Tuesday, July 1, 2008

A bit late for devolutionists to now start worrying about the Union...

From the BBC:
Scottish MPs should have less power to vote on matters relating only to England, a Conservative taskforce says.

At present, they can vote on all legislation affecting England - but English MPs do not have a say over Scottish-only matters.

Critics say this is unfair and has created two classes of MPs.

Ex-Tory chancellor Ken Clarke's group says Scottish MPs should not vote on amendments - when policy is discussed in-depth - to England-only bills.

I think this measure, if it ever comes to be passed, is to be regretted; there should be no difference between MPs’ voting rights, no matter what part of the UK they may hail from....BUT, it is a logical consequence of the Devolution Experiment, which, let's not forget, is the original cause of the present constitutional imbalance...
In Scotland, legislation on issues such as health and education are controlled by the country's own parliament at Holyrood.

But policy for England is decided by the Westminster parliament, with MPs from all parts of the UK able to vote.

Critics say this is unfair. But supporters of devolution say that to reduce Scottish MPs' powers would create a more unbalanced system, possibly hastening the break-up of the Union.

...and so those “supporters of devolution” are thus pure hypocrites to use that particular argument.

2 comments:

Ormiston said...

Is it any wonder that many people in England that many people want an assembley as scottish MPs where able to vote to bring tution fees in for English Universities whilst in Scotland Scottish Students do not have to pay them.Also I laugh at devolution supporters who say that any cahnges to Scottish MPs votes will weaken the Union.When Nationalists are in government in the devolved assemblies of Scotland,Wales and N.I.

O'Neill said...

Ormiston
Exactly and now thanks to devolutoon we have English nationalism as well as the Celtic and Ulster versions to worry about!