Originally published on theonlywayiswessex.net. As a party which places devolution at the core of our identity, we should be delighted that the government has announced a devolution bill as part of the king’s speech, at the opening of the current parliament, right? Well… First, a short history lesson. During the Blair administration, there was saidContinueContinue reading “Devolution Is Not Regionalism”
Tag Archives: history
An Empty Space?
The second issue of Wessex Citizen, edited by Keith Southwell and Rick Heyse, is now online. Many thanks to all who contributed. Earlier this month we mentioned the current – seventy-second – issue of MK’s equivalent, Cornish Nation, which this time gave us a brief mention. Joanie Willett, reporting back on the General Assembly ofContinueContinue reading “An Empty Space?”
Post-Truth Politics
Is an Eton education good value for money? From the public’s point of view, it seems not, given Boris Johnson’s underwhelming analysis of European history. He lit up the weekend with his dire warning that the EU is little better than a Fourth Reich. For others, it’s the EUSSR, but we’ve learnt to recognise thatContinueContinue reading “Post-Truth Politics”
Keeping It Under Your Hat
With 11.5 million documents to read through, we’ve not heard the last of the revelations from the Panama Papers. David Cameron is on the defensive, though Jeremy Corbyn’s attacks are blunted by the fact that his party was once led by one half of the Blair couple, now rumoured to be worth a cool £60ContinueContinue reading “Keeping It Under Your Hat”
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 weContinueContinue reading “History is Sunk”
Squirming for Europe
“To contribute to the creation of a sustainable and equitable global economy in which the health, security and liberty of all is paramount, regardless of race or creed.” Aims of the Party: Charter of the Wessex Regionalists, 2001The Chalice and the Blade is a book by Riane Eisler that sets out what could be describedContinueContinue reading “Squirming for Europe”
Gearing Up
Surveyoris the magazine for highways and transport professionals. This month’s issue is headlined ‘Return of the Regions’ and opens to reveal an editorial by Dominic Browne, and more besides. The editorial starts as follows:“In January of this year the Department for Transport (DfT) launched a small (by government standards) pilot competition for local authorities toContinueContinue reading “Gearing Up”
History Made Here
G K Chesterton is often misquoted as saying that those who argue that ‘you can’t put the clock back’ obviously know nothing about clocks. It’s near enough to what he did write – that time only moves forwards but principles needn’t – to let stand. What’s more, we’re seeing plenty of evidence of it justContinueContinue reading “History Made Here”
Pass It On
Nowadays, the Conservatives have a tree as their emblem, symbolic of the countless trees to be felled thanks to them and their allies (Labour, FibDem, even Green) as the urbanisation of England rolls onwards. The emblem used to be a flaming torch, the same symbol that used to warn motorists of a school ahead, beforeContinueContinue reading “Pass It On”
The Founding Fixers
Avon Local History & Archæology – ALHA – does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s an organisation for local history and archæology in the Avon area, serving some 80 affiliated societies, with a collective membership of about 10,000. Founded in 1976, it has outlived Avon County Council, recognising the economic and social –ContinueContinue reading “The Founding Fixers”
Wessex Regionalists 