THE first use of the UK Government’s controversial English Votes for English Laws rule, that bans Scottish MPs from certain votes, has been condemned by the SNP as an “absolute mess, a bourach guddle,” that will speed the end of the United Kingdom.
Pete Wishart, the Nationalists’ Shadow Commons Leader, denounced Evel and the creation of an English grand committee as a legislative procedure, that would create two classes of MP at Westminster and for the first time divide Members on the basis of nationality and geography.
“Several English members say today that they're doing this to save the Union; can I just add a word of caution to my friends who represent English constituencies. What you're doing today by establishing this committee and pursuing this issue in the way that you have, you're driving Scotland out of the door. This is how it's being observed in Scotland," claimed the MP for Perth.
He was supported in his criticism of Evel by Labour's David Winnick, who said: "I feel…the Tories are making precisely the same mistake as their predecessors did over Ireland."
He suggested Scottish and Welsh MPs could exercise self-restraint when deciding which issues to vote on.
But John Redwood, the former Conservative Cabinet Minister, who insisted the Tories were “speaking for England”, welcomed how Evel was taking England “on its first step on the journey to justice and fairness for our country”.
His colleague, Yorkshire Conservative Graham Stuart, argued that given the Nationalists had completely failed to persuade the Scottish people to end the Union, their greatest hope now was that English grievance at the devolution settlement would push Scotland out of the UK. “This modest step is a way of alleviating that grievance,” declared the backbencher, claiming that was why Mr Wishart was “quite so angry”.
John Healey for Labour said his party supported a stronger voice for England at Westminster but insisted it should be a “voice not a veto” and setting up an English grand committee should not be happening in a “unified parliament of the United Kingdom”.
The Government believes Evel is a fair procedure, which, in light of Holyrood gaining more powers, gives English MPs their say over England-only legislation.
John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, has certified large sections of the UK Government’s Housing and Planning Bill relate exclusively to England, including measures designed to ensure more "starter homes" are built to help young first-time buyers.
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