Plan to deny full Commons voting rights to NI MPs pushed back

British prime minister David Cameron has backed down on plans to force through changes to House of Commons rules that would deny full voting rights to MPs from Scotland and Northern Ireland, partly in the face of opposition from the Democratic Unionist Party.

Under the so-called "English Votes for English Laws" plans, English MPs, or sometimes English and Welsh MPs, would enjoy rights to debate and amend legislation that affects England only, rather than affecting the United Kingdom as a whole.

Defending the plans, the Conservatives insist the devolution settlement means English MPs are denied influence over health and education, for example, in Scotland and NI, while MPs from those places are able to vote on legislation covering England.

Promises to consult

The Conservatives had been ready to push the matter to a Commons vote next week, but have now backed off in the face of opposition amid promises to consult more widely before the issue comes back before MPs in September.

Welcoming the retreat, DUP leader Nigel Dodds said he was "very pleased".

“This move demonstrates very clearly the power that relatively small numbers of MPs can have due to the very slim majority enjoyed by this government,” he said.

The prime minister was directly involved in the decision not to hold a vote after two days of debate next week, as had been planned: “I think this reflects a willingness on the part of the government to respect the parliamentary process,” said Mr Cameron’s spokeswoman.

However, she insisted Mr Cameron remains committed to granting a stronger voice to English MPs. “We remain committed to delivering this and ensuring every part of the UK has a fair say on matters relating to them.”

The DUP has argued that reforms should “not be taken lightly, and deserve the most careful consideration”, preferably by a Constitutional Convention – rather than by actions that could threaten the future existence of the UK.

‘Muddled’ plans

Lagan Valley DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the British government's plans are "muddled and incoherent, and will lead to many problems and a very fractious House of Commons".

“Sometimes we will have votes in which English MPs only can take part. Occasionally, we will have votes in which NI MPs, Welsh MPs or Scottish MPs can participate. That is a recipe for divisiveness in this House and it plays to the separatists’ agenda,” he said.

The speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, who will have the final decision on whether legislation affects England, or all of the UK, will be put in "an invidious position", Mr Donaldson told the House.

Usually the Scottish National Party has not voted on legislation affecting England only, but it has long argued that decisions in England can impact on public services elsewhere in the UK if they lead to higher or lower public spending.