Devo Min

There are quite a few bright spots for Wessex folk to cheer about in today’s budget – and not just a freeze on cider duty – but look beyond the headlines.  It’s good to see money for children’s A&E in Southampton, but isn’t the rest of the NHS on life support?  A “more resilient trainContinue reading "Devo Min"

More, or Less? You Choose

Yes, you do.  Because just when you think that London, after all it’s had so far, can’t get greedier yet, along comes Crossrail 2. The ‘National’ Infrastructure Commission last week recommended that the scheme – a north-south rail link across the capital – should be funded at once, “as a priority”, so it can openContinue reading "More, or Less? You Choose"

Ourselves Alone

One of the most persistent demands made of us by non-members is that we should work to set up a confederation of decentralist parties, on an all-England or all-Britain basis.  It’s a course of action fraught with difficulties, rather like trying to get the cart to go before the horse.  So let’s take it apart,Continue reading "Ourselves Alone"

South By Southwest

Guest contribution by Nick Xylas, WR Council member and prospective candidate for Bristol City Council, Eastville WardAs someone who has lived in both Wessex and the American South, I can’t help but be struck by certain similarities between the two.  Both are primarily rural and agricultural regions.  Both have low-status accents that provide a lazyContinue reading "South By Southwest"

History is Sunk

“My Lords, a nation gets awarded the character that it deserves.  By neglecting to promote some aspect of this character, that aspect becomes increasingly insignificant within the image which other nations regard as our worth.  And this might also hold true for the way future generations of our own nation come to regard what weContinue reading "History is Sunk"

Bristol Begins

Nick Xylas reports that preparations are well underway to contest Bristol City Council’s Eastville Ward in local elections this May: “I have almost finished collecting signatures for my nomination papers.  The opening date for handing in nomination papers is 22nd March and the closing date is 10th April.  It doesn't help that Bristol Central LibraryContinue reading "Bristol Begins"

Autarky for All

What’s the point of political devolution in a world of globalist economics, where democracy can’t change a thing because there’s no world government to hold multi-nationals in check?  A good question, to which the answer is to reject not only over-centralised government but also over-centralised economics.  Demand autarky for all. Autarky – self-sufficiency – isContinue reading "Autarky for All"

Independence for Europe?

“No European can be a complete exile in any part of Europe.” Edmund Burke, Letters on a Regicide Peace (1796)It was a curious coincidence (or was it?) that on the same day that David Cameron dressed up as success what was clearly failure, the USA announced a quadrupling of its defence spending in Europe.  It’sContinue reading "Independence for Europe?"