As the Commons debate on devolution gets underway, the three parties have set out their positions on English votes for English laws. The Tories are adamant that this principle needs to be solved, but have accepted that they cannot link it to greater devolution to Scotland. The Lib Dems agree that parliament must address the issue, but want a Grand Committee to allow English MPs to ‘vet’ laws that will apply only in England. Labour doesn’t want to do anything about this ‘stitch-up’ and will not attend the Cabinet committee discussing the change – although the Leader of the House did invite John Denham, who seems rather aerated today, to attend instead.
William Hague said it was a ‘basic matter of fairness to say that the voice of England should also be heard’ and that it was no longer fair for Scottish MPs to cast votes on matters that didn’t affect their constituents.
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