Over the years people of influence, usually those who favour regionalising England, have claimed that there is no demand for an English parliament.
"There is no demand at all for devolution to England or the English MPs only being able to vote on English issues." - Lord Falconer of Thoroton
"There is no demand yet for an English parliament." - Prof Robert Hazell
This page is here to demonstrate that such statements are untrue. Despite no Westminster party advocating for an English parliament (Labour, Liberal Democrats and the Greens have advocated for regional assemblies) there has been demonstrable and sustained support for a 'whole England' solution to English governance and for an English parliament (though that support is often diluted by support for the now tried and abolished English Votes on English Laws). For a more nuanced and complete understanding of English public opinion, please read the authoritative Englishness: The Political Force Transforming Britain.
Redfield and Wilton 2021
Question: To what extent, if at all, would you support or oppose the creation of an English parliament?
Results
Support an English parliament 25%
Neither support nor oppose 34%
Oppose 9%
Strongly oppose 5%
YouGov 2016
Question: [Tristram] Hunt also proposes a referendum on an English parliament, so that England can have similar political sensibility to Wales and Scotland. If you were to vote, how would you vote? (Do you reside in England?)
Links: YouGov | No data
English Votes on English Laws Enacted
22nd October 2015 | MPs introduce English Votes on English Laws
BMG Research for PoliticsHome | May 2015
Results
Somewhat agree 29.3%
Unsure 34.9%
Disagree 12.6%
Links: PoliticsHome | No data
ComRes for BBC | October 2014
Question: Do you support or oppose setting up an English Parliament for MPs representing only English constituencies
Results
Survation for Mail on Sunday | September 2014
Question: One proposal has been to create a separate English Parliament to decide matters like health and education that affecting only England, leaving the Westminster Parliament only to decide matters that affect the whole of the UK like foreign and defence policy. Would you support or oppose such plans to create an English Parliament?
Result:
Strongly support: 25.7%
Somewhat support: 33.7%
Neither support nor oppose: 21.5%
Somewhat oppose: 5.4%
Strongly oppose: 5.9%
Don’t know: 7.8%
Links: Daily Mail * | Survation2014
* Dail Mail messed up their graphic.
ICM for Campaign for an English Parliament | September 2014
Question: You might be aware that Scotland has its own Parliament and is about to have a referendum on full independence, while Wales has its own Assembly. Thinking now only about England, would you be in favour or against the establishment of an English Parliament within the UK?
Links: Data
YouGov for Future of England Survey Cardiff and Edinburgh Universities and IPPR | August 2014
ICM for the Sunday Telegraph | January 2012
Question: Would you be in favour or against the establishment of an English Parliament within the UK, with similar powers to those currently enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament?
Result:
In Favour of an English Parliament 49%
Against an English Parliament 16%
Refused 1%
Don’t Know 34%
Ipsos-Mori for British Future | January 2012
Question: Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have had their own parliament or assembly for some years. Members vote on some issues that affect only their respective countries, for example, on issues about health and education. Issues affecting England can be voted on by all MPs sitting in Westminster. This means that English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on issues that are only of relevance to England. Which one of the following do you think should happen?
Result:
We should keep things as they are (Status Quo): 21%
We should set up a new English Parliament to decide on England-only issues: 52%
We should do away with the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Parliaments and make all decisions in the UK Parliament at Westminster (End Devolution): 14%
Don’t know: 13%
Further information: British Future report | Data
ICM for Power2010 | April 2010
Question: England should have its own parliament with similar powers to those of the Scottish Parliament.
Result:
Strongly agree: 43%
Slightly agree: 25%
Neither agree nor disagree: 10%
Slightly disagree: 8%
Strongly disagree: 12%
Further information: 7 out of 10 back English Parliament | Data
YouGov for the Jury Team | September 2009
Question: Below is a list of policy ideas. Imagine each one was put to the country in a referendum. For each one please say whether you would vote in favour or against each proposal, or if you wouldn’t vote at all.
PROPOSAL 11. Setting up an English Parliament to decide matters that affect only England.
Result:
I would vote YES 58%
I would vote NO 20%
Wouldn’t vote 8%
Don’t know 14%
Further information: Jury Team website | Data
Populus for the Times | April 2009
Question: Do you now support or oppose the idea of there also being an English Parliament, or if you don’t have a view either way please say.
Result:
Support an English Parliament 41%
Oppose an English Parliament 15%
Don’t Know 44%
Further information: Populus for the Times | Data
ICM for the Telegraph | December 2007
Question: There is now a Scottish Parliament, and devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. Which of the following options would you prefer for England?
