Time to Move the Capital?

[liadnan]

So asks Steve on The Sharpener (which you should all be reading, except for the bits written by, err, me - at present that should be "bit" really, but more will come). And why not? Actually maybe we should go back to the days of permanently itinerant government. That would keep them out of trouble.

(On the water-shortage point, I have just asked Thames Water for a meter. I had forgotten how outrageous the cost rated domestic water supply was in London. This is ridiculous, says he, gazing out at the grey skies (yes, I know, too late to save us from the drought etc etc.)

Comments

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Surely the proper thing is to move the capital of the UK to some suitably neutral location like Berwick or Monmouth, which could be turned into a national capital territory. One could then worry about where the capital of England should be, or better, scrap the whole silly England idea and move the appropriate arms of government for Northumbria, Mercia and Wessex to, say, York, Nottingham and Winchester.

[liadnan]

Fair point.

If we were going to devolve English government, which sadly looks unlikely, I'd be looking to the heptarchy for my rough model I think.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting possibility. I think the main thing is that any regional model needs to based on "hearts and minds" not some technocratic geographer's abortion like the 1973 fiasco.

[matgb]

1973 fiasco? Before my time, did Heath try something daft back then, or are we talking the reorganisation that created Avon?

You're completely correct, any provincial borders that are drawn up need to complete reject the treasury regions, the South West is far too big and remote, us Westcountry folk don't really get on with Wiltshiremen.

Oh, none of that Wessex crap thanks; Reading's a nice place, but if we're going to devolve, Wessex is far too big.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

1973 fiasco? Before my time, did Heath try something daft back then, or are we talking the reorganisation that created Avon?

That one. Tyne & Wear bleah! Merseyside bollocks! usw

[matgb]

Oh, I had no problem with them. Up North, see, and therefore lines on maps are irrelevent, it's still northern. Although, know I can compare the two, the North is better than the South East.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

Ain't that the truth. The whole thing was probably dreamed up by Oxbridge pillocks who had never been north of Milton Keynes.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Two minutes reading The Sharpener and my blood pressure is spiking, so I'll definitely be back.

And no, you can't have our water.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hypatia_/]

The Sharpener was off line today, the stub page cited excessive bandwidth as the reason - what it is to be popular :)