Tories 'would break up UK' by stopping Scots votes on English issues

Published on 29/10/2007 01:14

THE Tories were accused of prompting the break up of the UK last night as it emerged David Cameron is set to commit his party to stripping Scottish MPs of the right to vote on English matters at Westminster.

He will back proposals by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, the former Scottish secretary, to create an English Grand Committee of the House of Commons to deal with issues which only affect people living south of the Border.

The blueprint, which would allow English MPs exclusive voting rights on areas such as education and health, will be published within weeks by the party's constitutional policy review group, led by Kenneth Clarke.

Mr Cameron - who has privately described Sir Malcolm's solution to the famous West Lothian Question as "elegant and attractive" - is now ready to formally back for the first time the removal of Scottish MPs' voting rights on English matters.

However, Sir Malcolm's proposal has been attacked by senior Labour figures, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party.

David Cairns, the Scotland Office minister, said: "Once you breach the principle that all MPs should vote on matters before them in Westminster you get constitutional anarchy."

Harriet Harman, the deputy Labour leader, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that the suggestion could lead to a break-up of the UK. She said: "I think it's very ironic that we've got a situation where Malcolm Rifkind, who was a Scottish member of parliament until he lost his seat ... is now proposing something that would ultimately end up with Scotland being pushed out of the union."

Alex Salmond, the First Minister, described Sir Malcolm's proposal as "some sort of spatchcock solution to appeal for votes in Middle England". He said:

"I am a great believer in an English parliament, and you know a lot of folk say that England couldn't manage on its own. I decry that entirely. I've got every confidence in the people of England to be fully self-governing. I think they'll make a fantastic job of it and we'll be the best of neighbours and the best of friends."

Sir Malcolm, who now represents Kensington and Chelsea in London, said his proposal would not stop a Scots MP like Gordon Brown becoming prime minister. But it would be "unwise" to put a Scot in charge of a purely English department such as education. He said his plan would not stop Scots MPs voting on UK issues such as tax and defence.

Mr Brown is determined to publish a controversial statement of British values next year in a bid to hit back at Tory attempts to exploit the so-called West Lothian Question against Labour at the next election and to try to stem the tide of Nationalist advances in Scotland.

However, he came under bitter attack from Mr Cameron yesterday for behaving in a "deeply phoney" way. The Tory leader said that while he still respected Mr Brown as a politician, he strongly criticised him for not calling a general election and for posing with Baroness Thatcher outside 10 Downing Street.

Mr Cameron said: "I think there are things he has done recently that have been deeply phoney. If you, all your life, campaign against everything Margaret Thatcher has done, you look a bit silly when you pose with her. If you keep telling people how decisive you are and strong and then you cancel an election, I think you do look a bit of a phoney."