What a fuss about nothing.
People want a bit of parity and fairness and everyone over-reacts, claiming that the UK will fall apart. What rubbish.
New Labour tactics are crude and self interested (as always). A Scots dominated government gave Scotland a little of what they wanted a decade ago, and just as it threatens to bring the party to a close, they start scaremongering.
If English MPs have no say in how public money is spent on health and education in Scotland and Wales, why should Scottish and Welsh MPs have a say on English spending. There is nothing wrong in pointing out the absurdity of certain people having a vote in issues which do not affect the people they represent or govern.
If that was acceptable we would have welcomed the Nazis with open arms. But it is not acceptable and we are right to demand that our “leaders” put right what they have screwed up.
This Government should have fallen the day that Scottish MPs imposed tuition fees on English Universities and students just to protect the Government from an embarrassing defeat. This is vastly more iniquitous than the poll tax trial in Scotland ever was, and that issue directly brought about Thatcher’s demise.
Devolution is very simple to operate. It is quite simple – just exclude Scottish and Welsh MP’s from debates and votes concerning any issues which are already decided upon under devolved powers in Edinburgh and Cardiff.
You don’t need a new building, you don’t need any new politicians and you don’t need a new flag.
You just need some common sense and a willingness to ask one simple question – will the outcome of this vote directly affect the people of Scotland and Wales. If yes, Scottish and Welsh MPs vote, if no, they don’t.
Tricky isn’t it.
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2 comments:
Personally, and being an ex-communicated Scot, I think Hadrian had the right idea. Let's rebuild the wall and introuduce border controls!
Seriously, it has been made into a much bigger issue than it really is. I do not know of any 'everyday' people who actually have an opinion either way. This is all about balance of power amongst squabbling politikers. The common sense approach is the best really. Exclude MPs from voting on issues that do not directly affect their constituents.
Great post, except that I don't think the matter of English votes for English laws is quite so straightforward as you do.
It was a BBC interview with Jack McConnell that drove home to me the following point.
Any piece of legislation that has a major impact on Treasury spending affects Scotland, even if the matter appears to affect England alone. Tuition fees would be an example of this.
The current situation is grotesquely unfair. It is not, however, easily remedied.
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