PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PRIME MINISTER AND THE PRINCIPLE OF SUBSIDIARITY (19 May 1992)

That this House notes with regret that the Prime Minister believes in the principle of subsidiarity only insofar as its application protects his own power against the intervention of European institutions and refuses totally to allow its application to protect the rights and powers of democratic decision-making either at a local level in each part of the United Kingdom or at the level of Wales, Scotland and the regions of England; believes that the principle of subsidiarity requires decision-making at the most local level consistent with efficient government; calls for this principle to be applied in such a way as to protect local democracy against the over-centralised exercise of power whether at regional, United Kingdom or European level; and believes that the failure of the Prime Minister to apply the principle of subsidiarity consistently constitutes a long-term threat to the unity of the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by:
Alun Michael (Labour)