Mike Penning, Conservative, Hemel Hempstead

Many thanks for your recent further email regarding the West Lothian question. I can certainly understand your concern on this issue, and I am grateful for your kind words about my work as a constituency MP. It is an honour to serve the local community.

You refer to proposals placed before the Party by Ken Clarke’s democracy task force. At present, I should emphasise that these remain nothing more than proposals, and do not reflect a policy commitment from the Conservatives. I have taken up this matter with colleagues, who have informed me that we will set out our intentions firmly in our Manifesto for the next election.

I would like to assure you, however, that the issue as a whole is one that the Party takes extremely seriously; Nick Herbert, the Shadow Justice Secretary, has acknowledged that, if left unanswered, the West Lothian question is liable to provoke frustration in England, highlighting as it does problems implicit in the exercise of power without accountability.

Many thanks again for taking the time to write to me on this issue. As you know, I strive to make a commitment to all of my constituents, whether they feel able to agree with my political persuasions or otherwise, so please do let me know if you feel I may be able to help further with this, or any other matter.

Yours sincerely,

Mike Penning

July 2008 (source)

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