Proposals for 'English votes for English laws' unveiled

Veteran Labour MP Gerald Kaufman offered a withering assessment of William Hague's plans for 'English votes for English laws', saying even a dog "would turn up its nose" at the proposals.

ITV News Deputy Political Editor Chris Ship is following developments.

Former cabinet minister Jack Straw also hit out at the Conservatives over their past opposition to devolution to Scotland and Wales.

Labour have warned that plans for 'English votes for English laws' risk breaking up the United Kingdom "by the back door".

Responding to a set of proposals from the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, Shadow Justice Secretary Sadiq Khan told MPs:

The Leader of the House of Commons, William Hague, has outlined four different reforms to Parliament to put a "decisive" end to the question of 'English votes for English laws'.

1 The Liberal Democrats' preferred option is for a new stage in the passing of laws, where a committee of English MPs can scrutinise laws and apply a veto if they wish. The Lib Dems want any committee to be made up in proportion to each party's share of the popular vote in England.

2 The first of three Conservative party proposals is for all stages of laws relating only to England (or England and Wales) to be determined by English/Welsh MPs.

3 The second Tory proposal is reform the amending stage of bills of England-only bills so that English(/Welsh) MPs have "the decisive say over the content of legislation".

4 The final option set out by Mr Hague is a committee stage made up of English (/Welsh) MPs that would be able to consent to or veto a bill or parts of a bill that relate only to England or only to England and Wales.

Video: Liberal Democrats warn over 'Tory votes for English laws'

A senior Liberal Democrat minister has warned that allowing English MPs to vote on laws affecting England would amount to "Tory votes for English laws", because the Tories get a majority of MPs in England.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander told ITV News there should be a "proportional system" involving a committee based on what percentage of the popular vote different parties get in England.

Read: Lord Prescott: English votes plan 'a stitch-up'

Former Deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has accused the Conservatives of a "stitch-up" over plans for 'English votes for English laws'.

Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, the Labour veteran said:

Read: Proposals for 'English votes for English laws' expected

The chair of the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee has hit out at William Hague over his focus on 'English votes for English laws'.

Labour MP Graham Allen said Mr Hague had "deliberately missed the opportunity" to devolve power to England by focusing instead on a "tiny Westminster issue".

Read: Proposals for 'English votes for English laws' expected

The government will lay out plans for "English votes for English laws" as the coalition tries to balance giving greater powers to Scotland with how the whole of the UK is represented in Parliament.

Commons Leader William Hague is to present MPs with a range of options after the parties failed to reach agreement on the way forward.

Conservatives and UKIP support giving greater powers to English MPs voting on issues which only affect England - a move Labour says will destroy the union.

The options in the command paper presented by Mr Hague are expected to propose either:

• Barring Scottish MPs from any role in English and Welsh bills
• Allowing English MPs to have a greater say over the early readings of bills before allowing all MPs to vote on the final stages
• Giving English MPs a veto over certain legislation
• A separate Lib Dem plan to establish a grand committee of English MPs to scrutinise legislation

Prime Minister David Cameron has promised to bring in changes, saying this should be linked to the transfer of more powers to Holyrood.