THE UK Government has been accused of trying to "rush through" its plans to limit the voting rights of Scottish MPs by means of its proposed English Votes for English Laws(Evel) after suggestions were made that its highly contentious change will be enacted as early as next week.
The issue of the major constitutional reform was raised by Labour's Angela Eagle, the Shadow Commons Leader, at Commons question-time when she expressed concern about suggestions the Conservative administration was seeking to "rush through" its controversial EVEL plan in the next few days not by means of new legislation but simply by changing the House's standing orders.
Asking how the Government planned to bring forward its proposals, she told MPs: "We've had no detail on their proposals, we've got no debate scheduled and, apparently, the Government plan to change standing orders and avoid having to legislate. This is a matter of serious constitutional significance."
Chris Grayling, the Commons Leader, urged Ms Eagle not to believe everything she read in the newspapers after he announced parliamentary business for the next two weeks, which did not include any debate on EVEL.
But he then added: "We will bring forward shortly our proposals on this front; we will discuss them across the House. There will be a full and proper debate on them. We will naturally ensure the House gets an opportunity for full consideration as all parties would expect. I will, of course, discuss them with other parties when we are ready to do so."
Later, Pete Wishart for the SNP appeared unconvinced and said it was clear the Government now planned "to rush through" its EVEL plans, which will seek to ensure no England-only Bill gets passed without the consent of English MPs.
The Nationalists' Shadow Commons Leader suggested under the proposals the Speaker would be placed in an "invidious position" in having to decide whether or not to ban Scottish MPs from debates and votes. "There are huge constitutional issues in this," declared the Perth MP. "We need to have a full and proper debate on this."
Mr Grayling replied: "We will talk to all parties across the House. Honourable Members will have time to give their responses. There will be a full debate."
He added that the SNP had missed the point about the issue of fairness and devolution, saying: "We intend to deliver that fairness."
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