The North Westerly

English Votes for English Laws seems a logical position but is strongly disputed by some.

There are those who say it creates 2 tiers of MP and that Westminster MPs are elected to a UK institution not an English one.  Yet in theory an MP represents a constituency not a party.  If legislation in Aberdeen is covered by the Scottish Parliament why does the MP for Aberdeen want to vote on the subject when it only applies to another country.

It is understandable that Labour and the Liberal Democrats will be against it as many of their MPs are, or were, in Scotland and Wales and so it decreases their power in England.

Another area of possible contention is that the speaker is to decide what is English only. England being by far the biggest country at what point is it said that only England is affected, is it 100% or 98% or less and can we trust the decision will be correct.

Like it or not though, it seems logical that if Scotland and Wales have full control over what happens on some subjects then there should not be the opportunity for them to have power in another country on the same subject, unless it obviously effects them.  Listening to the points raised against EVEL is listening to politics at its worst.

Labour are offering a cut in tuition fees to £6000 if they win the election.  Certainly this is to be supported.  £6000 was the original level the Coalition proposed and £9000 was to be only for the top universities.  However the Universities trumped the Chancellor and all said they wanted the higher fees to improve their facilities.

Now some say only those earning higher salaries are effected by the higher fees anyway so Labour’s policy actually helps the wealthy more than the poor.  Most people don’t get that, the shadow of a large debt is something no-one wants to have even if they don’t have to pay it off.

The universities are very wary too. Some think the Labour plan to tax pensioners might not yield as much as thought and that universities will need to cut back on their plans and some say they will need to take in more foreign students to make up funds.

The tuition fees policy has never satisfied all questioners.  Surely if many students don’t earn enough to pay it back the government will have to make up the difference.  Also the debt might encourage you to emigrate.  The whole thing is trying to make the best of a bad job.

There is a lesson in the Greek election result.  Politicians can push a population so far but then it decides enough is enough and will go where no-one dared to go.  With 25% unemployed, an economy shrunk by 20% it’s surprising it hadn’t happened before.

The new Greek government doesn’t want to leave the Euro, it wants its debts written off.   That could be possible but no doubt there are assurances that will be needed and there is the possibility of a queue of countries wanting a write off of debt.   Will the leaders of the Euro blink.  They’ll perhaps write down the debt with a sham agreement.  Interesting to see.

This week there is surprise that Oxfam claim the wealthiest 1% own more than the other 99% in the world.

Another surprise is that a not too large £550,000 puts you into that 1%.

With £55,000 you are in the top 10% in the world.  That must include the majority in  the UK.

Should equality begin at home, in the UK, should it spread around the world in overseas aid.  Charity begins at home they say.  Although perhaps those coming across the Mediterranean would stay at home if extreme poverty could be relieved in their home country.  Some of both seems reasonable.

Today William Hague announced proposals for democratic decision making in parliament after giving more power to Scotland.  Basically it means English MPs voting on English only matters, Scottish MPs not voting on English only matters.  Sounds simple, sounds sensible but not everyone agrees.

The Liberal Democrats have an ‘alternative’ solution related to proportional representation.  The Labour Party see it as excluding them from ever having power on English matters as they depend on Scottish Labour MPs.  Naturally they have other ideas and want to take a lot of time to think about it.

UKIP and the SNP have a simple view on the subject and probably it’s the only time they’ll ever agree.  They both say Scottish MPs shouldn’t vote on English only matters.

There are those in the north of England, perhaps Labour supporters, who say they want more representation and freedom from Westminster.  Although you might think that would be another subject to be considered later and hopefully not a new layer of parliament.

Labour stood strongly against equalising the number of voters in each constituency as it reduced their seats.  The Liberal Democrats stood against equalising voters because the Conservatives didn’t vote for proportional representation and adjusting the House of Lords.  Neither seemed to be mainly concerned about accountability or democracy.  There are no doubt some long term effects that we need to consider if we go down the route of English MPs voting on English only matters, but you’d hardly think they will take years to ponder and thousands of hours of debate.

After Scotland gets its extra powers the first vote of significance in Parliament where Scottish MPs stand up on an English subject might have an interesting reaction.  It would be a shock if it was a Scottish Conservative MP that tipped the balance, particularly with their scarcity, but who knows what the effect minor parties will have.

December has brought cheaper petrol and inflation dropped to 1%.  This seems like great news.  Will those businesses whose main costs are fuel reduce their prices?  Airlines with their fuel surcharges, buses.  Gas prices usually reflect the price of oil so will gas and electricity come down.

Inflation only 1% means a small pay rise should still leave you ahead.  Although anyone depending on inflation proof bonds will see a smaller income.  Many pensioners are being hit by low interest rates, although younger people are able to have a cheaper mortgage.

Where next, some say the low oil price could upset a few apple carts.  The Russians are being hit and it’s never easy to work out where they’ll be going.  US shale oil will be less profitable and the US turn round, which benefits us, has largely been based on shale oil replacing imported oil and stabilising the price.

Inflation only 1%. Will it become deflation?  The worriers are saying deflation becomes a spiral that is hard to get out of, using Japan as an example. It seems people put off buying things expecting prices to be lower next week.  The record of leaders all over Europe isn’t one to be over excited about if we’re expecting any answers.  It could be said in the UK we haven’t experienced a calamitous crash like they have in Greece, Spain and Ireland so we hope not being in the Euro will enable our economy to adapt better.