When then Prime Minister Tony Blair established the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly in the late 1990s his government neglected to devolve power to England as well. Ever since, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs in the House of Commons have voted on English affairs, whereas all MPs have been unable to decide matters within Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Our constitution has been left unequal and unsurprisingly this has led to growing resentment.
I was delighted to see that the people of Scotland have chosen to stay as part of the United Kingdom as a result of last week’s referendum – our Union is better together for all both domestically and globally.
I have long believed that we need a new constitutional settlement in this county to achieve equality for Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and of course, England too. A federal United Kingdom would be very similar to the system which exists and works well in countries like Australia, Canada, Germany and the United States.
As the Prime Minister said outside 10 Downing Street last week, English votes for English laws must happen in tandem with, and at the same pace as, Scotland – and after over 15 years, now without any further delay.
The First Secretary of State and Leader of the House of Commons, Rt Hon William Hague MP, has been asked by the Prime Minister to draw up plans which would see English MPs vote on English laws. Next year, 2015, is the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. This would be a fitting time to make some necessary changes to our constitution. I look forward to helping introduce legislation starting the process this autumn.
By contrast Labour want to delay and only offer ‘regional or city bodies’ in England with MPs from English constituencies just ‘scrutinising’ English affairs in Parliament. Delay, lack of decisiveness and vision are not what England expects but that’s all Ed Miliband is willing to offer. The people should be trusted to make their own decisions, Scotland rightly has, England, Wales and Northern Ireland rightly want to and our UK as a whole should get an opportunity to express its views in an in/out EU referendum too. It’s our country.
I know that there are a range of views on this issue from right across our town. I want to know the opinions of as many people from Crawley so please feel free to let me know your thoughts by either writing to Henry Smith MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London, SW1A 0AA, or by emailing me directly via: henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk