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William Hague sets timetable for debate on English votes for English laws William Hague sets timetable for debate on English votes for English laws
(about 3 hours later)
William Hague is to intensify moves towards introducing so-called English votes for English laws at Westminster after announcing that a Commons vote would be held by the end of the year if the main UK parties failed to reach agreement.William Hague is to intensify moves towards introducing so-called English votes for English laws at Westminster after announcing that a Commons vote would be held by the end of the year if the main UK parties failed to reach agreement.
The move represents a challenge to Labour, which fears that restricting the ability of Scottish MPs to vote at Westminster could limit the party’s ability to form a UK government.The move represents a challenge to Labour, which fears that restricting the ability of Scottish MPs to vote at Westminster could limit the party’s ability to form a UK government.
Labour, which won 41 of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster at the last general election, is facing a second challenge after the Scotland secretary, Alistair Carmichael, published a command paper on new powers for the Scottish parliament.Labour, which won 41 of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster at the last general election, is facing a second challenge after the Scotland secretary, Alistair Carmichael, published a command paper on new powers for the Scottish parliament.
The paper made clear that Labour is in a minority of one in believing that full powers of income tax should not be devolved to Holyrood. The four other parties with seats on a commission chaired by the crossbench peer Lord Smith of Kelvin – the Tories, Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Scottish Green party – all believe that full income tax-raising powers should be devolved.The paper made clear that Labour is in a minority of one in believing that full powers of income tax should not be devolved to Holyrood. The four other parties with seats on a commission chaired by the crossbench peer Lord Smith of Kelvin – the Tories, Liberal Democrats, the SNP and the Scottish Green party – all believe that full income tax-raising powers should be devolved.
Senior Tories believe that such a major devolution of fiscal powers would mean that the annual UK budget would have to be accompanied by a second budget for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish MPs would be excluded from voting on the rest of the UK (rUK) budget, which would further complicate Labour’s ability to form a UK government. Ed Miliband would probably not have enough MPs in England to secure support for such a budget even if it was the largest party in the commons after the next election. Senior Tories believe that such a devolution of fiscal powers would mean that the annual UK budget would have to be accompanied by a second budget for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scottish MPs would be excluded from voting on the rest of the UK (rUK) budget, which would further complicate Labour’s ability to form a UK government. Ed Miliband would probably not have enough MPs in England to secure support for such a budget even if it was the largest party in the Commons after the next election.
Hague made clear that the Tories are determined to press ahead with a swift implementation of English votes for English laws when he set out plans for a Commons debate on Tuesday on devolution in the wake of the no vote in the Scottish referendum. Hague made clear that the Tories are determined to press ahead with a swift implementation of English votes for English laws when he set out plans for a Commons debate on devolution in the wake of the no vote in the Scottish referendum.
The leader of the Commons, who is chairing a cabinet committee examining how to address the consequences of the referendum on Westminster, said: “This is a matter of fairness for the whole of the United Kingdom and you raise this very, very important issue. There are discussions taking place within the government under the auspices of the committee I chair … I believe we need to set a deadline and say if we do not have cross-party agreement by the end of November – the same timetable as that for Scotland – then it will be important to test the opinion of the house.” The leader of the Commons, who is chairing a cabinet committee examining how to address the consequences of the referendum for Westminster, said: “This is a matter of fairness for the whole of the United Kingdom and you raise this very, very important issue. There are discussions taking place within the government under the auspices of the committee I chair … I believe we need to set a deadline and say if we do not have cross-party agreement by the end of November – the same timetable as that for Scotland – then it will be important to test the opinion of the house.”
The Lib Dems are highly sceptical of the Tory tactics. Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem chief secretary to the Treasury who is the party’s most senior member of the cabinet committee, will agree to English votes for English laws on one condition: a special committee that would have a veto over such legislation would have to be formed according to overall vote of parties rather than the number of MPs they have at Westminster. The Lib Dems are sceptical about the Tory tactics. Danny Alexander, the Lib Dem chief secretary to the Treasury, who is the party’s most senior member of the cabinet committee, will agree to English votes for English laws on one condition: a special committee that would have a veto over such legislation would have to be formed according to the overall vote of parties rather than the number of MPs they have at Westminster.
Labour is making clear that devolving full income tax powers to Holyrood is a red line it would not be willing to cross because it believes that it could lead to a race to the bottom in which Holyrood could seek to attract people north of the border by cutting tax rates.Labour is making clear that devolving full income tax powers to Holyrood is a red line it would not be willing to cross because it believes that it could lead to a race to the bottom in which Holyrood could seek to attract people north of the border by cutting tax rates.
It also believes that it could complicate its ability to form a government by breaking up the budget, which is one of the two key measures, along with the Queen’s speech, which have to be passed to ensure the survival of a government.It also believes that it could complicate its ability to form a government by breaking up the budget, which is one of the two key measures, along with the Queen’s speech, which have to be passed to ensure the survival of a government.
Labour is planning to allow the Scottish parliament to vary the rate of income tax by 15p above the UK rate. But it would not be allowed to undercut the rest of the UK by varying the rate below the UK rate.Labour is planning to allow the Scottish parliament to vary the rate of income tax by 15p above the UK rate. But it would not be allowed to undercut the rest of the UK by varying the rate below the UK rate.
Angela Eagle, the shadow leader of the Commons, warned Hague not to embark on partisan games after David Cameron appeared to make a link between English votes for English laws and further devolution to Scotland in the early hours of the morning after the referendum. Hague denied that the government was imposing a link.Angela Eagle, the shadow leader of the Commons, warned Hague not to embark on partisan games after David Cameron appeared to make a link between English votes for English laws and further devolution to Scotland in the early hours of the morning after the referendum. Hague denied that the government was imposing a link.
Eagle said: “After Scotland’s historic decision to remain part of the UK we must now honour our commitment for further powers within the promised timetable. It is also right that as we debate further powers for Scotland we also consider further devolution to the rest of the UK to help address the declining trust in our policies and the widespread feeling of disempowerment.Eagle said: “After Scotland’s historic decision to remain part of the UK we must now honour our commitment for further powers within the promised timetable. It is also right that as we debate further powers for Scotland we also consider further devolution to the rest of the UK to help address the declining trust in our policies and the widespread feeling of disempowerment.
“But instead of petty partisan games and 7am announcements, we believe we need a considered process to seek to achieve broad public support as well as cross-party agreement. It’s why a partisan fix in Westminster just won’t wash.”“But instead of petty partisan games and 7am announcements, we believe we need a considered process to seek to achieve broad public support as well as cross-party agreement. It’s why a partisan fix in Westminster just won’t wash.”