PM Holds English Votes For English Law Talks

David Cameron will discuss plans with senior MPs today to restrict the voting rights of Scottish MPs in the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister intends to address the issue of MPs in Scotland being able to vote on policies that only affect England, following the granting of fresh powers to Holyrood after the Scottish referendum.

The row over Mr Cameron’s decision to link the issues threatens to overshadow the Labour Party conference, with Ed Miliband under pressure to support the changes.

The Labour leader said he backed greater “scrutiny” of the issue but stopped short of a pledge on votes, arguing such a major constitutional change should not be rushed.

Labour, which has 40 of Scotland’s 59 MPs, has most to lose from any measures which would restrict the voting rights of MPs representing constituencies north of the border.

After the referendum, together with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, the Tory and Labour leaders signed a vow to Scottish voters promising further powers if they rejected independence.

But within hours of Scotland voting No to devolution, Mr Cameron had announced the process for looking at the question about voting rights of MPs would proceed in tandem with the deal for Scotland.

A No 10 source stressed the two processes would run in parallel, but the package for Holyrood was not conditional on reaching agreement at Westminster about English votes.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph yesterday, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling warned that Scottish MPs voting on England-only issues was a travesty of democracy.

He said: “We cannot have a situation where more decisions about Scotland are being taken in Scotland, and yet Scottish MPs come to Westminster and vote on English-only issues, shaping the destiny of health, education, justice, environment and probably taxation, too, in England, potentially against the wishes of most English representatives.

“That would be a travesty of democracy, and would be regarded with fury by the English.”

The Prime Minister’s “English votes for English laws” summit at Chequers has been seen as a bid to head off a potential backbench rebellion on constitutional reform, amid concern about the promises made to Scotland.

MPs due to attend include former minister John Redwood who has led calls for an English Parliament, and Bernard Jenkin, who has proposed a federal system for the UK’s four nations.

Former Welsh secretary Mr Redwood said: “We strongly feel that if Scotland is to have more devolved power we too need our own devolved government to balance the kingdom.

“We want a fair settlement over who makes the decisions, and how the money is raised and spent.”

First Minister Alex Salmond claimed the Westminster party leaders tricked people into voting No to independence with their last minute promise of more powers for Holyrood.

He told Sky News’ Murnaghan programme on Sunday: “It’s the people who voted No because they believed these commitments from the Westminster leadership, these are the people who are feeling most angry, most hurt, most disappointed in Scotland today.”

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PM Holds English Votes For English Law Talks