Act in haste – repent at leisure?

The big question over Scottish independence may have been settled but the campaign has thrown up a whole host of further questions concerning the UK’s constitutional settlement that will need to be addressed in the near future. We look at some of these questions and at how they could impact on the UK’s EU reform agenda. 

When it looked like a ‘Yes’ vote might be on the cards, the Tories, Labour and the Lib Dems pledged a new raft of powers for the Scottish parliament over areas like taxes, spending and welfare, with proposals due to be tabled in January. Speaking this morning, Cameron announced that discussions over a new settlement for the rest of the UK and England in particular – would take place “in tandem with, and at the same pace as, the settlement for Scotland”.

Given that this will include – in Cameron’s words – “a decisive answer” to the long-standing West Lothian question (ensuring “English votes on English laws”), it remains to be seen whether this timetable is realistic (some MPs are calling for a full constitutional convention). Labour have said they are committed to “looking at the issue” but the party is divided, with some senior figures including Gordon Brown and Douglas Alexander rejecting the option of Scottish MPs being excluded from votes only affecting English matters (which could deprive a potential Labour government of a majority on such votes). We simply do not know how far-reaching this shake-up will be and a quick and amicable cross-party consensus cannot be taken for granted.