English votes on English students

Now we know. English MPs voted by 311 to 209 for the new student fees arrangements, with 8 abstentions.

Political Betting analyses the numbers and concludes that

England’s MPs are now distributed 296/188/43 plus one Green, Speaker, three Deputy Speakers and a vacancy. The Coalition’s theoretical majority there is 150, while the Tories alone have an outright majority of 64. Some form of EV4EL may tempt Cameron, particularly if the Lib Dems look unreliable. But if even the difficult fees vote could be steered through, does he really need it? And with its potential to reduce their leverage, should the Lib Dems be wary?

David Blackburn writes on the Spectator site that he is "swayed by the argument that the new fees arrangement will affect applications to Scottish universities and therefore it is the business of Scottish MPs. That higher education was devolved in the first place is another, more interesting debating point."

So according to David the Celts can have their cake and eat it - indeed, in the case of the Scots, discriminate against English students by charging them more.

Other nations' MPs should not vote on English arrangements on devolved issues.

Fairness demands an English parliament.