William Hague is unveiling his EVEL plans in the Commons at 12.30 today. Just in case you were trying to work out what sort of atmosphere will greet this discussion of English votes for English laws and how far to in introducing that principle to Parliament, Coffee House can give you a quick taste.
I understand that the ‘Q-team’, a group of Tory backbenchers who indulge in co-ordinated goading of the Opposition during very political sessions, is meeting currently to discuss tactics for making Hague’s statement very difficult indeed for Labour. I wrote last year about the formation of this team – or rather its resurrection as George Osborne used to do the photocopying for the original one to support John Major when the now Chancellor was just starting out in politics. In the Autumn Statement, the group went overboard rather, shouting so loudly when Ed Balls was trying to respond that they appeared boorish but at other times their heckling is subtler.
But the fact that this group is meeting at all this morning tells us that the unveiling of English votes for English laws is going to be a very tribal affair indeed, as you might expect for something devised partly to shaft the Labour party. But cultivating a tribal atmosphere is pretty important for the Tories, given they appear divided as a party on what option to go for. The Q-Team today will want to give the impression through noise that the Conservatives are united as well as trying to heckle Labour.
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