West Lothian Question and the Smoking Bill

[Dave78]

What are all of your opinions on this....?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4382390.stm

Smoking out the big question

Health campaigners are furious that - thanks to what they see as a classic government fudge - English pubs could soon be the last refuge for smokers in the UK.

Provided the bar does not serve food, smokers will be able to puff away with impunity, while their compatriots in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, where much tougher blanket bans are set to come into force, are left to shiver on the pavement outside.

But what is really getting up the nose of some MPs - apart from the smell of stale cigarette smoke - is that the architect of this policy, former health secretary John Reid, represents a Scottish constituency, Airdrie and Shotts.

"John Reid's constituents are going to get comprehensive protection against secondary smoke on 26 March next year but he's telling me that people in the Rother Valley are going to have a lesser one and I find that very difficult to accept and many other Labour backbenchers do as well," fumed Rother Valley MP Kevin Barron, who chairs the Commons health select committee.

Some Labour MPs are even threatening to rebel against the smoking bill in an attempt to prevent it becoming law.

Awkward question

But at least one Old Labour firebrand is permitting himself a wry smile at the unfolding row.

"It is the West Lothian question in excelsis," says Tam Dalyell.

The former Linlithgow MP and father of the House of Commons, who stood down at this year's general election, made a career out of asking awkward questions.

And the West Lothian question, with which he became synonymous, was possibly the most awkward of all - namely how was it right after devolution that a MP representing a Scottish constituency could continue to be allowed to vote on issues affecting just England?

"It is absolutely extraordinary; indefensible. It makes a mockery of accountability," says Mr Dalyell.


Crucial

And it is not just smoking. The government is increasingly relying on its Scottish and Welsh MPs to get controversial legislation such as Foundation Hospitals, which only apply to England, on to the statute books.

In January, the government relied on the votes of 46 Scottish MPs to pass its university fees legislation, in the teeth of backbench opposition. The measures was passed by just five votes.

Since then, the government's majority has been slashed to 66, meaning it may have to rely on its Scottish MPs even more, says Mr Dalyell.

This year's election also left the Conservatives with a small majority in England, but only one MP in Scotland and two in Wales. Labour now has 40 Scottish MPs, partly because of a reduction in the number of Scottish constituencies.

Mr Dalyell says: "When I was in the Commons, the whole issue was very much disguised by the size of the government's majority.

"In 1997 and 2001 when I refused to vote on purely English affairs, Hilary Armstrong, the chief whip, wouldn't have lost a wink of sleep."

Vindication

Now, he says, every vote is crucial. It is the perfect time, in other words, he says, for MPs to make a stand over the West Lothian question, even though he admits there is no easy answer to it.

The only way to solve it once and for all would be to have no more Scottish MPs at Westminster and a fully independent Scottish state, something he was "personally against".

Nevertheless, he must feel some sense of vindication now that the question he pressed for so long is finally creeping up the political agenda?

"I would be inhuman if I didn't," he replies with a smile.

Even banana republics don't have such embarrasing constitutional messes!

Independence is one way to solve it, but the other is a devolved English parliament like Wales and Scotland have. Join the campaign here - http://www.thecep.org.uk/welcome.shtml :USA_Blue

[MTB_CFC]

A devolved English parliament would be a good idea, but would have to ultimately lead to the withdrawl of power from ALL devolved assemblies, and only grant them power for social issues, such as foxhunting, smoking in public, and other issues of minor important to political life. The main issues of tax, foreign policy and important legislation would be kept with Westminister.

Either that, or scrap the devolved assemblies we already have and destroy Blair's legacy.

[Dave78]

Originally Posted by MTB_CFC

A devolved English parliament would be a good idea, but would have to ultimately lead to the withdrawl of power from ALL devolved assemblies

Why?

and only grant them power for social issues, such as foxhunting, smoking in public, and other issues of minor important to political life. The main issues of tax, foreign policy and important legislation would be kept with Westminister.

The Scottish Parliament has tax raising powers, as well as full control over Health, Education and the Legal system.... why should a future English parliament not have the same powers?

Either that, or scrap the devolved assemblies we already have and destroy Blair's legacy.

I'm sure we'll both agree that's never gonna happen. Therefore the most obvious answer is an English Parliament.

[Stone_Monkey]

West Lothian Question is the biggest annoyance here as far as British politics go. Labour can rally upon votes from MP's who's constituents are not being effect, thus what is the point of having a system that is supposed to represent the people? The student fees is the biggy, the MP's who voted against fees in Scotland towed the party line in Westminster and voted for, their votes removed and we wouldnt have fees.

The smoking ban is a joke at the moment, all or nothing it should be, personally i think it should be banned in all public places. That has been my opinion for years, suffering childhood asthma, second hand smoke had a big effect on me. Fortunatly i've grown out of it and can go in pubs etc, but i still dont like it.