A stroke of genius by the Conservative Party
1) Agree that Scotland should have control over income tax.
2) Bring in English Votes for English Laws.
Result: No Scottish MP will be able to vote on income tax laws in the rest of the UK ever again.
Admittedly, this would have been more of a coup six months ago, before Labour looked like losing most of its Scottish seats. But still, it's a stroke of genius on behalf of the Conservatives.
Of course, bringing in EVEL means that no Scottish MP can be Prime Minister either. Which means that Scottish Labour are much less likely to be in favour of sticking with a union that they're powerless to influence in major ways.
I'm not sure there's been a more exciting time in British politics in the last fifty years.
Original post on Dreamwidth - there are
comments there.
2) Bring in English Votes for English Laws.
Result: No Scottish MP will be able to vote on income tax laws in the rest of the UK ever again.
Admittedly, this would have been more of a coup six months ago, before Labour looked like losing most of its Scottish seats. But still, it's a stroke of genius on behalf of the Conservatives.
Of course, bringing in EVEL means that no Scottish MP can be Prime Minister either. Which means that Scottish Labour are much less likely to be in favour of sticking with a union that they're powerless to influence in major ways.
I'm not sure there's been a more exciting time in British politics in the last fifty years.
Original post on Dreamwidth - there are
comments there.