The West Lothian Answer
The West Lothian Answer is not this:
Mr Clarke’s committee suggests there should be voting restrictions when MPs look at the “committee stage” of a bill - when most in-depth amendments are discussed.
For matters relating solely to England, only English MPs should vote, while English and Welsh MPs alone should vote on issues only affecting those two countries, it argues.
MPs from all countries could later vote to pass or reject the bill as a whole, the committee adds. (BBC)
That doesn’t solve the West Lothian Question. It isn’t even an acceptable temporary solution.
The only answer to the question is for proper devolution - English, Scottish, and Welsh Parliaments with equal powers. Until proper political equality has been achieved, it cannot be resolved.
At the moment, the Scots have a massively disproportionate amount of political power. They have more MPs than they should, as their constituencies contain much fewer voters. Plus they have their on Parliament to make laws for themselves - but their MPs still have a vote on issues that do not afect their own constituencies. It is just wrong.
Equality means equality.
What this Tory proposal - that Labour wants to copy [not for the first time!] - means is that equality will not be achieved. The important aspect is that Scottish and Welsh MPs will still be able to vote on laws that do not affect their constituencies.
Whilst that happens, the West Lothian Question will still be as pertinent as ever.
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Until proper political equality has been achieved the West Lothian question cannot be resolved.
Absolutely right mate! So, are the English to assume that they are deliberately being disenfranchised by those who seek to keep the discriminatory West Lothian question and Barnet formula? Absolutely!