Their intervention is the first concrete sign that rebel MPs are prepared to make common cause with the opposition to exploit Mr Blair's new-found vulnerability.Are we about to see an early manifestation of the West Lothian Question? It seems entirely possible that the government will get its ID card legislation through the Commons only with the support of its Scottish MPs even though the Scottish Parliament is opposed to those very same cards and claims that their use will not be required to access the NHS north of the border.With the Conservatives vowing this week to vote against the government the rebels could deprive Mr Blair of valuable support. In theory, only 34 Labour members would need to vote against the bill to halt its progress in the Commons.
A libertarian returns to Scotland
"Freedom and Whisky gang thegither"
- Robert Burns
Saturday 28 May 2005
Identity crisis
The government may run into trouble over ID cards in Parliament next month if Labour left-wingers carry out their threat to rebel:
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David Farrer
I replied on the CEP blog as follows:
It’s certainly true to say that Scotland has its own criminal law system but I’m not sure whether all new criminal legislation is devolved to Holyrood. It may be that this sort of thing is “reserved” and, if so, it would be appropriate for Scottish MPs to have their say.
If it’s not reserved (perhaps why it wasn’t in the Scottish manifesto) then of course Scottish MPs shouldn’t be voting on it at Westminster.
From a libertarian perspective there shouldn’t be any such laws at all, whether in England, Scotland or for that matter anywhere else.
30 May 2005, 09:11:20 GMT+01:00
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Stuart Dickson
David,
The Campaign for an English Parliament seeks the benefit of your great wisdom. As a trainee "libertarian" I could not possibly be so presumptuous as to attempt to explain the sanctioned faith/creed:
- "... this little nugget from David Farrer... I think that I'm correct in saying that Stuart and David both describe themselves as libertarians, despite being on opposite sides of the party-political spectrum. I wonder if they might like to comment on this letter from the Telegraph (18.05.05):
No mandate to impose religious hatred law... "
http://thecep.org.uk/news/Comments.asp?Entry=483
Although lacking in the requisite knowledge of the official "libertarian" holy scriptures, I am perhaps able to give my humble constitutional opinion: Scottish Labour MP's have no mandate to vote on the incitement to religious hatred Bill in the Commons. But as Mr Addison points out in the first comment, a "mandate" is a political concept not a legal one. So, the question "do the public care about it?" is key.
On current evidence they do not care, but nothing is forever...
30 May 2005, 08:24:00 GMT+01:00
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Title: Scottish Labour versus the Parliament Act
Excerpt: ... So, is the incitement to religious hatred legislation reserved to Westminster, or a devolved issue?
Well, for starters, all new criminal legislation is automatically devolved to Holyrood. It is the Reserved Matters which are stipulated by th...
Blog name: Independence
30 May 2005, 05:06:26 GMT+01:00
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alan
Hopefully the rebellion will be large enough to prevent ID cards at all, also a solution for west lothian is needed soon
29 May 2005, 18:21:34 GMT+01:00
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Sandy P
OT:
In a truly amazing display of anti-Americanism and bias, presenters of BBC Radio Scotland's "Off the Ball" football coverage are heard denigrating the US Senators who recently questioned George Galloway and at one point referred to them as "American twats".
The presenters were all over themselves sucking up to Galloway. They even tried to show how it was impossible for Galloway to have taken millions of barrels of oil from Saddam. Repeatedly asking him where he could store all those millions of barrels. Galloway responding by saying he would be the richest man in Britain if he had sold all those barrels at $25 a barrel.
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1. Don't they know it's a small world?
2. Georgous George will be damaged goods.
29 May 2005, 16:21:05 GMT+01:00
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steves
Surely the scenario outlined is the perfect solution to two problems, it will make the opposition parties, English Mp's and public realise that a federal solution is the real alternative with an English parliament, and lead to the abandonment of the ID scheme.
28 May 2005, 20:02:24 GMT+01:00
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Neil Craig
On such an important constitutional matter limiting our freedom it would be indefensible for it to be passed by 36% against the wishes of the representatives of 64% of us.
28 May 2005, 20:00:31 GMT+01:00
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Title: Spineless Whipped Labourites
Excerpt: ... first example, in what is sure to be a very long list, of the English electorate being screwed by the Lib-Lab created West Lothian Question... Don't blame me. I vote for the West Lothian Answer: Scottish independence.
Let us not forget that...
Blog name: Independence
28 May 2005, 17:41:52 GMT+01:00
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