March 08, 2006
Rock, meet hard place, turn the lights off when you are done
Well, it looks like this morning is a quote the Gareth morning. This time it's this astonishing example of clear thinking:
Dear Mr Heald,I'm a little nervous to be honest. Nervous that we are missing something here and that there is a perfectly good and obvious reason why a policy of EVoEM is compatible with allowing those that cannot vote on their own policies to hold such an office.The Conservative policy of English Votes on English Matters does not include any provision to stop Scottish MPs being given ministerial portfolios such as health, education, transport and culture media and sport.
Would you explain to me why a Scottish MP should be barred from voting on education bills but should be allowed to head up the Department of Education?
Many thanks,
Gareth Young
Further, if such a minister is barred from voting on such an issue because, basically, it is not within his remit to do so then what does this say about the ministers mandate to affect policy in the specific area at all?
I suspect the answer to Gareth's gloryously impertinent question lies in the reason why the minister should not be allowed to vote on English matters. There is ruination ahead if that answer has anything to do with not having a mandate from the people in areas that have been devolved to other nations in the Union. In fact, the whold notion of having a minister crafting policy and pushing through changes in an area where the Tory party framework recognises that he is not equal to other MP's on the issue is incredible.
