Cameron risks storm as Tories launch English-only manifesto

THE Tories will tomorrow inflame the row over a potential Labour-SNP powersharing deal by unveiling the party’s first separate ‘manifesto for England’.

The Prime Minister and outgoing Leader of the Commons William Hague will jointly launch the English document, which follows traditional Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish manifestos.

Its centrepiece will be a pledge to introduce a system of English Votes for English Laws (EVEL) – giving English MPs an effective veto over legislation applying only to their constituents and cutting the voting rights of Scottish MPs.

Mr Hague is expected to warn England risks being ‘held to ransom’ by the SNP unless Labour agrees to implement such a reform.

The separate English manifesto will be seen as an attempt by the Conservatives to tap into growing English Nationalism. But they will be accused of fostering division between the four nations of the United Kingdom, with senior party members concerned that Mr Cameron is putting the Union at risk while he seeks to win votes in England and cripple Labour in Scotland.

Ex-Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth has warned that talking up the chance of SNP successes on May 7 is a ‘short-term and dangerous view which threatens the integrity of our country’.

After unveiling plans to limit the voting rights of Scots MPs and pledging an annual review of the Scottish Government’s decisions – branded

‘Threatens the integrity of our country’

‘checking Holyrood’s homework’ – Mr Cameron has been branded a ‘threat’ to the Union by Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie.

But one Tory strategist said: ‘We have separate Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish manifestos – why shouldn’t there be one for England?’

The push for EVEL began on September 19 last year, when Mr Cameron surprised opponents by promising reform only hours after the referendum result was announced.

Mr Hague wants to strip Scottish MPs of the power to impose tax changes, education and health reforms on England, with Holyrood set to be handed full control of income tax in the wake of the post-referendum Smith Agreement. That would make it impossible for an incoming Labour government to raise the top rate of tax to 50p in England, for instance, without winning the support of a majority of English MPs.

It could also make it difficult for a Scottish MP again to hold the office of Chancellor or Prime Minister, given they would be unable to vote on some of their own Government’s legislation.

Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown is a fierce critic of the proposals, accusing the Tories of trying to ‘silence’ Scots MPs in Westminster and threatening the ‘very survival’ of the UK.

He claims the Conservatives want ‘two classes of elected representatives’ when the country needs a ‘unifying period of reconciliation’ following the independence referendum.

For decades, Labour has relied on its Scottish MPs to pass legislation in Westminster.

But since the creation of the Scottish parliament, critics have questioned how it can be right for Scots MPs to have a crucial say on i ssues such as tuition fees and foundation hospitals which no longer affect their constituents.

Mr Hague is expected to say that the scale of devolution in the Smith Agreement means the question of the status of Scottish MPs at Westminster is now unavoidable.

Labour has declined to take part in cross-party discussions on constitutional reform for England once Scotland gets the extra powers.

It has indicated it will only back the weakest form of EVEL, in which a committee of English MPs would consider early stages of legislation, but without having the final say.