England should make up democratic deficit

THE British, unlike the English, have little respect for parliamentary democracy. Indeed, no empire (however benign) can operate on the basis of democratic authority.

The troubles in Ireland stem largely from the thwarting of the democratic will (expressed in the general election of 1910) that mandated Home Rule for Ireland.

The present British prime minister, Tony Blair, has no democratic sanction from the people of England for the invasion of Iraq or the surrendering of the EU rebate negotiated in 1984.