Clarke waters down the West Lothian Answer

I have always considered the West Lothian Answer to be fairly simple. The Speaker decides if legislation is England-only, and if so then only English MPs get to vote on it. This has been in the last two Tory manifestos – but Ken Clarke today offers something different. He suggests all MPs vote on second readings of all legislation, but only English MPs vote at the committee stages of England-only legislation. Scots MPs would be unable to block any amendments, but would have the right to team up with government rebels and vote the whole thing down. Or, in the deplorable case of English university top up fees and foundation hospitals, thwart government rebels and foist unpopular policy on England that won’t affect them. This is, apparently, so as to allow the UK government – with its nationwide majority – to “retain control of the agenda” and “control of the money.”