England only voting?

[Oneeyedvic]

Crossing the divide between parties here: has Davis got it right? Should only English MPs be allowed to vote which only effect England?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4424370.stm

I thought about this point a lot when the Foundation Hospitals bill went through - but only because Scottish MPs voted with the government despite it not effecting them.

Any views? And please (if possible) - no party politics as I see no reason that if you are labour / lib dem/ tory /green / independent / SNP it should have any bearing on the question.

[WendyS]

On balance I'd be inclined to restrict voting in Westminster Parliament to only English MP's now that Scotland and Wales have their own forums.

After all, we don't allow English MP's to vote in the French or German parliaments, do we, and they're equally members of the EEC. When Scottish laws differ from England's there is always the risk that a Scottish MP can support one policy in his native Scotland yet vote for the opposite down in England.

[WaldoMcFroog]

It seems entirely reasonable that only English MPs should vote on issues that affect (Not 'effect' Vic - sorry to pick!) England. Can't see it's in the slightest bit contentious.

[kempie]

I wholeheartedly agree.

There is no justifiable reason why MPs who represent the devolved countries should have any say on issues or policies which do not affect those countries.

[Proteus]

I agree that Scottish MPs should not have the right to vote on issues that affect only England and Wales. This problem needs to be addressed.

But here's a thought. If the Westminster majority of a party forming the Government depended on Scottish MPs, purely English policy could end up being directed by the Opposition. This may indeed be desirable, but it would surely cause some tension and difficulties in, say, the Civil Service. It's a broad issue, isn't it?

[kempie]

...don't forget the Welsh MPs. Not all policy is applicable to Wales.

I don't understand your point about the Civil Service since they are apolitical. Could you clarify?

[Chessman]

I totally agree that only English voter should vote on English matters, lets face it, if it hadn't been for the Scottish votes, Labour wouldn't have got in at the last election.

[Chillum]

Of course this should be the case. And don't forget Chessman, if it hadn't been for the English vote, we wouldn't have had almost 12 years of Mrs. bleedin' Thatcher.

[january_bug]

I am very much inclined to agree - especially as I'm yet to hear a good arguement against it. I'm going to be picky about definition and be sure that we mean (as I know you all do) "MPs representing English constituencies", rather than "English MPs" just in case there are any who are technically Welsh or Scottish but who represent an English constituency....

Still, yes, if it's Welsh only on Welsh matters, and likewise for the Scots, then why not only English MPs to vote on English matters!?

I do not agree that only English voters should vote on English matters as that is unworkable. Would my mother get half a vote here and half in Scotland!?!

Vic - I hope people don't feel the need to bring party politics into it - you're quite right, this is an issue that spans the whole spectrum! :-)

[Oneeyedvic]

Am curious as to whether anyone will disagree and for what reason

[january_bug]

Me too!!!! :-) Right - time for Spooks! :-) Last in the series! :-(

[Chessman]

Thats true chillum, but in line with this thread, like her or hate her, she was English.

[stevie21]

Is this a step towards Scottish Independence? My thinking is that this would be a logical and fair step if it was reciprocated and Westminister MPs who have no real interest/constituency in Scotland were thus unable to vote on anything that wasn't broadly UK policy but was exclusively Scottish.

I can't even think of any particular policy that would be exclusively Scottish but I'm sure that such matters aren't exclusively the remit of our wee parliament up in Edinburgh.

Vic for Prime Minister (of an independent Scotland?)

[bernardo]

I disagree. I am a Unionist and I want to be ruled by the UK Parliament. This proposal is for an English Parliament through the back door - which I do not want.

[january_bug]

Scottish MSPs and Welsh MWAs ARE the only MPs to vote in exclusively Scottish, or Welsh matters only - in the Parliament and Assembly respectively.

That's why this English MPs on English matters only suggestion was raised (as I understand it).

I presume the intention was to allow limited voting on a limited number of issues, but to contniue UK voting on UK issues - which still make up a vast majority of the issues voted on in parliament (I'd have thought).

[nedflanders]

OMG I actually agree with Oneeyedvic! I am scottish and I agree that our MP's should not have a vote on purely English or Welsh issues. This should have been investigated when the Scottish and Welsh parliaments came into effect. I wonder though, if the tories were in power with a small majority, would this be changed? As they could be defeated on issues by Scottish labour MP's (I think the tories only have 1 or 2 MP's up here just now).

[brachiopod]

The Welsh Assembly is tightly restricted in what it can implement in terms of Laws and Bills etc. Note it is an Assembly, not a Parliament as in the Scottish model. This being due to the fact that Wales is a Principality, not a country in it's own right.

In reality, (and purely in my opinion), it makes for the WA and MWA's being little more than a glorified Local Council, voting and passing motions on such vital issues as "Should the Master of Ceremonies be allowed to speak English at the National Eisteddfod?" and other such important issues.

Westminster serves as the seat of National Government, and the majority of 'business' affects the UK as a whole. In that respect, then yes, MP's from Scotland and Wales should vote. I would accept, however, that if there is business that is specifically 'English', then yes, they should be excluded from that vote, or that it should perhaps be dealt with in another forum.

Oh, I am Welsh by the way.