LONG-standing MP Roger Gale has called for the abolition of the House of Commons.

The Conservative who has represented North Thanet since 1983 says the centuries old tradition should be replaced with an English parliament.

Mr Gale said: "The concept of 'English votes on English issues for English MPs' currently being considered by our party does no go far enough. The time has come for radical action to protect our democracy and the United Kingdom.

"We should abolish both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

"We should replace the former with English, Scots, Welsh and Northern Ireland parliaments. Those parliaments would each elect their own First Minister and would deal with all parochial and domestic issues relating to health, education, social services and the like and raise, within the nations, the finances to support them.

"Unelected, unloved and unwanted guanos such as 'regional assemblies' would be abolished and the national parliaments would work within the county structure to deliver services.

"In tandem, we should then elect a Senate on a two member per United Kingdom County (irrespective of size) basis. That Senate, retaining the Queen as head of state, would from within itself elect the UK Prime Minister and take responsibility for foreign policy, defence and macro-taxation.

"Those were, in reality, the prime duties of parliament until the 19th century. Raise the taxes to pay for the forces to enforce foreign policy and defend the realm. All other matters at that time were dealt with either locally or as private members' legislation.

"I see no reason why we should not return to that concept. The time is surely ripe to take a grip of the whole constitutional issue and to address it through radical surgery."