A: Laws for England should be made by the House of Commons, and all MPs from all of the UK should be able to vote on them, as now
B: Laws for England should be made by the House of Commons, but only English MPs should be able to vote on them
C: England should have its own parliament, while remaining part of the United Kingdom
D: England should become independent, separate from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
E: None of these
F: Don’t know
Result:
Status Quo (SQ) 32%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 25%
English Parliament [within the Union] (EP) 20%
England should become Independent (Ind) 15%
Don’t know (DK) 6%
None of these (None) 2%
Further information: Telegraph graphic | Data
ICM for the Campaign for an English Parliament | April 2007
Question: You may have seen or heard that a separate Scottish parliament, a Welsh assembly and a Northern Ireland assembly have been established. Do you think that England should or should not have its own parliament or assembly?
Result:
Should be an English parliament 67.32%
Should Not be an English parliament (SN) 24.25%
Don’t Know (DN) 8.43%
Further information: CEP Press Release | Data
YouGov for the Sunday Times | April 2007
Question: Thinking about the way England is governed in the light of devolution to Scotland and Wales, which of the following would be your preferred option.
A: A separate English parliament with similar powers to the Scottish Parliament
B: Stopping MPs from Scottish and Welsh seats from voting on matters that affect only England
C: Keeping the current arrangements as they are
D: None of the above
E: Don’t know
Result:
English parliament (EP) 21%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 51%
Status Quo (SQ) 12%
None of the above (None) 4%
Don’t know (DK) 12%
Further information: Data
Opinion Business Research for BBC Newsnight | January 2007
Question: In 1998 the creation of a Scottish Parliament and a Welsh Assembly gave these countries certain powers that were previously held by the UK parliament in Westminster. Do you think that an English Parliament should now be established?
Result:
Yes – should have an English Parliament 61%
No – should not have an English Parliament 32%
Don’t mind either way (Other) 1%
Don’t know enough about it (Other) 2%
No opinion (Other) 2%
Don’t Know (Other) 2%
Further information: BBC website | Data
ICM for the Daily Mail | January 2007
Question: There is now a Scottish Parliament, and devolved assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland. Do you think there should or should not be a parliament for England only?
Result:
Should be an English parliament 51.42%
Should Not be an English parliament (SN) 41.22%
Don’t Know (DN) 7.36%
Further information: Daily Mail graphic | Data
ICM for the Sunday Telegraph | November 2006
Question: Would you be in favour or against the establishment of an English Parliament within the UK, with similar powers to those currently enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament?
Result:
In Favour of an English Parliament 68.43%
Against an English Parliament 25.35%
Don’t Know 6.22%
IPSOS MORI for the English Constitutional Convention | June 2006
Question: With all the constitutional changes going on in the way different parts of the UK are run, which are creating national Parliaments for Scotland and Wales, which of the following do you think would be best for England…
A: For England to be governed as it is now, with laws made by the UK Parliament even though this means that Scottish and Welsh MPs can vote on English-only issues
B: For England to be divided into Regions with each having its own Assembly
C: For England as a whole to have its own national Parliament with similar law-making powers to the Scottish Parliament
D: None
E: Don’t Know
Result:
Status Quo (SQ) 32%
Regional Assemblies (RA) 14%
English Parliament (EP) 41%
None 4%
Don’t know (DK) 9%
Further information: Ipsos MORI website | English Constitutional Convention press release
YouGov for the English Democrats | Feb 2004
Question: Which of the following options do you prefer?
A: The division of England into nine Regions, each having their own elected assemblies, which will have power to take some decisions but not to create new laws
B: A Parliament for England with the power to allow it to develop and implement policies which reflect the particular needs of the people of England
C: Scottish and Welsh members of the UK Parliament having their voting rights restricted to prevent them from voting on England-only issues
D: Continue with the status quo
E: Don’t know
Result: (figures on graph slightly out due to rounding error in data)
Regional Assemblies (RA) 11%
English Parliament (EP) 24%
English Votes on English Laws (EVoEL) 47%
Status Quo (SQ) 12%
Don’t know (DK) 7%
Further information: Data
NOP for the Campaign for an English Parliament | April 2002
Question: At the moment as well as the Parliament in Westminster, Scotland has its own Parliament, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own Assemblies. England however does not have either. It has been suggested that England should have either its own English Parliament, along with the Westminster Parliament or have nine English Regional Assemblies.
Which of these statements, if any, best sums up your opinion about this?
A. England should have its own English Parliament
B. England should be made up of nine Regional Assemblies (RA)
C. Don’t Know
Result:
English Parliament (EP) 47%
Regional Assemblies (RA) 28%
Don’t Knows 25%.
Further information: Data
