GOVERNMENT plans to ban Scottish MPs from voting on “English-only” matters have descended into “chaos”.
Yesterday Leader of the House of Commons Chris Grayling told MPs that next week’s vote on amending the standing orders has been postponed until September.
Next Wednesday, in place of the vote, there will be a general debate on the principle of English votes for English laws (Evel).
The Government have caved in to pressure from Tory backbenchers who threatened to rebel at the vote and could have risked Prime Minister David Cameron suffering his first defeat of the Parliament.
Reports emerged that Cameron had personally intervened in the row and called Grayling into Downing Street for a dressing-down.
Addressing MPs during his weekly session in the chamber, Grayling said: “If I may briefly explain to the House — on Monday I will, having listened to comments from MPs, publish a modified set of draft standing orders on Evel.
“We will debate those on Wednesday. Subsequent to that debate, I will table a final set of standing orders which we will debate at an early opportunity once the House returns.”
Shadow Commons leader Angela Eagle was scathing in her reply: “This week the Government’s reckless and shoddy plans for what they like to call Evel have descended into chaos. On Tuesday, you were dragged to this chamber kicking and screaming to account for your complex and controversial plans but it was clear from that debate you didn’t even have the support of your own side”
Eagle continued: “This morning I hear you were summoned to the Prime Minister’s office to account for your role in creating this mess. We have heard the outcome of that meeting appears to be two days’ debate rather than one but we still haven’t seen these draft standing orders.”
Replying for the SNP Pete Wishart said the plans were a “shambles” and asked Grayling to allow MPs the time to give the proposals the attention necessary.
“Now’s the time for you to go away to the clerks, get a Bill, bring it to this House, where we can properly debate all the issues to do with English votes for English laws, given its historical significance, given its constitutional significance, we get an opportunity to amend it and we treat it like any other major piece of legislation in this House” Wishart said.
Speaking later, Wishart said that Tory plans for Evel were indicative of Tory attitudes to Scotland.
Wishart said: “What this farce underlines is how weak the Tory government is with its wafer-thin majority, and how strong opposition can force them to change course.
“In wanting to rush headlong into English Votes for English Laws — making Scottish representation in the House of Commons second-class — the Tories’ attitude to Scotland has been laid bare for all to see.”
Commenting, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael said the whole experience was “humiliating” for the Government.
The Orkney and Shetlands MP said:”This is a humiliating climbdown from the Leader of the House but it does not go far enough. There is no way that changes of this magnitude should be introduced through the standing orders of the House of Commons. If the Government is convinced that their reforms are fair, they should have the courage of their convictions and bring forward primary legislation to ensure that reforms get the full scrutiny required.”
Under the original draft, a new Commons stage will be introduced for laws passing through Parliament when English, or English and Welsh, MPs will be asked to accept or veto legislation only affecting their constituents before it passes to third reading.
There will be a separate committee stage for English, or English and Welsh, MPs for Bills not affecting Scotland and Northern Ireland, meaning legislation can be amended without the consent of all MPs in the Commons, although there will be opportunities to overturn any changes.
Downing Street confirmed that the Prime Minister had met Grayling this morning but denied there had been full and frank discussions: “Our policy hasn’t changed, we remain committed to delivering this and ensuring that every part of the UK has a fair say on matters relating to them.”
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