Few words are as politically resonant as "local" in politics, and most of us would tell pollsters we're in favour of it. Yet what does it really mean?

How far do you go? I oppose grammar schools but have I got the right to object to them in Kent if people who support them win local elections? And a local income tax, which has much to recommend it- how workable is that? If there are differences between local and central governments, which should win out? What level should one devolve to? Can English regions be said to exist in any meaningful sense, for example? Do you personally feel much attachment to any type of locality (as distinct from a nation)? Can the region replace the nation state?

It's quite hard to answer these in the abstract, I appreciate, and I've put it in very British terms. But I'm interested in what people from other countries, with different traditions of governance, have to say?

Two overlapping issues in Northern Ireland (as an occasional diversion from should-we-abolish-the-border-or-not?).

Pretty much all unionist and nationalist politicians, and a large majority of both their electorates, are adamant that abortion should not be allowed here. Should local and national government respect that, or alternatively is it justifiable for Westminster to bang heads and drag the fuckwits screaming out of the 19th century?

Indeed. I wonder whether you can put together some logic for me whereby abortion (civil rights?) are centralised? Of course, abortions rights are likely to get attacked by the future Tory government, so we might be wishing that they weren't centralised soon.

Ultimately, arguments like that need to be won locally, so it would be better to target campaigning at, and within, the NI parties - because a law like this imposed from the distant centre will likely be less effectual.

It's an interesting issue all this, though. And there's no hard and fast answer. The grammar school/secondary modern issue I'd perhaps argue that entrenched educational inequality is a national concern, with national ramifications, and that government at national level would then be entitled to legislate.

QUOTE:
a law like this imposed from the distant centre will likely be less effectual

I don't want to be trite about this (thinking how abortion clinics and doctors have been intimidated, even terrorised in America), but would effecting it be that difficult? Just tell Mart and Pete that it's in place, outside their area of authority, and any joint tantrum closing down Stormont will result in renewed direct rule.

Generally, I'm in favor of administrative devolution, legislative centralisation. If (notionally) Brussels can do a better job making laws than Belfast, leave them to it.

Similarly with secularism in education. That should be a national thing.

Something I'd certainly like to encourage is copying of best practice from other localities. That doesn't seem to happen at the moment all that much because, I suppose, it's felt that everything is down to the central government. Even so it amazes me that Kent doesn't abolish its grammar schools.