Mr John Redwood (Wokingham) (Con): England expects English votes for English issues. We expect simplicity and justice now: no ifs, no buts, no committee limitations, no tricks. Give us what we want. We have waited 15 years for this. Will he now join me in speaking for England?
The First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr William Hague): Yes, for the whole of the United Kingdom, I hope, including England. My right hon. Friend has made a strong case for a long time that this issue needs to be resolved, in his view through advocating a particular option. But any of the options presented in this command paper would provide a substantial change in our arrangements and an effective veto for English Members over matters that affect only England, which I think is what he means by speaking for England.
January 7, 2015
The right of English representatives to veto english matters surely falls somewhat short of the mark. What we’re after is the right of English representatives to make the law on English matters. What the leader of the house is hinting at seems to be a system where English laws would require the assent of the UK parliament and the English representatives.
That would be an improvement certainly, but falls well short of what devolution gives the Scottish parliament.