English Votes for English Laws

Debate between Angela Eagle and Thérèse Coffey

Wednesday 15th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Ms Angela Eagle]

Will the hon. Lady give way?

[Dr Coffey]

I still have quite a lot to get through, but I will give way on the gridlock issue.

[Ms Eagle]

If the distribution of English local government grants is not voted for, no money can be distributed. The Government’s proposals will allow an English minority, who may be in opposition, to prevent a Government from distributing money to local government. How is that a recipe for anything other than gridlock?

[Dr Coffey]

We believe that it is a fair response to say that when the matter is providing finances for English councils, the majority of English MPs should agree to how that is done. I recognise that the hon. Lady may not like that, but when she was in government, it so happened that her party had a majority of English MPs.

Turning to Speaker certification, a lot of people have mentioned the burden—