23 October 2015
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin’s five year campaign to solve the controversial West Lothian Question reached a conclusion yesterday after the House of Commons voted to approve so-called ‘English Votes for English Laws’.
Harriett secured a private members bill in the last Parliament which attempted to redress the imbalance between MPs voting on matters in the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Her campaign led to the McKay Commission being set up to look into this matter and the ‘EVEL’ proposals being laid before Parliament earlier this year.
Harriett commented: “I took up this important issue five years ago as I felt it was something that would become increasingly important in the last Parliament and as Conservatives, we had a manifesto commitment to sort this perennial problem.
“I am delighted that the House of Commons voted to support yesterday’s measure and this brings an end to five years of hard work to solve this thorny constitutional issue.
“The English votes debate had been a regular discussion point on the doorstep and I am glad that we are now working towards a satisfactory conclusion to a dilemma that has troubled MPs for more than 100 years.”