EVEL Vote 'Wrong' Says Fife MP

Plans introduced yesterday at Westminster to block Scottish politicians from voting on "English laws" have been described as 'wrong' by one Fife MP.

The English votes for English laws legislation - commonly known as EVEL - was passed by by 312 votes to 270 last night in the House of Commons. It allows the Speaker, John Bercow, to decide if an issue only affects England, and MPs representing Scottish, Irish or Welsh constituencies wouldn't be allowed to vote on it.

It has been criticised by opposition MPs, some of whom desribed the move as "stupid".

Stephen Gethins is the MP for North East Fife:

Shadow Scotland Secretary Ian Murray MP said: "Today, the Government have put a wrecking ball through the constitution with a measure that will only serve to weaken our democracy. 

"For the first time there will now be two tiers of MPs, and unelected members of the House of Lords will have more power than some elected MPs. Today is yet more evidence that David Cameron is governing in the interests of his rebel backbenchers and not the country as a whole.

"People across the country feel distant and alienated from the political process. Instead of this useless measure, David Cameron should be working to restore faith in our politics and our democracy."

Patrick Harvie, MSP and Co-convenor of the Scottish Greens, said: "This half-baked scheme may satisfy those on the Tory benches who want to indulge in a bit of posturing, but if it’s implemented it will achieve nothing but confusion. 

"There is a serious case for meaningful devolution within England, to bring power out of the corridors of Whitehall and closer to communities, but that case has been ignored by successive governments.

"It’s particularly bizarre that the Tories, who claim to want Scotland to stay within the UK, are willing to draw a dividing line through the House of Commons and leave Scottish MPs with a second class status."

Douglas Chapman is the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife: