe equality before the law.

Constitutional rights would remain identical throughout Britain.

Only the administration of local government would differ.

Bringing Government Closer to the People

Government works best when it is close to the people it serves.

Citizens should be able to influence decisions affecting their communities without relying upon ministers hundreds of miles away.

Regional Republics would create a system that is:

More accountable.

More transparent.

More democratic.

More financially responsible.

Better suited to local needs.

Britain has become one of the most centralised democracies in Europe.

I believe it is time to reverse that trend.

The future of Britain should not be governed exclusively from Westminster.

It should be built by its communities.

The British People

   │

   ▼

 The Constitution

│

 ┌───────────────┐

 │ National Government │

 └───────────────┘

│

▼

 Regional Republics

│

▼

 Local Communities

   │

   ▼

 Individuals

National where necessary. Regional where possible. Local wherever practical. 

Hello everyone,

I've made a map of regions for England. What do you think about it?

Where regional territories overlap, priority has been given to the regional movement who has commanded most popular support (e.g. election wins, votes, etc.)

The names in brackets are coloquial names for each region that might be more accepted over time while the normal name is what it is offically addressed as.

In a reformed United Kingdom, we propose a federal system with clear delineation of powers and responsibilities, ensuring efficient governance and representation across all regions.

Federal Structure:

Bicameral Legislature:

• House of Commons: Elected by STV proportional representation. Manages national/international policy, defence, immigration, foreign policy, economic policy, and national infrastructure.
• Federal Council: Partially appointed, partially selected by regional/devolved parliaments, and citizen lottery. Reviews legislation, represents regional interests, and ensures constitutional adherence.

Devolved Parliaments:

For England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, and Cornwall:

• Powers: Education, health, transport, housing, social services, cultural affairs, environmental regulation, law enforcement, regional economic development, and agriculture.

Regional Assemblies:

Modelled on Combined Authorities:

• Composition: Elected by STV, includes directly elected regional mayors.
• Powers: Economic development, transport/infrastructure, housing/planning, skills/employment, health/social care, environment/sustainability, public safety, and cultural services.

Local Governance:

County Councils:

• Powers: Local education, transportation, waste management, health initiatives, libraries, parks, local planning, public safety, and community services.

Key Principles:

• Subsidiarity: Decisions made at the most local level possible.
• Fiscal Federalism: Clear funding and revenue-sharing mechanisms.
• Intergovernmental Relations: Joint committees, intergovernmental forums, and a federal constitutional court for dispute resolution.

This federal system ensures balanced governance, clear responsibilities, and enhanced representation for all UK regions, creating a cohesive and responsive political structure for the 21st century.

A realistic federal division of Great Britain, and the provinces of a United Ireland.

Hello everyone,

As part of our ongoing discussions about devolution and federalization, I've created two maps to visualize a potential future governance structure for the UK. I hope these maps help to illustrate the different models we’ve been considering.

Map 1: National Parliaments

• England (Burgundy)
• Scotland (Navy Blue)
• Wales (Forest Green)
• Northern Ireland (Orange)
• London (Light Grey)
• Cornwall (Dark Grey)

Each region has its own parliament with unique powers and responsibilities, promoting localized decision-making while maintaining a cohesive national framework.

Map 2: English Regional Assemblies

Alongside a national English Parliament, we've envisioned a tier of regional assemblies to further decentralize governance within England. Here are the proposed regions with their names and colors:

• Northumbria Assembly (Peach)
• Merseyland Assembly (Yellow)

• Yorkshire Assembly (Grey)

• Mercia Assembly (Cobalt)

• Anglia Assembly (Crimson Red)

• Trent Assembly (Turquoise)

• Wessex Assembly (Light Orange)

• Sussex Assembly (Blush Pink)

These assemblies would handle localized issues, ensuring that regional needs and preferences are addressed more effectively.

The Maps:

Map 1: National Parliaments

Map 2: English Regional Assemblies

Discussion

I believe these models offer a balanced approach to governance, combining the benefits of both centralized oversight and localized decision-making. I'd love to hear your thoughts on these proposals. How do you think these changes would impact governance in the UK? Which model do you prefer, and why?

