UNLIKE Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, England has not got its own national party.

This is proving to be a serious economic and political handicap, and is the reason why the people of England are faring badly in the allocation of resources and in political influence.

But all this may be about to change, for I have no doubt that the setting up of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland assemblies will lead to total self-government for Scotland and Wales, the eventual re-unification of Ireland and the inevitable break-up of the United Kingdom.

Would this be a blessing for the English?

JOHN PORTER, Thwaites Road, Oswaldtwistle.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.