English devo call by leading academic

THE UK government should consider some form of English devolution, a leading constitutional expert has stated in a submission to the Commission on the West Lothian Question.

Professor Jim Gallagher, of Oxford and Glasgow universities, has warned a solution needs to be found to the problem of Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs voting in Westminster on English matters because of a rise in English identity.

He also insisted “recognition of England” was central to solving the problem, although he ruled out an English parliament or creating directly elected regional assemblies.

He said the idea that Scottish MPs prop up Labour governments was “a myth”. He said this had only happened once since 1922, when the Heath government was defeated in February 1974.