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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tories mull English-MPs only plan | Tories mull English-MPs only plan |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Only MPs representing constituencies in England could be allowed to legislate on English matters under proposals being considered by the Conservatives. | Only MPs representing constituencies in England could be allowed to legislate on English matters under proposals being considered by the Conservatives. |
| The plan aims to address a perceived constitutional imbalance caused by Scottish and Welsh devolution, according to the Observer. | The plan aims to address a perceived constitutional imbalance caused by Scottish and Welsh devolution, according to the Observer. |
| A Grand Committee would vote on areas such as education and health. | A Grand Committee would vote on areas such as education and health. |
| The government told the newspaper the plan, devised by Tory ex-minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind, was "unworkable". | The government told the newspaper the plan, devised by Tory ex-minister Sir Malcolm Rifkind, was "unworkable". |
| Speaker's decision | Speaker's decision |
| The proposal would allow MPs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to continue to sit together in the Commons to vote on UK-wide matters such as taxation, foreign policy and defence. | The proposal would allow MPs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to continue to sit together in the Commons to vote on UK-wide matters such as taxation, foreign policy and defence. |
| It would be up to the Commons speaker to decide which matters should be referred to the English Grand Committee, which would sit in the House of Commons chamber. | It would be up to the Commons speaker to decide which matters should be referred to the English Grand Committee, which would sit in the House of Commons chamber. |
| A Conservative spokesman confirmed the plan was being considered but said no decision had yet been taken on whether it would be adopted as party policy. | A Conservative spokesman confirmed the plan was being considered but said no decision had yet been taken on whether it would be adopted as party policy. |
| Sir Malcolm's idea is being considered by party leader David Cameron's democracy taskforce, led by former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, which is due to report back some time in the next few months. | Sir Malcolm's idea is being considered by party leader David Cameron's democracy taskforce, led by former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke, which is due to report back some time in the next few months. |
| The taskforce hopes to address the so-called "West Lothian question", raised by the former West Lothian - and later Linlithgow - Labour MP Tam Dalyell. | |
| Mr Dalyell said devolution would fuel resentment if Scottish MPs continued to vote on matters which affected only England. | |
| Scotland has had its own Parliament, with powers over education, health, the environment, home affairs and to alter income tax, since 1999. | |
| The National Assembly for Wales, which was first elected in the same year, has more limited functions, and the power-sharing Northern Ireland Assembly was restored in May 2007. |