For the ruling class and their servants in the three Westminster parties, England cannot exist. If England comes to exist as a nation, with representative institutions and a hegemonic English civic national identity, the Union is over.

The Telegraph helped Cameron by warming the issue up - defence of the Union - with a poll saying the English fear for Britain's future as a multinational state. How many more fear the continued existence of the ever-more authoritarian British state and the denial of devolution in England?

Philip,

I agree in that we should be looking to find ways for government to fit better to our own feelings of belonging at a national and local level. That shouldn't be divisive as just as there are many ways in which England can work together with our neighbours in areas of common interest, the same would be true of neighbouring counties.

This is why I believe that the first priority of an English parliament should be to devolve power to bodies representing the historic counties. I understand that there would be difficulties where major conurbations straddle county boundaries (see my post on Christine Constable's article on the subject) but I don't believe that they would be impossible to overcome.

As a Cornishman, I am interested in your view on how Cornwall would fit into such an arrangement. Would you be happy to see Cornwall as part of such an England? If so, what sort of powers would you like to see at a Cornish level and if you do not see Cornwall's future as a part of England, what sort of relationship would you see Cornwall having with an independent England?

Philip,

I think that most of us who are civic English nationalists are first and foremost democrats too. As much as I want an independent English state, I wouldn't want an unwilling Cornwall as part of my nation. I for one am fully in favour of a referendum in Cornwall so that the Cornish people can have the choice of being an independent sovereign nation or an English county treated no differently to Devon, Middlesex or Yorkshire.

I agree Keith.

Brown and Cameron warn against 'narrow nationalism' but their responses to the English Question are tailored to suit narrow party interest.

The English Question should be answered by the English people deciding what is best for England. There's nothing narrow about an answer obtained in that way.

If there is a logical conclusion to Brown's assertion that the people of Scotland a free to determine their own constitutional future (ie constitutionally sovereign), then it is that England too has the sovereign right to choose the form of government best suited to its needs.

Unfortunately this area is not ruled by logic. And Gordon Brown is an anti-English bigotted hypocrite who has waited ten years to 'deliver' on his priorities and isn't about to do the right thing and ban himself from voting on them now.

"'"If Britain was indeed a shining example of a multi-national society truly at ease with itself then the Conservatives would not go into rigor mortis at every mention of English nationalism""

If England, as you understand it, was indeed just a single nation at ease, English nationalists wouldn't go into rigor mortis at every mention of Cornwall, the Cornish or Cornish nationalism.

""To my mind the best way to create a civic and progressive England is for everybody - regardless of ethnicity, race or religion - to be a stakeholder in England through the ballot box in English elections to an English parliament. And that is an argument for inclusion, not separatism.""

Its funny, English nationalism is healthy and good when civic, but for English nationalists a civic Cornish equivalent is just not on. In fact Cornish nationalism can't possibly be civic for them, I wonder why?

As a civic Cornish nationalist coming from a long established culture of civic nationalism in the Duchy I welcome Gareths recognition that the current English nationalist movement really needs to clean up its act.

Thanks for the comments Phil. While I think that re-thought regional devolution would better serve the English (and Cornish) I too am a democrat and I respect the right of the English populace to choose whatever they want.

We need a constitutional commission to address the English ( and Cornish) question that will take into consideration ALL options.

We should consider civic nationalism as a search for a better way to govern different territories and peoples rather than a mission to divide.

Gareth,

Like Cameron, Browne warns against discredited nationalism here: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article2971052.ece + comment 2.

Both fail to make a case against legitimate nationalism as they see no great contradiction in being English or Irish or Scottish or Welsh and British etc. Browne asserts the UK is more powerful than the sum of its parts. Cameron says why.

Which leaves seperatism.

Supported by about 25% in the polls, the minority Scottish Government prefers Independence within a social Union of UKs - but is open to other preferences.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/a-national-conversation/White-Paper

The oppositions’ seperate initiative to better serve the people of Scotland aims to do so within the UK. http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor1206-01.htm

Spot the non-seperatist difference which accommodates both pro-Independence and pro-Union preferences? Have another look at the intelligent mr toad’s response to Cameron’s speech and the sub-text in each:

http://ourkingdom.opendemocracy.net/2007/12/12/cameron-the-union-and-the-last-night-of-the-crazy-gang/#comments

Incidentally, in signing the Scottish Claim of Right, Mr Brown was signing yours too as he espouses equality. The key is the individual and several sovereignty of the people, not parliaments (let alone governments) where it should be upheld and returned undiminished. Of the major parties, only the LibDems recognise that in their policy. So, time for change. And time for Cameron to be PM of the present UK.

Moreover, the sovereignty key unlocks the door out of the other Union blues. More on that shortly - as it is the really pressing crisis before us.