Slugger O'Toole

Not a unionist but comfortable with the idea of a confederation of sovereign states working for the greater good of all of us from these islands. I would like to see English domestic affairs decided by elected representatives from England only rather than by a parliament and government that is in effect an undemocratic and imperial master clinging desperately to its last colony. Would prefer the head of the new English state to be an elected one also.

Latest comments from English Republic (see all)

English Republic has commented 25 times (0 in the last month).

1. Comment on The coming Papal visit
   on 15 September 2010 at 11:24 pm

   I wonder how long the Daily Mail set would tolerate the monarchy if they received an itemised costing of the Windor family on their tax return? They’d be up in arms quicker than you could say “Helicopter for Andy!”

   As for Mr Ratzinger, like I said most people here couldn’t care less about the actual visit, there is an overwhelming sense of apathy even amongst the (nominal) Catholic’s that I know with only the elderly and “Third World” migrants of the Catholic faith who actually believe in all the mumbo-jumbo of religion that are remotely interested in going to see him. The difference compared to Mr Wojtyła’s visit a generation ago is profound and as an atheist that can only be a promising thing. I’ve no issue with Ratzinger myself and if going to see him floats people’s boat’s then good luck to them, I just don’t want to pay for their indulgence.

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2. Comment on The coming Papal visit
   on 15 September 2010 at 7:15 pm

   This visit seems to be causing almost as much controversy in Ireland as it is in the countries that he is actually visiting this week! I can’t speak for Scotland but in this country it is the cost of this visit which is the main objection for the vast majority of people. We are all being told to tighten our belts yet the government are quite happy to spend OUR money to pay for this visit, yet the Catholic Church (along with many other religious organisations) have vast wealth themselves. Is it not enough that we have to pay for one religious figurehead who also doubles up as an un-elected head of state whilst sitting on huge wealth that us plebs can only dream of?

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3. Comment on Across the water…. Some thoughts on Scotland.
   on 15 September 2010 at 6:57 pm

   Douglas Murray derided the Scottish parliament as a “Mickey Mouse” institution, staffed with “so-called” politicians who have “not much to do”.

   From what I can see the MSP’s do far more than their Scottish MP counterparts, unless Murray believes that interfering in England’s affairs is more important than looking after the interests of the Scottish electorate?

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4. Comment on General Election 2010 – Wales (1 of 2)
   on 10 September 2010 at 11:14 pm

   I think that Welsh nation building is a relatively recent phenomenon in the sense that the things which make a nation (a flag, an anthem, a capital city etc.) have only been formally recognised in the relatively recent past. Unlike Ireland and Scotland, Wales (along with Cornwall of course!) were very much incorperated within the English state that pre-dated the 1707 union with Scotland. That strange term “EnglandandWales” is of course a child of that Welsh nation building, as indeed is the “England & Wales Cricket Board”.

   I am inclined to agree with Dewi with regard to the 1997 referendum. Had there been a no vote then the whole thing would have come to a shuddering halt for although Wales would have still had its distinct identity, without an outlet for Welsh political expression that identity would never get beyond the cultural or sporting level as is the case in England today.

   Moving forward to a full legislative parliament is now the next logical step in the process of Welsh nation building with fiscal autonomy and independence the next steps along that road. Where Wales leads England will hopefully follow!

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5. Comment on “I’d like to help you son, but you’re too young to vote”
   on 28 July 2010 at 7:27 pm

   Do MYP’s from Ireland, Scotland and Wales debate and vote on matters that affect only England in this parliament too?

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6. Comment on Conservative/ulster unionist link to continue.
   on 28 July 2010 at 4:58 pm

   It would appear that the CONservative party are willing to alienate the people of the country which put them into power in their vain attempts to keep alive the outdated union to which they cling. Their negligence of the people of England will be their undoing.

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7. Comment on Unionism: “Like most liberalism, when directed at others it’s patronising”
   on 21 July 2010 at 6:13 pm

   Progressive Unionist,

   A well thought out and thought provoking piece, however I must take issue with your statement regarding a Federal Union. I’m assuming that to be an aspiration for if you think that is what we have now then you are very much mistaken. The Westminster parliament may be located in England and be wholly responsible for the government of England but an English government it most certainly isn’t! Unless the democratic deficit caused by a lack of English self-government is rectified then I’m afraid this Federal Union is a non-starter and as all three main parties are openly hostile to the idea then it won’t happen any time soon. The main arguament against an English parliament is that with 85% of the population the English government would dominate the UK. That may be true but to me that seems a poor excuse for the denial of democracy to over 50 million people. If it is so then perhaps a confederal union of sovereign states may be a more suitable option but it is certainly a boil that needs lancing as the longer it festers the more likely the clamour for English independence will become. I expect very little from the political pygmies Cameron and Clegg who despite being given the keys to power by the people of England are instinctively Anglophobic and have done all they can to kick this issue into the long grass. Time will tell.

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8. Comment on Commons cuts will force radical reform and a smaller Assembly
   on 9 July 2010 at 3:50 pm

   Agreed Dewi, the ideal number of Welsh, Scottish and Irish MP’s would be zero. Around 300 English MP’s should do the trick too in the new Federal Republic of England with as much power devolved to northern, midland, south-eastern and south-western assemblies as possible and in turn down to the counties, town’s/cities and parishes with representation too at an equal level on the confederal British-Irish Council. Perhaps then England may become a democracy instead of the feudal stateless nation it is today.

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9. Comment on A United Ulster
   on 21 May 2010 at 7:17 pm

   Yes that’s just what we need, another 50 people meddling in Englands affairs to go with the other 117 foreign MP’s with nothing better to do than impose their will upon the people of England.

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10. Comment on Gordon Brown to resign as Labour leader
    on 11 May 2010 at 1:06 pm

    You wouldn’t get any arguement from me on that one Percy.

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