Britannist

'Conservative leader David Cameron will pledge (before the next General Election) his party to English-only voting in the Commons on specifically English matters (i.e. only MPs representing English constituencies will be able to vote on exclusively English issues - since English constituency MPs can't vote on Scottish domestic matters which are now dealt with by the Scottish Parliament)':

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1770

rjt

Of course given the very few MPS he will have in Scotland and Wales it would not have the effect on the Torys that it would if Labour did this, unless he wins by a whisker but my money is still on a fourth Labour Term.

TonyG

The way Cameron is going, trying to outBlair Blair, he, instead of winning everyone's votes is likely to end up alienating so many that Brown becomes a shoe-in.

rjt

I quite agree Tony, people are not convienced by Cameron and see him as a Blair mark 2

Browns more dour approach may well appeal to people, though not I should add to me.

Britannist

There have now been two opinion polls this week showing Labour picking up support - however, one of them says that if Gordon Brown becomes Labour leader this would actually give the Conservatives a 10% lead over Labour.

Of course, Labour also had big poll leads when in opposition (under the fool Kinnock) - but he (thankfully) flopped when people actually went to vote.

Sheila

Does anyone know what the legal position is on this?

Is it, under current rules, to prevent a specific group of MPs from voting?

If not, would it require legislation to change, or just changes to Commons rules?
.

Britannist

That's an interesting question. It could well require new legislation given that the same rules to electing MPs to the Commons apply in Scottish constituencies as they do in English ones. Same rules - surely that means the same rights as MPs regardless of which part of the UK they come from or represent.

I heard once that if English-only voting was brought in it would be for The Speaker of the Commons to decide who was and was not entitled to vote in each debate.

rjt

Yes that is right as regards the Speaker he/she would have to make a ruling that the bill was an English Only matter.

Of course after devolution Blair and his croneys pretended nothing ahd changed. Betty Bothyroyd had none of it and insisted that Soctish and Weslh questions only dealt with non devolved issues.

She stated clearly in her memoirs that whilst the governement might think nothing had changed she did and was not having it.

Britannist

The problem with the proposal for setting up a system whereby only MPs representing English constituencies can vote on matters specifically English, is that such a system can easily be swept away by an incoming England-hostile Labour regime (which would want to get rid of such a system given that it would fing it harder - if not impossible - to secure a majority of its own in England).

An English Parliament backed by an overwhelming majority of the people of England in a national referendum (which would be the first referendum ever held specifically for England only I believe) would be a much harder thing for the anti-English europhile Labour Party (and their country cousins the Liberal Dims) to destroy.

Rich C

This is a policy that annoys both those who disapprove of increased recognition for the English because it recognises the English and those who approve of recognition for the English because it actually does nothing of the sort.

It will annoy everyone.