English Public Votes on English Laws

William Hague has outlined some interesting plans to "throw open the doors of parliament and enable the public to play a role in the legislative process".

Under the Tory plans, a parliamentary bill would be introduced in the way it is now. The first and main debate – the second reading stage, in which the broad principles of the proposed new laws are debated on the floor of the Commons – would be held in the normal way.

But once MPs have held this debate, the bill would be thrown open to voters before it is considered line by line at the committee stage. A website would allow voters to comment on and rewrite the broad principles of the bill, and individual clauses.

So, if we combine this with Ken Clarke's Democracy Task Force proposals, the passage of an English bill through the British parliament would be this:

First Reading: The Bill is (or clauses within are) designated English.
Second Reading: All members of the House participate as now.
Public Reading Stage: English public get a chance to rewrite bill or clauses therein.
Committee Stage: Committee Stage would be undertaken by English MPs only, in proportion to English party strengths.
Report Stage: At Report Stage the Bill would be voted on by all English Members of the House.
Third Reading: At Third Reading the Bill would be voted on again by the whole House. Since no amendments are possible at this stage, the governing party would have to accept any amendments made in Committee Stage (possibly carried through from the Public Reading) or at Report Stage or have the Bill voted down and lost.

However, if Malcolm Rifkind has his way then at the Second Stage all members (Scottish, Welsh English and Irish) will vote, but the vote can only be carried if there is a “double majority” of both the House as a whole and of MPs representing English constituencies; and similarly, at Report Stage, all members will vote, but the vote can only be carried if there is a “double majority” of both the House as a whole and of MPs
representing English constituencies.

I hope that clears up any confusion about how the Conservatives intend to govern England.