William Hague writes on English votes for English laws
It is not anti-Scottish or anti-Welsh to want the English to have a similar measure of devolution to that which has been agreed for Scotland and Wales.
It is simple justice and fairness to ensure that we don't get any repeat of the outrageous and absurd situation a few years ago on Top-Up Tuition fees, where Westminster MPs representing Scottish constituencies, whose own electors did not have to pay top-up fees (the Scottish parliament having made other arrangements) imposed those fees on English students against the wishes of the majority of English voters.
Incidentally that decision was also a broken election promise by the Labour party every bit as egregious as the broken Lib/Dem promise on tuition fees a few years later, so all the Labour attacks on the Lib/Dems over student tuition fees were total hypocrisy.
The promises made during the Scottish referendum campaign to agree further devolution must and well be kept, and this will not be conditional on devolution for England, but it is important to consider how we can ensure that equivalent measures for England are considered.
This is what William Hague has to say on the subject.
It is simple justice and fairness to ensure that we don't get any repeat of the outrageous and absurd situation a few years ago on Top-Up Tuition fees, where Westminster MPs representing Scottish constituencies, whose own electors did not have to pay top-up fees (the Scottish parliament having made other arrangements) imposed those fees on English students against the wishes of the majority of English voters.
Incidentally that decision was also a broken election promise by the Labour party every bit as egregious as the broken Lib/Dem promise on tuition fees a few years later, so all the Labour attacks on the Lib/Dems over student tuition fees were total hypocrisy.
The promises made during the Scottish referendum campaign to agree further devolution must and well be kept, and this will not be conditional on devolution for England, but it is important to consider how we can ensure that equivalent measures for England are considered.
This is what William Hague has to say on the subject.
 "Imagine this scenario. The Scottish Parliament votes to reduce income tax in Scotland, but then Scottish MPs come to Westminster and vote to increase income tax in England. You don't have to think for long to realise how unfair that would be. That's why we are committed to bringing in English votes for English laws. Under our plans, English MPs will have an effective veto over legislation - including income tax - that only affects England. This is a fundamental issue of fairness - and we need your support. Please add your name today to show you back our commitment to English votes for English laws. It is not right to have Scottish MPs voting on laws and parts of budgets that only apply to English voters without the consent of English MPs. Labour, though, are looking to fudge this important issue and cheat English voters of their democratic rights. They are more interested in their own political self-interest than taking the right long-term decision for our country. Just as with their economic policies, all they can offer voters is chaos and confusion. So please sign the petition today and let's make sure that only MPs representing English voters have the final say on English-only laws:  Yours,  William Hague" |
Comments
announce your buget plans and then put it to a referendum for acceptance. Thats English votes for English people, and that will attract my signature.
That's English Votes for English Laws.
Suspect it will gradually happen one step at a time and more slowly than we might like.
But the internet is making things like this more and more possible, and sooner or later there will be a demand for it.