Devolution revision: West Lothian Question
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5 reasons why I think that this is a problem that has been overstated
1. Many argue that this is a small price to pay for keeping the Union together and is an issue that will quieten once devolution has settled, and has much to do with playing to the gallery and harking to English-Scottish rivalry. So far no one has asked why MPs from outside London can’t vote on London transport—much of this is now controlled by the London Mayor.
2. The importance of Scottish votes has been overstated by the Conservatives. Research by the Constitution Units has identified only two instances where it could be said their influence was clear cut, and none have occurred since the 2005 election.
3. The issue of finance to the regions is one that is more complex than many critics of the West Lothian Question are letting on. Will the Conservatives also argue that the North East is over-funded as they seek to recapture lost electoral ground in that area at the next election?
4. On the constitutionality of the relationship between a ministers constituency and the area controlled by their office, the Tories had little to say about how improper it was to have an MP from outside Wales control the Welsh Office as John Redwood did in the 1990s. It seems likely that the Conservatives in opposition are merely seeking to make political capital out of the new devolved settlements.
5. Although there is some support for English only votes, there appears to be little public support for an English Parliament. A slight reduction in the number of MPs sent from the Celtic fringes might solve the whole issue more or less instantly.
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