Tories to let Scots MPs keep vote on English legislation

[Halb]

A tasty fudgicle.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/...

[Puggit]

Alfred Wyrd said:

More proof if any where needed that the Conservatives intend to carry on where Labour leave off - putting England and the English people last

I don't understand the Tory rationale here. The vast majority of Scottish MPs are either SNP or Labour. The SNP want to have independence, therefore we cannot trust their vote on English matters, and the Labour MPs will vote against Tory plans by default.

[Guybrush]

That doesn't sound good at all. Incidentally, does England have a right to vote on Scottish issues?

[Puggit]

Guybrush said:

That doesn't sound good at all. Incidentally, does England have a right to vote on Scottish issues?

What do you think?

[Don]

Guybrush said:

That doesn't sound good at all. Incidentally, does England have a right to vote on Scottish issues?

Yes. In that Westminster is currently in charge of the entire UK for many things. The "West Lothian" question is an issue in that the devolved Scottish Parliament takes care of certain matters for Scotland that Westminster does for England and Wales. Scots MPs have a vote in Westminster and so can vote on those matters Westminster handles for England and Wales that do not pertain to Scotland.

In theory there is a similar problem with Northern Ireland as it as an independent Assembly and Westminster MPs.

I think in practice it is less of an issue than it is in principle. Particularly if we get a Conservative government that will likely have a majority provided almost entirely by English MPs.

I would not want it solved with a seperate governing body for England/Wales.

[Halb]

Don said:

I would not want it solved with a seperate governing body for England/Wales.

How would you like it solved?

[Don]

Halb said:

Don said:

I would not want it solved with a seperate governing body for England/Wales.

How would you like it solved?

A very large Conservative majority in Westminster.

[Eric Mc]

Because that would signify the end of the United Kingdom.

The Conservatives are reluctant to create any more division than there currently is - especially in the run up to a general election.

[thinfourth2]

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

[Tangent Police]

thinfourth2 said:

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

Very true indeed. Same applies down here in Cornwall.

Furkin lunnners

[Spiritual_Beggar]

thinfourth2 said:

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

What he said.


Current MPs just do not have an understanding of how the real world operates.

As such, the schemes and policies they are introducing are hindering economic growth...and not supporting it.

[emicen]

thinfourth2 said:

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

QFTMFT

Londoncentric policies being rolled out across the whole of the UK bother me a lot more than any of the ste Alec Salmond has tried.

[Don]

emicen said:

thinfourth2 said:

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

QFTMFT

Londoncentric policies being rolled out across the whole of the UK bother me a lot more than any of the ste Alec Salmond has tried.

This is a perennial problem. As an example in London having a car is unnecessary much of the time and, in fact, often an inconvenience as you need somewhere to keep it. Outside of central London having a car is vital for work and leisure for the most part.

If all your decisions are being made by urban dwellers whose idea of travel is to get on a train to go to Paris, Edinburgh or other urban centre it is hard for them to realise the absolute reliance the rest of us have on the car. Hence stty taxes and policies on transport.

Personally I'd consider restricting the ability to be an MP to people over 40 who have lived in the constituency they plan on representing for at least five years. That way

(1) They would have HAD to have other jobs first.
(2) They could not be "parachuted in" by a major party at the last minute from a shortlist.

I would also pay them properly. In your forties giving up a career to play politics is a real sacrifice. A decent salary is reasonable...say £100K. Oh. When it comes to expenses? Same rules as anyone who works for a regular company: no allowances, reciept everything.

[Halb]

The UK is the most centralised country in Europe (with a few exceptions I think). I do not think the answer is political, it is constitutional, it may need the break up of the union to sort it out. Westminster splintered and buggered, if Holyrood can help start the process, then yay.

[5unny]

If the Tories really want to bury the Labour Party after the next election then they should encourage a vote on Scottish independence. Scotland sends 59 MPs to Westminister with the Tories only having 1 of these (against Labour's 39).

Get rid of Scotland and it makes Labour coming back to power in London very very difficult.

[Trommel]

Hague has clearly changed his mind:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/394997.stm

[JagLover]

Regional assemblies might not be popular with the general public. But they are the only way to solve the West Lothian question without diminishing the relevance of westminster.

An English assembly would be a rival to westminster, whereas a regional assembly with the same powers as the Scottish parliment could return significant powers to a more local level.

Britain has one of the most centralised governments in the western world. It is time to reverse that.

[ninja-lewis]

Puggit said:

Alfred Wyrd said:

More proof if any where needed that the Conservatives intend to carry on where Labour leave off - putting England and the English people last

I don't understand the Tory rationale here. The vast majority of Scottish MPs are either SNP or Labour. The SNP want to have independence, therefore we cannot trust their vote on English matters, and the Labour MPs will vote against Tory plans by default.

SNP MPs don't vote on English matters.

[PJ S]

Trommel said:

Hague has clearly changed his mind:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/394997.stm

Back in 1999 he did, but this is 2010 - wonder if the same train of thought prevails?

[PJ S]

Spiritual_Beggar said:

thinfourth2 said:

English Scottish who cares I'm more concerned by the growing proffesional MP who has never had a real job and has lived their entire life in London voting on issues that effect workers outside London

What he said.

Current MPs just do not have an understanding of how the real world operates.
As such, the schemes and policies they are introducing are hindering economic growth...and not supporting it.

But given they never do anything without resorting to some report by some think-tank, then it's immaterial that they've worked in a proper job.
Of course, perversely, that leads to are they then being dubed/lead by the think-tank group?
If so, then not having much of a clue about real world working practices, is definitely a hindrance since they are unable to sort the wheat from the chaff in the report's findings/recommendations.