Brown 'must answer West Lothian Question to be PM'

Blairite MP, Greg Pope, is today in the news for joining the Tories in demanding an answer to the West Lothian Question.

Dear Mr Pope,

Whilst I welcome your incursion into the debate on the English Question I have a few problems with your statement.

"That this House believes that the current constitutional settlement between England and Scotland is unfair in principle and unsustainable in the long term; recognises that a Scottish Parliament is the settled will of the Scottish people; and further believes that the most expedient solution to the current anomalous situation would be to allow only hon. Members representing seats in England to vote in this House on matters which relate solely to England."

If the Scots have reached a 'settled' constitutional position with regards to the Union, then would it not be prudent to ask the English what they actually want before proceeding in the manner that you suggest? We are after all a Union of nations.

I see great problems with English Votes on English Laws - as I outlined in this letter to the Democracy Task force.

I do not believe that English Votes on English Laws would provide a stable constitutional settlement for the UK because it does not ask the English what solution they prefer and it is inherently unworkable.

Of course this situation must be addressed if we are to have a Scottish Prime Minister, for if we do not address it his premiership will be dogged by questions arising from his lack of democratic mandate rendering effective government impossible and damaging the Union. However, a Scottish Prime Minister would be placed in an even more ludicrous position if he is prevented on voting on the majority of legislation for which his government is responsible, namely legislation that is none of the business of Scottish MPs. I realise that as a 'Blairite' this may be a spanner in the works that you are prepared to tolerate in order to prevent a Brown leadership but please think of the long-term constitutional consequences.

Best regards,

UPDATE Greg Pope MP responds.

Thanks for your e-mail and I appreciate the valid points which you make. My aim was primarily to raise the issue and cause debate – I rather get the impression that some (and I stress some, not all or most) Scottish politicians airily dismiss the West Lothian Question as if it didn’t matter. My central point is that is does matter and it is becoming more and more of an issue for English voters.

It was not my intention as a ‘Blairite’ to put the spanner in the works of anyone’s aspirations to become PM. However, my contention is that this is an issue that we need to address, because the current arrangements have the capacity to have damaging electoral consequences in England for any party which has a leader who represents a Scottish seat.

Best wishes

Greg