Clarke sets out English votes plan

A Conservative policy commission has proposed banning Scottish MPs from voting on English-only laws.

Former chancellor Ken Clarke's Tory democracy commission unveiled its plan on Tuesday, which is expected to be endorsed by party leader David Cameron.

The proposals for answering the so-called 'West Lothian question' include ensuring that only English MPs would get to vote during the detailed committee stage of the legislative process.

Scotland's MPs would be able to vote at the overarching second and third reading stages of a bill.

But a new parliamentary convention would then prevent any party using Scottish votes to block amendments made by English MPs in committee.

The question was first posed by former West Lothian MP Tam Dalyell, who campaigned against devolution by arguing that it would be unfair for Scots MPs to vote on matters affecting only English constituencies, when England's MPs would have no say on the running of services north of the border.

Clarke said he did not think England should have its own parliament under a federal system.

"I think most British people want the Westminster parliament," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"But when the Westminster parliament is dealing with purely English things, it shouldn't find the English have things imposed on them by members of Parliament who are elected to represent other parts of the country that are unaffected."

He also said that "it's no good waiting until the English get resentful" about the imbalance.

And he added that "logically" similar rules would apply to Welsh and Northern Irish MPs if their assemblies gain similar full legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament.