Friday 3 July 2015

English Votes on English Issues update

I have long argued that it is wrong that Scots and Welsh MPs should vote on English only issues, when the matter is already devolved to the Scottish parliament in Scotland. This is the case, for example, in healthcare - which is devolved to Scotland and Wales. I, as an English MP, can not vote on such matters affecting the Scots, but a Westminster MP from anywhere in Scotland can vote on English healthcare. This is manifestly wrong and utterly indefensible.

Proposals to give English MPs a veto on English-only laws were revealed in outline in the commons yesterday.

The PM, David Cameron, promised voters in his manifesto at the election, that he would implement outline plans for English voters for English laws in his first 100 days in office. The PM used a speech the morning after Scotland voted to stay in the UK last September to say it was time for better protections of English voters.
The proposals closely match William Hague’s “English veto” idea outlined before the election and included in the manifesto.

The BBC explains the background to this here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30484453
The statement in the Commons is here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/hansard/commons/todays-commons-debates/read/unknown/337/