Scottish votes on English policies

It seems the Conservatives are to recommend that Scottish MPs should be banned from voting on issues that only affect England. Let's look at the objections.

Trade and Industry Secretary Alistair Darling spoke out against the Tory plan - saying it would introduce a two-tier system.

"I have always said that there is a huge problem of having two classes of MPs at Westminster," he told the Observer.

"I am a member of this government, I am collectively responsible for everything they do and it would be very odd if you said, well I can't vote for it."

So why doesn't this apply to English MPs voting on Scottish matters? And just who does Mr Darling think he is responsible to?

Liberal Democrat Sir Menzies Campbell, MP for North East Fife, warned against any "knee-jerk response" to the issue.

"A constitution is like a brick wall - if you take out one brick without regard to the strength of the wall, it all comes tumbling down.

"What we need is a Constitutional Convention to provide a constitution for 21st Century Britain.

"The Scottish example in advance of home rule shows how it should be done. What we don't need is knee-jerk responses driven by political opportunism."

What the Lib Dems - and especially Labour - need is a delaying mechanism.

The Tory solution is fine - as far as it goes. But the next line of defence is already in place. The Scottish First Minister has already said there is hardly any measure passed at Westminster on any subject which doesn't affect Scotland. And we can be sure Labour would make it their business to ensure that any measure on a devolved matter included some small clause applying to the whole of the UK, to make it hybrid.

That's why English MPs need separate sessions at Westminster, as already proposed by UKIP. While the English MPs are governing England, Scottish MPs can go back and govern Scotland.

Straightforward, cheap and fair.