Tally Ho!
Simon Jenkins rather skewers the SNP with this piece in The Guardian about the 'logic' behind Scottish MPs voting on legislation about fox hunting in England and Wales.
The SNP's argument for Scottish MPs having a say on affairs south of the border are really no different to the case for the rest of the UK having a vote on whether Scotland becomes an independent country.
The SNP's argument for Scottish MPs having a say on affairs south of the border are really no different to the case for the rest of the UK having a vote on whether Scotland becomes an independent country.
With her cynical foxhunting vote, Sturgeon has joined the Westminster club
By Simon Jenkins - The Guardian
The decision to vote on an English matter in order to spite David Cameron is parliamentary game-playing of the kind the SNP claims to despise
‘Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC this morning an English progressive alliance had invited her to vote on foxhunting in England.’ Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA
There is only one argument for the Scottish Nationalists’ decision to vote on England’s foxhunting laws. It should hasten the day when they never do so again. Fans of their leader, Nicola Sturgeon, can only be saddened to see her falling for the trap of the Westminster political club.
Sturgeon: SNP will keep foxhunting ban in revenge against Cameron
The SNP’s reasons for dropping its normal refusal to vote on English matters are opportunistic and cynical. Sturgeon told the BBC this morning it was because an English “progressive alliance” had invited her to do so. This was despite the fact that the number of dogs being used to flush an English fox is of no conceivable relevance to the Scots, who make their own decisions on such matters.
Sturgeon then said the SNP would also vote because, though Scottish law is actually more lenient on the number of dogs than English law, she disagreed with Scottish law. That surely is her problem. Her party has been in power in Edinburgh for eight years, so why has she suddenly decided to make this an issue?
The answer appears to be an even more cynical reason. She is angry over moves to formally exclude Scottish MPs from votes on English laws and wants to “send a message” to David Cameron, “to remind him just how slender is his majority.” He needs no reminding of that. The SNP has long conceded its exceptionalism by not voting on England-only laws. The row over Commons voting is a technicality. If the SNP was really true to its separatist principles it would abstain altogether, like Sinn Fein.
The reality is that Sturgeon’s MPs saw they might swing a Commons vote and could not resist giving Cameron a bloody nose. She even indicated she would do it again, voting for England-only laws “on a case-by-case basis”. None of this has anything to do with the rights or wrongs of foxhunting. It is typical parliamentary game-playing, a display of the London club mentality on which Sturgeon has long poured contempt. Now, offered a brief puff on the Westminster joint, Sturgeon has inhaled.
The SNP has indicated a desire to play an ever closer role in British politics. The good news is that this must make more certain a regime under which it cannot. Scottish MPs should not be able to vote on devolved matters, whatever the temptation. They should again ask their citizens to vote on independence, removing them altogether from Westminster. I wonder if Sturgeon would like English MPs now to vote on that?
There is only one argument for the Scottish Nationalists’ decision to vote on England’s foxhunting laws. It should hasten the day when they never do so again. Fans of their leader, Nicola Sturgeon, can only be saddened to see her falling for the trap of the Westminster political club.
Sturgeon: SNP will keep foxhunting ban in revenge against Cameron
The SNP’s reasons for dropping its normal refusal to vote on English matters are opportunistic and cynical. Sturgeon told the BBC this morning it was because an English “progressive alliance” had invited her to do so. This was despite the fact that the number of dogs being used to flush an English fox is of no conceivable relevance to the Scots, who make their own decisions on such matters.
Sturgeon then said the SNP would also vote because, though Scottish law is actually more lenient on the number of dogs than English law, she disagreed with Scottish law. That surely is her problem. Her party has been in power in Edinburgh for eight years, so why has she suddenly decided to make this an issue?
The answer appears to be an even more cynical reason. She is angry over moves to formally exclude Scottish MPs from votes on English laws and wants to “send a message” to David Cameron, “to remind him just how slender is his majority.” He needs no reminding of that. The SNP has long conceded its exceptionalism by not voting on England-only laws. The row over Commons voting is a technicality. If the SNP was really true to its separatist principles it would abstain altogether, like Sinn Fein.
The reality is that Sturgeon’s MPs saw they might swing a Commons vote and could not resist giving Cameron a bloody nose. She even indicated she would do it again, voting for England-only laws “on a case-by-case basis”. None of this has anything to do with the rights or wrongs of foxhunting. It is typical parliamentary game-playing, a display of the London club mentality on which Sturgeon has long poured contempt. Now, offered a brief puff on the Westminster joint, Sturgeon has inhaled.
The SNP has indicated a desire to play an ever closer role in British politics. The good news is that this must make more certain a regime under which it cannot. Scottish MPs should not be able to vote on devolved matters, whatever the temptation. They should again ask their citizens to vote on independence, removing them altogether from Westminster. I wonder if Sturgeon would like English MPs now to vote on that?
