Conservatives break election promise

on

English votes on English Laws

Last week Chris Grayling, Leader of the House of Commons, kneeled in front of the SNP and the one Scottish Liberal Democrat (who lives so far away from England that he could be in Norway) and ‘postponed’ the implementation of English votes on English Laws until September. In other words he had a ‘smelly, involuntary reaction’ when he had a face-off with the Scottish contingent in Westminster and lost his nerve to the detriment of the English. Instead of standing up for English concerns he simply turned to the English taxpayer and slapped them with a ‘clenched’ fist to the face.

He allowed a group, who openly call for Independence for Scotland, to say ‘we also want to vote on English only matters’. He also allowed a Scottish leaning British Labour Party to join forces with the SNP – and did not taunt them for doing so. Maybe he allowed this affront to ‘English democratic accountability’ to go unchallenged because the Conservative also have too many Scottish MPs in English constituencies. He knew that, if push came to shove, they would join forces with the SNP and Labour.

Eddie Bone, Campaign Director for the Campaign for an English Parliament, stated “It has to be acknowledged that this English votes on English Laws package was the most diluted version that William Hague could get away with. It couldn’t have been watered down any more!

“Once again the English have been treated with contempt, as the Conservatives have failed to deliver even the tiniest step towards giving the English democratic parity with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  So where do we go from here? With EVEL coming unstuck and a federal solution looking unlikely, we have to accept that we are potentially heading towards an ‘Independent England’? You only need to look at the Sage survey to see that the people of England want to be treated fairly.

He continued  “Although most sensible minded people realise that English votes on English Laws wouldn’t have worked, at least it appeared to be a ‘committed attempt’ to address the English Question by the Conservatives. They should have carried on regardless of the challenges. This would have shown the SNP’s stance of blocking English votes on English laws for what it is – blatant hypocrisy!”

 

Eddie Bone,Campaign Director,Campaign for an English Parliament

The article

 

Majority of over 50s back EVEL – survey

According to a Saga poll of over 50s from across the UK, ‘most want the Union to remain intact’ but but support English Votes for English laws.

The issue of English votes for English laws has caused some division in parliament this week, as SNP MPs were criticised for threatening to vote against reform of hunting laws, a matter that would only affect English constituencies.

Building on this, on a new poll by Saga asked people aged 50 and over to give their views on Scotland’s relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom.

The UK-wide research found that a majority of people in that age group were against Scottish independence, despite the Scottish National Party decisive victory north of the border in May’s General Election.

According to the data, which surveyed 10,991 people, the subject of English Votes for English laws continues to divide the nation with three quarters (75%) of those questioned stating that they thought Welsh, Northern Irish and Scottish MPs should be excluded from voting in Westminster on issues which have been devolved to their respective parliaments and assemblies.

Further, three in five or those living in Scotland (62%) agreed that this should apply and 58% of those living in Wales supported the principle.

70% of those asked would prefer Scotland to remain part of the UK, although the research also showed that support for independence was growing.

Amongst Scots aged 50 and over backing for independence is up 2% since Saga’s last poll in August 2014 – from 28% to 30%, while support among the English has increased from less than 10% in 2014 to 28% in May 2015.

The Welsh are the most against the break-up of the UK, with just 20% in support.

Asked about future public spending in Scotland 52% of Scots and just 15% of the English thought it should remain as it is at the moment – with the Barnett Formula guaranteeing higher spending per head in Scotland.

However, three-quarters of English (74%) and Welsh (76%) respondents thought that spending per head ought to be equalised, while this appealed to fewer than a third (27%) of Scots.

Saga’s director of communications Paul Green, said: “It appears that despite the increase in support for the Scottish National Party in the recent General Election most want the Union to remain intact but would also like to see fairness when it comes to funding and voting at Westminster.”

– See more at: https://www.politicshome.com/party-politics/articles/opinion/saga/majority-over-50s-back-evel-survey#sthash.7Lmbm7Mo.dpuf