Chancellor will not ban Scots MPs from English votes

Published on 08/01/2007 01:17

GORDON Brown yesterday promised to do more to reflect England's national identity, but ruled out any move to ban Scots MPs from voting on laws that affect only England.

As he approaches No 10, Mr Brown is at pains to reassure English voters that he has their interests at heart, and reject suggestions that his government would unfairly favour Scotland.

Some Conservatives are hoping to target Mr Brown for his Scottishness by trumpeting a policy of preventing MPs with Scottish seats voting on legislation aimed primarily at England.

Mr Brown rejected that answer to the so-called West Lothian Question, arguing that it could even lead to the breaking up of Britain and the end of UK-wide government.

"A policy of English votes for English laws would, in the end, break up the United Kingdom because the executive would have to owe its authority to simply the English members," the Chancellor told the BBC.

But with opinion polls showing growing English unease about the current constitutional settlement, Mr Brown did signal his government could do more to express the concerns of England as a distinct nation.

"I think [there are] various ways that Englishness can be recognised, in fact, if that is the view," Mr Brown said, declining to give any examples.

Mr Brown faces two problems: pressure from Scotland for more powers for Holyrood and pressure from England for a c hange to the role of Westminster, to give English MPs more control over their own domestic affairs.

The Chancellor's comments echo those of Lord Falconer, the Lord Chancellor, who last week rejected calls from some Conservatives for MPs representing Scottish constituencies to be barred from voting on Westminster legislation that affects only England.

"We don't think the right solution is to deprive Scottish MPs of the right to vote on English issues," he said.

"If you weaken the links between Scottish Members of Parliament and the Westminster Parliament you weaken the Union."