Scottish MPs will still be able to vote on issues that affect only England under a Tory government, despite David Cameron’s vow to end the anomaly.As a UK Unionist, I don't want to see two classes of MP; as a realist, I think this dropping of EVoEL still leaves the West Lothian Question alive as a big festering sore and one which might rebound (if sores can rebound:)) internally on Cameron. After all, it's going to be Labour not Conservatives Scottish MPs who'll be taking advantage of this change in policy.
Members with constituencies north of the border would not be banned from voting at the crucial second and third readings of bills on English-only legislation.
The decision has angered some campaigners, who believe it is wrong that Scottish MPs can swing the outcome of crunch votes on issues that do not affect their constituents. The issue has been a running sore since 2004, when 40 Scottish MPs helped the government push through a highly controversial bill introducing university tuition fees.
David Mundell, the shadow Scottish secretary, revealed that they will be barred only from the committee and report stages of bills, in which the precise wording of new legislation is determined.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Cameron drops "English votes on English legislation"
This has gone down, predictably, like a lead balloon:
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7 comments:
Do you think it might have something to do with the probability of a very small majority conservative government, if not a hung parliament, and if Scottish conservatives weren't allowed to vote on English legislation it would make it even harder for them to push it threw?
A two-tier system hastens independence despite the unfairness to England, and it is unfair. The so called West Lothian question is funny. Mmmmm do we stop bribing the Scots to accept the status quo, or risk them getting angry when the realise that the inequity actually flows the other way. Thing is whilst labour are in power their slaves up here will toe the line and not report that. However once the big bad Tories get in all bets might just be off.
You understand of course that hardly anyone outside our own political classes and anoraks know the truth of the matter that Scotland is stinking rich. The money from our natural resources, oil and whisky will be paying Britain's debt for generations. That's if we are daft enough.
Anon
That theory would make sense if they were going to outpoll Labour in Scotland but there's no way that's going to happen.
Tony
However once the big bad Tories get in all bets might just be off.
Something I said to "Doug the Dug" on here, it'll be very interesting to see how deep Scottish Labour's Unionism really is when faced with a Westminster Conservative govt.
This is the proposal of Ken Clarke's Democracy Taskforce for an English Grand Committee, drawn from the example of the former Scottish Grand Committee, and is mainstream Tory policy, not a retreat. It has never been policy to prevent Scottish/Northern Irish members voting on English legislation at 2nd and 3rd readings.
It is EVoEL of a sort, although difficult to operate. (I think it would be easier simply to require a double majority at 3rd Reading.) But is seems to me that it would answer the WLQ, in its own way.
Chris,
The Democracy Task Force document was not Tory policy, just a document that was being looked at.
This is a reversal of the previous policy of English Votes on English Laws, and it is a climbdown by Cameron.
"I don't want to see two classes of MP"
We've already got two classes of MP.
Those that can vote on all the issues affecting their constituents - "English" MPs.
And those that can't vote on issues affecting their constituents because those issues have been devolved to another parliament or assembly.
And because the arrangement is slightly different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland we actually have four classes of MP.
All MPs can of course can vote on English issues - however only "English" MPs answer to the English people.
Wyrdtimes,
That would be a question for pro-devolution Unionists to answer...I know my solution!
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