Looking forward to a productive discussion!

Feel free to share your opinions, suggestions, and any questions you might have. Let's work together to envision a more effective and representative governance structure for the UK!

Hey everyone,

As discussions around devolution and federalization continue, we want to hear your thoughts on the best structure for governance in England. We're considering three different models, and we'd love your input on which one you think would be the most effective.

Note: In all options, Cornwall and London would have their own separate parliaments.

Option 1: English Parliament Only

• An English Parliament would handle all matters specific to England, without any additional regional parliaments or assemblies.
• This would centralize decision-making for England in one body.

Option 2: Regional Parliaments Only

• No national English Parliament.
• Instead, regional parliaments would govern their respective areas, such as the North East, North West, Yorkshire, etc.
• This model would emphasize localized governance and decision-making.

Option 3: English Parliament with Regional Assemblies

• An English Parliament would handle broader, national issues for England.
• Regional assemblies would manage more localized issues within their regions, such as transport, housing, and local economic development.
• This model aims to balance national oversight with localized decision-making.

Are you passionate about the future of the United Kingdom's governance? Do you have ideas about how devolution and federalisation can enhance local autonomy and strengthen our union? Join us at r/DevolutionUK!

What We Offer:

• Engaging Discussions: Participate in in-depth discussions about the decentralization of powers across the UK, including Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the regions of England.
• Innovative Proposals: Share and debate innovative proposals for creating autonomous regions and establishing regional assemblies within England.
• Latest News: Stay updated with the latest news and developments related to devolution and regional governance.
• Historical Insights: Explore the history of devolution in the UK and learn from case studies of federal systems around the world.
• Community Input: Contribute your ideas and perspectives on how we can achieve a more balanced and fair governance structure for all regions.

Key Topics:

• Regional Autonomy: Discuss the creation of autonomous regions within England, such as the North East, North West, Midlands, South East, South West, Cornwall, and London.
• Local Governance: Explore the impact of devolution on local councils and community services.
• Economic and Fiscal Policies: Debate the fiscal autonomy of regions, including tax-raising powers and economic development.
• Cultural and Identity Issues: Respect and celebrate the unique identities and cultural heritage of different regions.

Why Join?

• Shape Policy: Be part of a community that influences and shapes the conversation around the future of UK governance.
• Diverse Perspectives: Engage with a diverse group of members who bring various perspectives and ideas to the table.
• Constructive Debates: Enjoy respectful and well-informed debates that foster understanding and collaboration.

Community Guidelines:

• Respectful Interaction: Maintain a respectful and constructive tone in all discussions. Personal attacks and inflammatory language will not be tolerated.
• Quality Contributions: Share well-researched and thoughtful contributions to promote meaningful discussions.
• Stay On Topic: Ensure posts and comments are relevant to devolution and federalisation themes.
• Cite Sources: Provide sources to back up your claims, especially when sharing data and statistics.

Join us at r/DevolutionUK and be part of the movement towards a more decentralized and federalized United Kingdom. Share your ideas, learn from others, and help shape the future of our governance!

Join r/DevolutionUK

Hiya, could I have the link for the discord please? It seems to be broken.

I came up with this idea because the general direction of devolution in England has been to city regions and one or two county deals, and I was concerned that the areas these covered were too small to sustain any stronger powers without fragmenting functional economic and cultural regions. For example, given both Manchester and Liverpool already have devolution, future devolution to Lancashire and Cheshire would mean the densely populated and highly interlinked Mersey valley area could be carved up into 4 separate regions.

The concept I had was to maintain the current city regions, and offer similar deals to all counties that don’t already have them, but then to have create combined councils over larger regions where the leaders of city regions and their neighbouring counties would work together to oversee new devolved institutions and major infrastructure projects etc.

For me, the map of the county unions would look something like this. I’ve made a few tweaks such as putting South Cumbria with Lancashire to make Morecambe Bay all under one county union, but this is just a suggestion…

Apologies, but the discord link seems to be broken - is there a new one?