MPs are preparing to debate devolution this afternoon, with a motion from Dominic Raab which includes a call for a review of the Barnett formula and a resolution to the West Lothian question. It’s a backbench business debate, so it is not binding on the government, but it is causing trouble for a number of reasons.
The first is that Raab has managed to get an impressive sweep of the political spectrum on his list of supporters for the amendment. It includes senior Tories such as 1922 Committee chairman Graham Brady, former Attorney General Dominic Grieve (not someone who often agrees with Raab), and Andrew Mitchell. But it also has Frank Field as a co-signatory and a number of other Labour MPs such as Kate Hoey and John Cryer, Lib Dems and Ukip’s Douglas Carswell. This is Raab’s motion:
‘That this House recognises the outcome of the referendum on Scottish independence; welcomes the freely expressed will of the people of Scotland to remain British; notes the proposals announced by Westminster party leaders for further devolution to Scotland; calls on the Government and Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition to bring forward proposals that are fair and reasonable for the whole of the United Kingdom, following a period of public consultation to enable people in all parts of the Union to express their views; and, in particular, calls on the Government to ensure that such proposals include a review of the Barnett formula and legislative proposals to address the West Lothian question.’
But David Cameron told the Liaison Committee in an evidence session this morning that reform of the Barnett formula is ‘not on my horizon’, and Ed Miliband, terrified of the final line, has tabled an amendment trying to scupper the motion. This is extremely unusual for a leader of the Opposition to try to scupper backbench business.
Miliband’s motion reads as follows:
‘Line 1, leave out from ‘independence;’ to end and add ‘notes the proposals announced by the UK party leaders for further devolution to Scotland and looks forward to these proposals being brought forward in line with the agreed timetable; notes the commitment made by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition to the continuation of the Barnett allocation of resources and full representation for Scottish MPs in the UK Parliament; calls for a constitutional convention to be established in order to review and make recommendations in relation to future governance arrangements for the UK and for proposals for an elected Senate of the Nations and Regions to be brought forward to replace the House of Lords; and further calls for a new Scotland Bill and an English Devolution Bill to be brought forward in the next Parliament.’.’
So Miliband wants to remove the review of the Barnett formula and the West Lothian question. Raab is unimpressed, telling Coffee House:
‘Ed Miliband is personally forcing a vote to try and veto any progress on English votes and gag even a discussion of the implications of Barnett. It is a gaping opportunity to defeat him, and highlight how committed he is to selling out the English.’
Raab is now telling Tory colleagues that they should pop in to the Commons to vote at 5pm on their way back from a day’s campaigning or on their way to an evening of getting out the vote in Rochester. Given how keen many of them were to make life difficult for Labour over English votes for English laws, this opportunity could be quite irresistible for many Conservative MPs.
Comments