When David Cameron made his dramatic pledge this morning to end the right of non-English MPs to vote on English laws he made it clear that he hoped to act on a “cross-party basis” (as the parties have done on further Scottish devolution). But it’s already looking as if consensus will prove elusive.
Those I’ve spoken to in Labour suggest that the party will not agree to a reform that could leave it unable to pass major legislation, and even a Budget, in government (should it be dependent on Scottish and Welsh MPs for its majority). Although the West Lothian question is a genuine constitutional anomaly, most regard Cameron’s move as a nakedly political attempt to tie Labour’s hands.
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