There was a debate in Parliament yesterday to discuss what will happen following the result of the Scottish referendum. Scotland will remain in the United Kingdom but all three main parties have agreed that more power will be devolved from Westminster to the Scottish Parliament. This makes it even more imperative that something is done to stop Scottish MPs voting on matters that effect on England, when English MPs are not able to vote on matter relating to Scotland. For instance as an English MP I cannot influence what happens to the NHS in Scotland, nor what education is provided, nor how the legal system is run. However, Scottish MPs can influence what happens to those same services when they are provided in England. That cannot be right and must change. It is common sense, and only fair, that we need new arrangements in which only English MPs debate and vote on matters that relate to only to England. But astonishingly yesterday Labour MPs set aside common sense and fairness for their own party political purposes. Labour MP after Labour MP stood up and objected to the concept of English votes for English matters. Indeed, Gordon Brown (remember him?) claimed ludicrously that removing the right of Scottish MPs to take part in every vote held in the House of Commons would lead to two classes of MP. Mr Brown didnt seem to understand the irony of what he was saying. The truth is that we already have two classes of MP. The difference between the two classes is that he, as a Scot, has the right to vote on matters affecting to Sittingbourne and Sheppey, but I, as an English MP, cannot vote on matters that affect his constituency. It would be interesting to know whether our local Labour Party agree with their former Leader! I am quite clear that what we need are only English votes for English only matters and I am determined to continue pressing for that change.
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:24:25 +0000
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