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| Tories bring forward 'English votes for English laws' plan | Tories bring forward 'English votes for English laws' plan |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Conservatives have brought forward proposals to allow English MPs to have a veto on laws and some tax measures that relate only to England, in a move condemned as a democratic outrage by the Labour and Scottish National parties. | |
| Under the proposals, if a law relates to matters that have otherwise been devolved to the other countries in the UK, English MPs will take part in potentially two new stages of consideration of legislation before its third reading. There will be no change to procedure in the House of Lords. | Under the proposals, if a law relates to matters that have otherwise been devolved to the other countries in the UK, English MPs will take part in potentially two new stages of consideration of legislation before its third reading. There will be no change to procedure in the House of Lords. |
| Every MP will continue to have a vote on every bill, but English MPs will have a veto when debating matters that have been devolved to the Scottish parliament or the Welsh or Northern Ireland assemblies. On some occasions, English and Welsh MPs will decide together on legislation relating to matters that only affect their countries. | Every MP will continue to have a vote on every bill, but English MPs will have a veto when debating matters that have been devolved to the Scottish parliament or the Welsh or Northern Ireland assemblies. On some occasions, English and Welsh MPs will decide together on legislation relating to matters that only affect their countries. |
| The Speaker will determine whether laws relate to citizens across the UK, English constituencies, or English and Welsh constituencies. | The Speaker will determine whether laws relate to citizens across the UK, English constituencies, or English and Welsh constituencies. |
| The process will also bring in a new way of counting votes on electronic tablets so that the clerks of the House of Commons will be able to find out immediately how many English MPs supported a particular measure. | The process will also bring in a new way of counting votes on electronic tablets so that the clerks of the House of Commons will be able to find out immediately how many English MPs supported a particular measure. |
| Chris Grayling, the leader of the Commons, said his plans would “end the anomaly that a majority of English MPs can be outvoted on matters which are devolved elsewhere”. | Chris Grayling, the leader of the Commons, said his plans would “end the anomaly that a majority of English MPs can be outvoted on matters which are devolved elsewhere”. |
| Once there had been further devolution of income tax and other powers to Scotland, a decisive vote on tax measures would be given to MPs whose constituents were affected by such changes. | Once there had been further devolution of income tax and other powers to Scotland, a decisive vote on tax measures would be given to MPs whose constituents were affected by such changes. |
| “They will give English MPs, and in some cases English and Welsh MPs, a power of veto to prevent any measure being imposed on their constituents against their wishes,” Grayling said. | “They will give English MPs, and in some cases English and Welsh MPs, a power of veto to prevent any measure being imposed on their constituents against their wishes,” Grayling said. |
| However, Angela Eagle, his Labour opponent, accused the Conservatives of using procedural trickery to try to manufacture a larger majority than they actually have. | However, Angela Eagle, his Labour opponent, accused the Conservatives of using procedural trickery to try to manufacture a larger majority than they actually have. |
| She said the “rushed and partisan measures” had been cobbled together without the opportunity for proper scrutiny by the the Commons. | She said the “rushed and partisan measures” had been cobbled together without the opportunity for proper scrutiny by the the Commons. |
| “These proposals risk the union, rather than saving it .... The leader of the House is playing with fire. Why is he being so reckless?” she asked. | “These proposals risk the union, rather than saving it .... The leader of the House is playing with fire. Why is he being so reckless?” she asked. |
| Peter Wishart, chair of the Scottish affairs committee, told Grayling it was “constitutional bilge and unworkable garbage” that would create two classes of MPs. | Peter Wishart, chair of the Scottish affairs committee, told Grayling it was “constitutional bilge and unworkable garbage” that would create two classes of MPs. |
| “You’re as well to stamp the Scottish MPs’ foreheads before we go into the lobbies,” he said. “This is the most dramatic and important constitutional statement since the days of Gladstone. Never before has there been such an assault on the rights of the members of this House to look after their constituents.” | “You’re as well to stamp the Scottish MPs’ foreheads before we go into the lobbies,” he said. “This is the most dramatic and important constitutional statement since the days of Gladstone. Never before has there been such an assault on the rights of the members of this House to look after their constituents.” |
| Wishart said the Conservatives were doing their best to make sure Scotland became an independent country and encourage another referendum. | Wishart said the Conservatives were doing their best to make sure Scotland became an independent country and encourage another referendum. |
| One of the major points of contention is that the government is simply changing the standing orders of the House of Commons, passed by a single vote, rather than introducing legislation that would be subject to greater scrutiny. | One of the major points of contention is that the government is simply changing the standing orders of the House of Commons, passed by a single vote, rather than introducing legislation that would be subject to greater scrutiny. |
| Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat former Scottish secretary, called for full primary legislation, saying the lack of proper scrutiny was an outrage. | Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat former Scottish secretary, called for full primary legislation, saying the lack of proper scrutiny was an outrage. |
| The new process will be subject to a vote in the Commons on 15 July, so the new system is likely to be approved before MPs break for their summer recess. | The new process will be subject to a vote in the Commons on 15 July, so the new system is likely to be approved before MPs break for their summer recess. |