Commission set to be unveiled

By David Maddox
Published on Saturday 14 January 2012 00:00

THE UK government will next week unveil details of a commission that will look into whether Scottish MPs should be allowed to vote on English-only matters.

The West Lothian Commission – named after the famous question framed by former Linlithgow Labour MP Tam Dalyell on the problems of devolution – comes as the Scottish independence referendum campaign gets under way. It has been set up because of pressure from English Tory MPs over Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh MPs having a vote on matters, such as health and education, which are legislated in Holyrood, Stormont and the Welsh Sennedd, where English MPs have no say.

It is understood the new commission will have no MPs sitting on it, but is intended to be made up of “parliamentary experts”.

The commission will look for a solution that allows English MPs to decide on English-only matters without making a second class of Celtic MPs.

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7

Hector the Lessor

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:41 AM

I have sussed it out. In the English Parliament, the Scots vote does not mean much anyway. Even at my age with modern technology, you learn something new every day.

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6

Hector the Lessor

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:39 AM

From my own point of view, I find the English Parliament attitude a bit weird. Could you explain in simple language why the Scots MPs should vote on English matters. Particularly when they are in a minority

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5

Vote 'NO'

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 08:29 PM

So much for Sal nod's hand picked option running it from here. II should like to thank the Electoral Commission for fixing the potential problem of a fixed SNP run referendum. Now we can win win win without whinging Gnats greetin' in tae their porridge sayin' it's no' fair!!!

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glassbenmhor

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 04:14 PM

One union indivisible ..... Bla bla bla, aye representation. No I should say that Mother Parliment is quite right on this the SNP have never voted upon English matters for years and that my friends is the right and honest thing to do however Liebour on the other hand, the Labour Party I'd truly fading away, make no mistake there will be a coup and possibly in the Scottish Tory ranks as well. Three years from mow and before a vote none of us will recognize the political landscape

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3

douglas-home rule

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 03:11 PM

What will our MPs do then. Not responsible for Scottish affairs and now ,rightly to be excluded from English matters. How will they fill their days? Time to bring them home ( kicking and screaming ), the war is over.

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2

samcoldstream

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 02:51 PM

It won't matter because the number of Scottish constituencies is about to be reduced from 59 to 52. The Boundary Commission for Scotland has made this recommendation to Westminster which will soon become law. After Devolution, quite rightly, Scotland's 71 constituencies were reduced from 71 to 59. Once this proposal becomes law, Scotland will have lost 19 MPs in less than 15 years?

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Tiny

Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 09:47 AM

Oh how interesting. For three hundred years the overwheming English majority rode roughshod over the Scottish MP'S most notably on issues like the poll tax. If we stay in the Union they can continue doing so for another three hundred years. Is this one of these hard to find benefits of staying in the union?

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