That sticky West Lothian Question
7 June 2005 13:44
An interesting post by Third Avenue over at The Sharpener. It’s about the West Lothian Question. Ooh. It’s a wee while since I’ve touched upon that.
It’s a good post, making a lot of interesting points, essentially saying that the West Lothian Question is an issue that’s been blown out of all proportion. But it completely ignores the biggie for me.
Cabinet ministers in charge of devolved issues but elected in Scottish constituencies. John Reid was Health Secretary up until the election. Alistair Darling was Transport Secretary before the election, and he still is now. Neither were held to account for their actions because their actions did not affect Scottish constituents.
The West Lothian Question clearly needs solving. In my mind the answer is simple (albeit easier said than done). In addition to the existing devolved Parliaments and assemblies, set up either regional assemblies in England, or a national English assembly. Give them all the same powers so that everybody knows where they stand. Westminster would then be responsible only for the remaining reserved issues.
As commenters at The Sharpener recognise, though, this would be difficult for a whole variety of reasons. It might also still leave a problem with Northern Ireland. I’m no expert on politics in Northern Ireland, but their assembly is currently dormant. Would the situation I outline above would leave Northern Ireland essentially without anybody having a say over devolved issues?
Incidentally, I’m still waiting for my reply from the Department for Constitutional Affairs.
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#1
Third Avenue
7 June 2005 13:52
Thanks for the plug.
The Cabinet minister situation is an interesting one. However, this is again something that devolution has not changed. The pre-1998 situation was the same. And also we have the Lord Chancellor, a not insignificant personage, who is answerable to absolutely no constituents anywhere (the same could be said for the very large number of ministers in the Lords).
#2
doctorvee
7 June 2005 17:34
Thanks for commenting here. I don’t mean to take parts of the debate away from The Sharpener, but as you posted here I’ll reply here.
What you say is true in theory, but it’s quite different in practice. I mean, when John Reid was Health Secretary he introduced Foundation Hospitals in England but not in Scotland. Because of Parliamentary Sovereignty he could have introduced them in Scotland But he didn’t — not because he thought they weren’t a good idea for Scotland, but because it would have caused a constitutional crisis far bigger than the West Lothian Question.
#3
Alan
7 June 2005 18:51
Doctorvee
first visit to blog, found it via stuart
as for W lothian thing, might be good idea as scottish health service is actually doing worse since devolution, also agree about voting, but possible that English voters might not want devolution.
after all they rejected the assembly North East or as Labour put it, “they rejected a assembly they vote for”.
#4
doctorvee
7 June 2005 19:45
Welcome Alan!
I’ve said before that I have had little sympathy for English people who complain about the West Lothian Question following the NE England referendum. They had a golden chance there, and it was wasted. Unfortunately, setting up assemblies seems to be the best solution on the West Lothian Question.
By the way, I fit better under ‘UK Scottish’ in your blogroll.
#5
Gareth
8 June 2005 21:16
But we didn’t have a golden chance, we were offered a crock of shit with no powers, no solution to the West lothian Question and no national sovereignty.
#6
Gareth
8 June 2005 21:17
And the vast majority of us have never even been given a chance to vote on anything.