Speaker denies move by ministers over English votes for English laws

COMMONS Speaker John Bercow has insisted he has received no formal notification from the government over its intention to bring forward plans to restrict Scottish MPS’ voting rights.

The SNP’S Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, asked the Speaker if the government had informed him that proposals would be introduced in the chamber tomorrow.

Mr Robertson cited a newspaper report which quoted “senior government sources” as suggesting plans to give English MPS a veto on English-only laws could be revealed tomorrow and become law before the summer.

Raising a point of order, he told Mr Bercow: “The Daily Telbe Bercow said that he had received no notification egraph reports today, ‘Number 10 hopes to use an obscure parliamentary procedure known as standing orders to lock Scottish MPS out of shaping legislation that only affects English voters. The move needs just a single vote of approval from MPS to put into law in a move that would circumvent the months of parliamentary scrutiny which comes with full legislation’.

“Mr Speaker, have you had any notice of these proposals and have there been any discussions with you, sir, about the potential role of the Speaker in certificating such procedures?”

Mr Bercow replied: “There are periodic discussions on a wide range of matters involving the chair; those are discussions that take place properly between the participants – they are not matters aired on the floor of the House and I hope you will respect the significance of that principle.

“I have received no formal notification whatsoever of government intentions on this matter.”