The West Lothian Question on Horseback

The West Lothian Question raised its head during the Lords debate on the Queen's Speech, in regard to the free vote on the Hunting Act.

Unfortunately, the Prime Minister, Mr Cameron, and everyone in this country who would like to see an end to the hunting ban are all too likely to be stymied by what is the complete reverse of fairness. Realistically, I see no problem from Northern Ireland. However, honourable Members representing Scottish constituencies are a different matter. The Scots, like the Northern Irish, have unfettered power to make their own laws for hunting on their own territory, but the English and Welsh are denied that right. Is that really fair? Surely it is not, as most of the electorate in Scotland and Northern Ireland would almost certainly agree. In the absence of long-overdue self-government for the English on purely domestic matters-that need not cost money, as there would be no need for hugely expensive Assembly buildings-one fears that repeal of the Hunting Act is unlikely in this Parliament unless all MPs representing Scottish and Northern Ireland constituencies were involuntarily to abstain in any Division on a hunting Bill, which I suspect is asking for the moon. Lord Monson, 2nd June 2010

A case of the undemocratic (Scottish MPs) in defence of the inedible against the unspeakable?

(hat-tip @stgeorgeiscross)

UPDATE

Harriett Baldwin's Legislation (Territorial Extent) Bill is an attempt to address the West Lothian Question.