Your analysis of the potential implications of Chris Grayling’s proposals on English votes for English laws (Editorial, 3 July) may well be correct, but I think you significantly misrepresent the past impact of Scottish MPs voting on English-only matters.
You state that “the power of Scottish MPs in particular either to obstruct laws the English want, or to force through ones that they reject, is almost entirely theoretical”. But one of the most contentious issues of the 2001-05 parliament, the introduction of English-only foundation hospitals, was forced through the Commons purely because Scottish Labour MPs voted to oppose the amendment I had moved to block a policy that hadn’t been in our manifesto and was opposed by our party conference.
I recall just one Scottish Labour MP seeking my views on what he should do on the day of the vote. He was Tam Dalyell, who, of course, asked the original West Lothian question which has clearly still to be answered.
David Hinchliffe
Labour MP for Wakefield 1987-2005
• Each nation of the UK should have its own parliament with equal powers. They would then be bound into the UK by an overarching senate. This would have responsibility for foreign policy including aid, environment, defence, large infrastructure projects and parts of the Treasury and justice departments.
Everything else would be devolved. Each parliament would decide how its local government system would function.
MEPs would have to report back to the senate once a month, thus binding them into the UK and EU parliaments.
Fiddling with the constitution while Rome, Athens or Edinburgh burns is a nonsense. We need a 21st-century democracy.
Derek Wyatt
Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey 1997-2010
