Here is my BBC TV news interview done on Friday, on my way to our Spring Confderence in Swanley.
What do you think?
Here's how the BBC reported it on their website:-
"English Democrats: England's voice must be heard, says Tilbrook England's voice must be "properly heard" if Scotland votes for independence, the leader of the English Democrats has said.
Ahead of the party's spring conference in Kent on Saturday, Robin Tilbrook told the BBC the biggest parties were unwilling to address the issue.
The party will launch its local elections campaign at the conference. Mr Tilbrook, who is standing for London mayor in May, said other parties were "not interested in England". The English Democrats say they have about 3,000 members and Mr Tilbrook has said the party has a "big task ahead" to raise the £10,000 deposit, and 330 signatures - 10 from each borough and from the City of London - required to stand as mayor in London.
The party also plans to stand candidates for mayoral elections in Liverpool and Salford and in local elections in England. They are also campaigning for a "yes" vote in referendums in 12 English cities on whether they want directly-elected mayors.
Ahead of the conference, Mr Tilbrook told the BBC: "The political parties are not willing to mention the word England. "You have only got to look at the fact that none of them came up with even a manifesto for England. They are quite happy to have a manifesto for Scotland, a manifesto for Wales and then they have a UK manifesto." He said politicians were happy to talk about "our country" or the "United Kingdom" - even when they were referring to policies that applied to England only, like the NHS shake-up or university tuition fees.
"In the discussions that occur after the SNP have their referendum, if the vote is as we expect it may well be, in favour of independence, then obviously English interests have got to be taken into account."
He said the Acts of Union had joined the two kingdoms: "If the kingdom of Scotland goes, the UK has gone and at that point, we have got to have England's voice properly heard."
The English Democrats currently have one elected mayor - Peter Davies in Doncaster - one county councillor and five district councillors."
Here's the link >>> http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17317432
Excellent. Well said Robin.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was bloody good!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Robin.
ReplyDeleteScilla
well done
ReplyDeleteLooks good and the words of the text may make more people aware of the situation we are in. That of an independent Scotland will raise many important questions which the politicians in Westminster are ignoring! This means that unless they are pressured they will end up making legislation for England on the Hoof that will make things even more anti-English than they are now!
ReplyDeleteHowever our Chairman is getting better at putting over the message the more he is in the limelight. It is a pity I cannot get sound with this text. J.
Excellent makes our point well.
ReplyDeleteGiven the increasingly high profile being gained, it might be useful to make those who were previously unaware of the party that it has been around and campaigning for some years and has not come in to existence in response to the SNP’s recent referendum initiative.
I thought that was very well done. The points were clear and concise, and the ebst part was Robin, you appeared reasonable and fair, despite I think the BBC's best efforts to portray you a bit of a an oddball by their line of questioning. Sadly this is fairly typical of the Biast Broadcasting Organisation. Might I suggest two small observations? Don't move your head so mcuh and sit on your hands in future-still a sterling effort though
ReplyDeleteGood stuff Robin - wishing you all success.
ReplyDeleteYou covered all the major reasons for having the English Democrat Party. Good interview. You didn't come over as the usual evasive politician.
ReplyDeleteBravo...very good
ReplyDeleteWell done Robin, Totally agree with 'Anonymous'
ReplyDeleteWhat's the betting that should the SNP gain independence for Scotland, that Scotland would still try to send MP's to Westminster.Odd as this sounds,I believe that there is a psychological deficit within the social elite with regard to England.
ReplyDeleteI was at the Palace of Westminster once for a debate and Faulkner said,"If England got a parliament,what would all the Scots do?".
This confused me at first but then it dawned on me.
He didn't mean ordinary people.Just the MP's.
He turned up late, his shirt was hanging out and he'd obviously been in the bar.What would they do indeed?
Temeraire.
If the Scots achieve independence then the Barnet formula will become overseas aid. We give this to India although they don't actually want it.
ReplyDeleteI think that the English won't realise they are being mugged until they get an idea of themselves.This will only happen when they get there noses rubbed in the fact that the United Kingdom of Great Britain no longer exists.
This may be an uphill task. (Good old)British Rail dissapeared 15yrs ago but I still get accused of working for it.I think an independant England in 2yrs time will take an awful lot longer to get used to.
Temeraire.
Confused? You will be. (Soap)
Well said ..but I feel sure that the Scots will NOT vote to be independent..more`s the pity.Now if the English were to have a vote.........
ReplyDeleteWell done Robin, To quote one of our MANY English heroes, "A hit, a hit, a palpable hit!"
ReplyDeleteWell said Robin, you put the case for England very well.I feel I must differ on the question of the Scottish people opting for full independence though. I believe they will vote for the third option of staying within the UK but having more powers.This has already been mentioned by David Cameron and I can see over the next two years the Scots will be bribed more and more with offers of increased power and money, which will be paid for by the English.The main three parties will do anything to keep Scotland within the Union.
ReplyDeleteWell said Robin, you made our point well.
ReplyDeletewell done robin this what we need our cause in the limelight as much as possible everybody keep our flag flying we might just be heard one day
ReplyDeleteVery good Robin. Your media appearances are getting more confident all the time. You say 'um' too often, compared with more experienced politicians, but it's difficult, I can see that. The interviewer (not sure who he was) was quite polite, he didn't talk about the BNP etc as they used to do, the approach of the BBC does seem to have changed this year and become more reasonable, perhaps we have the SNP to thank for that.
ReplyDeleteENGLAND EXPECTS, Time for Change, the times are a changin,,,Glad to be a English Democrat
ReplyDelete