Harriett Baldwin’s two-year campaign to attempt to solve a complex constitutional issue took a further step forward today after giving evidence to the McKay Commission. The MP gave evidence to the Commission and made recommendations based on her extensive consultation exercise in advance of presenting her Private Member’s Bill to the House of Commons last year. Harriett had worked with constitutional experts in Parliament to draft a Bill which took the first step towards finding a solution for the ‘West Lothian Question’. The Conservative party laid out a path to fixing the West Lothian Question ahead of the last election and the Coalition Agreement opted for a Commission, chaired by Sir William McKay – a former Clerk of the House of Commons. It was convened after significant pressure from Harriett, both in interventions in the chamber and in meetings with Constitutional Affairs Minister Mark Harper. Harriett commented: “I was pleased to be asked to give evidence to the Commission after a long and drawn out campaign in Parliament. “My Private Member’s Bill sought to start this process of properly identifying what legislation affects which region. “I am convinced that the West Lothian Question can be addressed by amending the standing orders of the House and I have made this point in my evidence. “I am a passionate unionist and I support the dogma of ‘Localism’. This debate brings these two issues clearly into focus. “Every time I have this discussion it is clear that there is some public concern and I hope that the McKay Commission will look at all the possible solutions and adopt a workable framework in time for the next election.” | Written Submission