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Mundell vow to answer West Lothian question

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Published Date: 03 October 2006
SHADOW Scottish Secretary David Mundell today promised a Tory government would come up with an answer to the "West Lothian" question, but made clear it was not the biggest issue in British politics.
He told the Tory Conference in Bournemouth that work was going on to answer the problems thrown up by former Linlithgow MP Tam Dalyell about Scottish MPs at Westminster voting on domestic English issues like health, law and order and education.

He said: "We are committed to finding a 'constructive unionist' response to the West Lothian Question.

"But while the West Lothian Question is a problem, it is not a tragedy. It is not the only, or even the dominant, question in British politics.

"Scots, like everybody else in the UK, are concerned about health, education, jobs, pensions and the environment. These are the issues they want us to be talking about."

And picking up the theme of winning back Scotland highlighted by Mr Cameron in his exclusive interview with the Evening News yesterday, he said: "We have to do better - beginning with the Scottish elections next May - by making clear our commitment to devolution."



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1

Thomas D,

Dunfermline 03/10/2006 14:18:54

Do you think if the Tories had more than one MP, they'd be less keen to try to stop Scottish MPs voting in the house of Commons?

2

SC,

Dundee 03/10/2006 16:07:05

Mr Mundall, while you are at, how about defending Gordon Brown's right to succeed Tony Blair against all the anti-Scottish slur in the English press right now.

This is the real West Lothian question in reverse - that it is acceptable to state that being Scottish reduces an individual's eligibility to become Prime Minister of 'England'.

It might be true, but it would probably also be true of someone being black, Asian or whatever, but it would not be acceptable to promote the idea!

3

bill-alba,

03/10/2006 16:21:48

If a Scot cannot be PM....The union is dead (always has been really)

Why are we not allowed to comment on the GB football team..??

4

Hugo, Ayrshire,

Ayrshire 03/10/2006 17:46:20

Surely the answer is simple. A Scottish Parliament for Scottish affairs (however defined), an equivalent English/Welsh/Northern Ireland Parliament for English affairs, and a British Parliament for the remaining, British, affairs. Currently I think there is confusion in many people's minds as to whether the Westminster parliament is British or English/Welsh/Northern Ireland.

5

Eve,

Scotland 03/10/2006 19:36:52

I wonder what the tories answer to the "West Lothian" question is? No dought it will make us Scots 2nd class citiuns (Or our MP's 2nd class MP's).

In Second thought may be it will be ignor the question because this Mundell guy says it's not the most important questions. So maybe theirs questions which will need to be asked 1st. Such as should we give the MP's another pay raise?

To be being an MP must be a great Job as you get to vote your self a raise, what other jobs can you do that in not many!!!

6

Eve,

Scotland 03/10/2006 19:39:00

Maybe just maybe the West Lothian question is number 50 in their list of Questions!!

Do I hear any advances than 50???

7

Steve,

03/10/2006 21:22:50

There's only one answer to the West Lothian question. Independence.

8

mr chips,

glasgow 04/10/2006 07:54:07

The english are showing their true racsist selves.
If they showed the same venom to an asian mp
as they openly display against gordon brown , there would be hell to pay.

9

Alex.,

04/10/2006 11:19:16

The answer to the West Lothian question is this. Scottish MP's do not take part in votes on matters that do not affect Scotland but do vote in matters that do. Simple. Why make life more complicated than it need be?

10

Derek,

Southampton,England 04/10/2006 12:25:32

The simple answer to this (apart from an independent England) is for England to have an English Parliament,English executive and English First Minister, elected by PR ie. the same as Scotland has.
The Tories are going to lose the next general election and it will serve them right!
Posting 8 ex Labour voter, I take it then that you would be happy for English voters to elect the Scottish First Minister? If not, are the Scottish also racist? Why not extend the Scottish vote to all the people of the UK, so that we can all have a say in who is Scottish First Minister?
You want your own Scottish Parliament, but you also want a say in the running of the English NHS, English Education etc. When we English object you call us racist!

11

Scottish Unionist,

04/10/2006 15:13:38

#2 - Mundell has said on many occasions that he has no opposition to Gordon Brown becoming PM simply because he's Scottish. I don't think a Tory should be championing for a Labour PM anyway.

The current constitutional settlement is not fair. Devolution to the English regions is an option, despite the votes in the north of England against it. A federal UK may also be a viable option.But seperatism is not wanted neither south or north of the border.

But I don't understand why nobody talks about Northern Irish and Welsh MP's voting on matters which do not concern their constituencies. What about answering the Belfast or Cardiff question?

12

Derek,

Southampton,England 04/10/2006 16:48:11

#11 Sensible Scot

"But seperatism is not wanted neither south or north of the border".

Who says?
We'll find out next May. Hopefully the Scots will put Alex Salmond in to power and then vote yes in a referendum.
That's democracy. It's a pity that none of the British Unionist Parties have got the guts to offer us English a referendum They might get a nasty shock!


 

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