Saturday 15 December 2007

England is still getting shafted over Scottish voting.

The following is taken from this Thursday's Hansard written answers:

Voting Rights

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Leader of the House what the Government's policy is on the right of right hon. and hon. Members representing Scottish constituencies to vote on matters relating to England where responsibility for such matters in Scotland has been devolved to the Scottish Executive.

Helen Goodman: The Prime Minister has previously set out the Government's policy to the House on the 3 July. This Government do not accept that there should be any discrimination in the rights of hon. Members to take part in the business before the House. ‘English votes for English laws’ would lead to the break up of the Union. This Government believes in the Union and will do nothing to harm it. Constitutional issues are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Justice Secretary.

Helen writes that there should not be any discrimination in the rights of hon. Members to take part in the business before the House. OK Helen, if that is the case, when are we going to start to allow English MPs to vote on Scottish matters?

The answer to this is simple: any matters that are devolved to Scotland, cannot be voted on in the House of Commons by Scottish MPs. How this will break up the so-called Union I've no idea.

Of course an English Parliament is the preferred option.

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