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English laws 'veto' offered by the Conservatives English MPs would get tax veto under Conservative plans
(about 7 hours later)
English MPs would be given a veto over laws that apply only in England - including on income tax rates - under plans put forward by the Conservatives. MPs for Scottish seats would be stripped of the power to "impose" income tax rate changes on England under Conservative plans.
MPs from other parts of the UK would still be able to debate English laws and these would still require a majority vote in the House of Commons. MPs for English seats would have a veto on tax, and issues like schools and health, which only affect England.
But detailed scrutiny of bills that did not affect the rest of the UK would be restricted to English MPs. The plan falls short of the English Parliament demanded by some Tory MPs.
Labour has called for a cross-party convention to consider the matter. But Commons leader William Hague said it was a "fair solution". Labour is calling for a cross-party investigation into the matter.
Ed Miliband's party has also suggested giving a greater role to English, or English and Welsh MPs, in scrutinising legislation that does not apply elsewhere in the UK. Scotland is set to be given the power to set its own income tax rates and bands - and Air Passenger Duty rates - under proposals drawn up by the The Smith Commission in the wake of November's independence referendum.
Post-referendum calls 'Stitch-up'
There have been calls for a new approach to such legislation in light of the increased powers for Scotland after its independence referendum. Prime Minister David Cameron promised a new settlement for England at the same time.
In the aftermath of Scotland's No vote, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged a new settlement for England "in tandem" with the devolution promised ahead of the referendum. Critics say it is unfair that Scottish MPs should help decide how things such as schools and the health service are run in England, when English MPs have no such say over how they are run in Scotland.
Critics of the current arrangement say it is unfair that Scottish MPs should help decide how things such as schools and the health service are run in England, when English MPs have no such say over how they are run in Scotland. But attempts at cross-party talks to resolve the so-called "West Lothian Question" were boycotted by Labour - which could struggle to get key legislation through the Commons if it won the election without its Scottish MPs - as a "stitch up".
How Hague's plan would work
Mr Hague's plan would give an effective veto to MPs for English seats - and Wales on some policies - for matters decided in the Scottish Parliament, but would still require a majority of all UK MPs to pass legislation.
He said it was the least radical of three options to resolve demands for "English votes for English laws" but would bring "fairness and accountability to England without without breaking up the unity and integrity of the UK Parliament".
He told BBC Breakfast: "MPs from all parts of the UK would continue to debate, as they do now, anything they want. It is just that they would only be able to pass measures relating only to England with the agreement of the English MPs."
AnalysisAnalysis
BBC's deputy political editor, James LandaleBBC's deputy political editor, James Landale
Conservative MPs have in recent weeks maintained discipline and kept friendly fire on their leadership to a minimum.Conservative MPs have in recent weeks maintained discipline and kept friendly fire on their leadership to a minimum.
But soon David Cameron will have to announce his plans to give English MPs a vote over English laws - and beneath the surface a ferocious debate is raging.But soon David Cameron will have to announce his plans to give English MPs a vote over English laws - and beneath the surface a ferocious debate is raging.
The latest contribution comes from respected senior Conservative Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Commons Treasury Committee and longstanding constitutional reformer.The latest contribution comes from respected senior Conservative Andrew Tyrie, chairman of the Commons Treasury Committee and longstanding constitutional reformer.
He has emailed a 48-page document to all of his Tory colleagues, entitled "Voice and Veto - Answering the West Lothian Question", which argues strongly for English MPs to have a veto over English legislation in the House of Commons.He has emailed a 48-page document to all of his Tory colleagues, entitled "Voice and Veto - Answering the West Lothian Question", which argues strongly for English MPs to have a veto over English legislation in the House of Commons.
Read the full articleRead the full article
Commons Leader William Hague will outline the Conservatives' preferred solution on Tuesday. It is one of the four options outlined by Mr Hague in December. Mr Hague said the Commons Speaker would probably have the job of deciding which measures should be treated as England only.
The change would mean MPs from across the UK would continue to be able to debate and vote on English laws, but the committee stage - where line-by-line scrutiny takes place - would be restricted to MPs representing the parts of the UK where they apply. He said the proposals were unlikely to become law before May's general election but they would be in the Conservative manifesto and he was keen for MPs to debate them before the election.
Mr Hague will say these MPs would also be given a veto, "to prevent the wishes of the English or English and Welsh being overridden by Scottish MPs". 'Leverage'
'Significantly strengthened' But some Conservative MPs say the plan will still give MPs for Scottish constituencies too much influence.
The Conservatives said their proposals were a "significantly strengthened version" of one of the options put forward by the McKay Commission set up by the government in 2012 to look at the so-called West Lothian Question. Former Cabinet Minister John Redwood told The Daily Telegraph: "It gives them leverage. If you had a lot of Nationalist MPs, for example, who wanted something for Scotland then presumably they would all gang up and try to block an English proposal until we cave in on what they wanted. It would be perfectly legitimate political tactics."
But some Conservative MPs want to go further, and give English MPs total control over England-only legislation. He said Tory MPs would not back Mr Hague's proposals.
A commission set up to look at strengthening devolution to Scotland recommended handing new powers, including setting income tax rates and bands, and devolving Air Passenger Duty, to the Scottish Parliament.
The West Lothian Question
Mr Hague will say it is a "fundamental matter of fairness" that English changes in these areas should have the agreement of English MPs.
The UK's Budget Bill would be considered in the same way, but "where taxes have been devolved to Scotland, the equivalent taxes in England would require the consent of English MPs", he will say.
He will add: "Some people will argue that this will weaken the United Kingdom, but I say that failure to act would be the true weakening of the United Kingdom."
In December Labour said an English, or English and Welsh, committee stage would give those MPs "a key role" in considering the legislation in question, while MPs as a whole would have the final say.In December Labour said an English, or English and Welsh, committee stage would give those MPs "a key role" in considering the legislation in question, while MPs as a whole would have the final say.
Labour said this and other ideas should be considered by a constitutional convention after May's general election.Labour said this and other ideas should be considered by a constitutional convention after May's general election.
The Liberal Democrats favour a grand committee of English MPs, with the right to veto legislation applying only to England, with its members based on the share of the vote.The Liberal Democrats favour a grand committee of English MPs, with the right to veto legislation applying only to England, with its members based on the share of the vote.
But Lib Dem Deputy Commons Leader Tom Brake said it would be a "major mistake" to "rush through" changes without a constitutional convention.