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Peers put Tartan Army in their sights
By JAMES CHAPMAN, Daily Mail

18th January 2006

Top Scot: Chancellor Gordon Brown is just one of Labour's influential Scottish MPs

Tony Blair would be stopped from using his 'tartan army' of Scottish MPs to force through laws affecting only England under legislation unveiled.

It is designed to address the 'fundamental unfairness' of Scottish and Welsh MPs being able to vote on English-only issues, while English MPs have no say on legislation introduced in the Scottish Parliament or Welsh Assembly.

The legislation was introduced in the House of Lords by former Conservative Home Secretary Lord Baker. He warned that the anomaly now threatens the fabric of the UK.

He said it was "unacceptable" that Scottish and Welsh MPs should vote on issues which do not affect their constituencies, because they are dealt with by the devolved assemblies in Edinburgh and Cardiff.

"There should be no legislation without representation," he said. "The supremacy of Westminster has been divided."

Though his legislation stands little chance of becoming law without Government support, it is expected to put the issue centre stage.

The question will become central during Labour's third term because it will now take only a small number of English Labour MPs to rebel on a series of issues for the party's 'tartan army' to become crucial.

At last May's General Election, Labour's majority in England was slashed from 117 to just 43. That means that if only 22 Labour MPs in England oppose a Government measure, the votes of traditionally loyal Scottish members become critical.

English Labour MPs are threatening to rebel over a series of proposals on schools, nuclear power, benefits reform, primary healthcare and smoking.

If Mr Blair forces his plans into law only by marching Scottish MPs through the Commons division lobbies, critics forecast increasing resentment among English voters.

Scottish influence in Westminster is already set to increase, with two Scottish MPs - Gordon Brown and Sir Menzies Campbell - favourites to be leading Labour and the Liberal Democrats by the time of the next election.

The so-called West Lothian question was first posed by Labour MP Tam Dalyell in the 1970s.

He identified that once a Scottish Parliament was established, Scottish MPs would be able to vote on issues that affected only England and Wales, whereas English and Welsh MPs would not be able to vote on the same issues in Scotland.

Comments from readers.

This move is long over due.

- Graham Christian, Nottingham
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Labour have always used their permanent Scottish majority to impose their policies on England, irrespective of the balance of English MPs. Although the "West Lothian Question" was first raised by a Labour MP and the latest proposals have been brought forward under a New Labour government, it seems highly improbable that any change will actually be made (unless it is TB's parting shot at GB).

- Tony, Sheffield, England
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Why should Scottish MPs vote on issues such as English health, education and transport policies? They trash England's policies then feather their own nests in Scotland. George Brown is trying to gloss over the massive rape and pillage of England by having a Britain Day. He's having a laugh! Paxman was right to call them the Scottish Raj.

- Barbara Garner, Sussex, England

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guardian.co.uk

Aventinian · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 12:09 pm Post subject:

The article ignores the fact that Parliament is still sovereign in the eyes of the constitution. It can make any law it wants, on any subject, over any territory - including Scotland. If English MPs want to make a Bill on Scottish health, they can make it and pass it. If you took away this ability, it would hamper the power of Parliament to effectively legislate. There should be no 'English votes' or 'Scottish votes'. If Lord Baker wants an English Assembly, let him propose that.

Anyway, the amount of Local Acts that Parliament passes annually would seem to suggest it isn't a problem. Why should the honourable member from The Whirral have been able to vote on the Mersey Tunnels Act 2004? Perhaps it is because all of these things are funded by Her Majesty's Treasury and whether England likes it or not, our taxes still go towards paying for their education, healthcare and transport costs.