I've finally read Iain Dale's column from today's Telegraph. For the most part I agree with his assessment. The one thing that Labour refuse to deal with is the Westlothian Question. The reason for their refusal is of course well documented. If it is resolved they would not be able to get measures through parliament that effected only England because of their reliance on Scottish votes.
As we get closer to the Scots going to the polls, where every indication is that the SNP are going to romp home as the largest party, the Conservative Party should definitely put more meat on its proposals for resolving the inequity that currently exists in terms of voting rights on matters effecting the two home nations.
John Redwood's argument which Iain commented on is certainly a possible starting point. I agree with David Cameron that the solution should not be ever more politicians in a new Parliament, the idea of different sitting times in the schedule dependent on English versus British matters certainly makes sense.
6 comments:
The Conservatives have an uphill battle anywhere in Scotland, Dizzy.
Did I say they didn't?
James is right. When the Tories had more than one MP in the far north they/you were definitely unionist, West Lothian question or no West Lothian Question (c) Tam Dalyell btw. Now blasted to smithereens up there the Union goes to the dogs. Westies, Cairns and Borders alike.
This is opportunism. And your strange curved ball re EU renegotiation on Doughty Street was pretty bizarre actually. And wasn't Mr Uncle bizarre? English Democrats standing in Welsh Wales. As well as allegedly English Wales - home of the Dale.
Interesting of course that the Fib Dems are currently all for the Union ... with all those sub-standard MPs they have up there. And their ridiculous posse of sub-standard MSPs to boot.
James may be right, but I didn't say the contrary so I fail to see what the point being made is in the way it was addressed.
As to opportunism what a load of bollocks. I'm only 30 and I've only been active for the last two years, so you can fuck right off with that charge because it's total wank. You'll note I've been quite invective in my response to that point, it's because I fucking well mean it and there is nothing more annoying that some twat telling me why am I saying something when it's outright fucking wrong.
Don't start throwing accusations arounds suggesting I don't care about the Union just because the Tories have been gradual decline in Scotland over the past fifty years. I am a conservative which means I deal with the situation I find as the status quo and work from that point. That doesn't make me opportuinist it makes me a realist about the how we find the current situation. There is inequity today, it needs to be resolved.
As for the curve ball? Hardly, it came from the EP and EU itself. Scotland, if it goes indepednent will have to negotiate membership of the EU. That's what they said about Scotland, it stands to reason that England could find itself in a similar situation as a result.
A big enough future Tory majority could solve the West Lothian question in the equitable way (ie, Scottish MPs don't vote on matters that are covered in Scotland by the Scottish parliament) and potentially really screw future Labour governments. Tony Blair's gift to the future.
Jesus wept. Blair's devolution program, even all these years later on, might still be his stupidest policy.
I think it is easily possible to have an English Parliament without having more MPs or a new Parliament building.
Simply make Scotland hold elections for its MPs and they represent the country and sit in Edinburgh rather than come to London. Same with Wales and NI. No Scots, Welsh or NI MPs would go to Westminster. Meanwhile English MPs alone would sit in the Commons as the English Parliament.
The House of Lords could become a Union chamber and the only place where representatives from Scotland, Wales and NI can sit and legislate alongside English representatives. If any of the three smaller countries opted for independence their representatives would no longer sit in that chamber.
It's just a thought and I feel certainly more appropriate for the English who uniquely in Europe have no national Parliament. I could not see the Scots, Welsh and N Irish giving up their devolved institutions to take us back to a pre-devolution state.
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