Quote: "The level of devolution in the UK is nowhere near that enjoyed by the Laender in Germany, particularly Bavaria, which even more a free state than the others."
Agreed, ATNotts, basically German lander are defined by the constitution, UK devolved executives are created and dissolved (as in Northern Ireland a few times) by Act of Parliament, as are the French regions.
Did say "closer to the devolved executives in parts of the UK" which is true: both the lander and the devolved executives have law-making powers, French regional councils do not.
Quote: "France is very much more like the UK politically, being overwhelmingly centralised on Paris."
Agreed, especially compared to Germany, but the UK is much more centralised since Thatcher created the quango state and took functions away from local government and Blair continued the policy."
Quote: "There are relatively few domestic air services because France, unlike the UK has properly invested in high speed rail."
Not so, both France and the UK are both, rightly, awash with domestic air services. The problem in the UK is that not nearly enough of them are domestic destinations linked to LHR, the country's hub.
High speed rail is a red-herring. It adds choice and options, enables more journeys, and allows an increase in the volume of journeys overall. It is not an alternative to domestic flights it complements them.
Don't fall for the specious nonsense from the "green" lobby.
Quote: "While the UK goes through endless public consultations, pandering to NIMBYs, the French identify a need and bulldoze the projects through."
True enough!
Quote: "I don't find myself convinced that BA cannot make money flying from outside London - they just don't want to."
Can't see the logic in this comment, BA are a commercial company, and as jabird states, they moved heaven and earth to keep the regional networks going for as long as possible. It's desperately sad that this the case, but it is nonetheless.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 22nd Jun 2012 at 21:54.