England losing out in Europe

The ESRC has announced publication of a new report suggesting that Scotland and Wales have proved better at influencing European policies than the English regions because of devolution.

"What has happened since devolution is that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have acquired greater policy-making resources of their own and a clearer sense of priorities with which to influence EU policy in their territorial interest," explains Martin Burch, Professor of Government at the University of Manchester.

I wonder whether Northern Ireland under direct rule is really keeping pace with Scotland and Wales who have their parliaments up and running.

Either way, the report will be ammunition for those calling for England to have a separate parliament of its own.