David said:
This is how it works (I think): All MPs can vote on the first, second AND third readings of England-only laws. However, on the third reading, parties would be stopped from using Scottish votes to block amendments made by English MPs."The solution in the Clarke paper* is the solution I'm most attracted to. "For English-only legislation, we would have a sort of English Grand Committee. That is our intention and what is likely to go in the manifesto."
This is not a perfect solution but it is a damn sight more than Gordon Brown would ever offer. It would be a great addition to the Conservative manifesto and hopefully a stepping stone to an even better solution.
*Clarke suggested the English Grand committee in his paper last year.
15 comments:
It's a start, but it's not enough Steve, the Scots, Welsh and Irish still get a say in something that's non of their business at all.
It's no solution at all; it's merely a way of fobbing off justified English complaints and it is ultimately unworkable.
Gareth Young, at Little man in A Toque, has the most complete set of arguments against all of the Conservative proposals for English governance.
The SNP never vote on English matters unless they also involve Scotland.
They never have.
How about, votes on English issues for English MPs only.
Or is that too radical?
We mustn't upset anyone, must we, except the English.
But that's par for the course anyway!
So Mr Gruff you prefer the lay ber do nothing solution which is basically bollocks to England and the English.
They have just murdered the U.K. economy and just to save a Scottish bank.
As far as lay ber are concerned the English can all go hang and rot in hell.
the SNP voted on the London Cross Rail Bill. They voted against it for some reason because the consequences of the barnett formula would have brought them millions.
Cameron is clearly still worried about cutting off the Scottish Conservatives, but that doesn't diminish the appeal of this policy to 'Middle England'.
Sean Lynch: You would do well to engage your brain before opening your mouth, and watch your spelling.
I've no idea what your views are but I have advocated an English Parliament and independence for England since long before 1997, and at various times have actively worked in that cause, though not to anything like the extent that others have. What have you done apart from making fatuous comments?
Where have I not deliberately miss-spelt?
I thought socialism and nationalism of any kind were incompatible?
Lay ber is how the plebs who vote[for] it pronounce the term !
And the Idiot pronounces Conservative as Consorvadivvs...
Baby - bathwater.
That's almost conspiratorially cryptic Steve. Will you explain?
Thrown out the baby with the stuff William, is what I may have done in attempting to be too clever, ah, well, no offence, just having a bit of fun, Brown's 'Britern'(whoops done it again) is soooo
downright depressing a place !
Baby - bathwater.
Means that I would like to see an English parliament. But we are not likely to get one any time soon. However, what Cameron is offering is better than tit all. Therefore I think that those that reject this proposal will be throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I thought that's what you meant but it's a mistake to see anything the Conservatives have proposed so far as anything other a clear attempt to stifle demands for an English Parliament and 'tit all', for now, is actually better in the long run for the people of England.
A very similar plan was rejected as inadequate and unworkable when it was originally proposed for Scotland and this plan is just as inadequate and unworkable now. It is not in England's interests to create the arrangements that have been proposed.
Conservatives who want an English Parliament with powers at least equal to that of Scotland's should be pressing for one and not deceiving themselves that this proposal is a step in the right direction. It isn't.
Yes it is a start like people have said and its nice to see a major party supporting this, but we need English Votes on English Matters to slowly evolve into a full parliament for us as well.
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