Deeside MP Mark Tami raises cross border concerns in English Votes for English Laws debate

Mark Tami MP has Spoken in Parliament Against English Votes for English Laws.

The MP for Alyn & Deeside spoke in a Westminster Hall Debate against the proposal yesterday.

He, along with other Welsh MP’s want assurances Wales will not be disadvantaged by a plan to allow laws that will only allow English MP’s to vote on laws which only affect England.

During the debate the Alyn & Deeside MP questioned what constitutes an English only law especially for residents of Flintshire who often work across the border in England, attend hospital appointments in the Countess of Chester and have their GPs based in England.

Speaking after the debate Mark Tami MP said,

“The Government has failed to explain what would constitute an English only law, the border does not exist in the way that the Government is proposing.”

“The Countess of Chester Hospital was built to serve the people of Deeside and Chester, our road network runs from East to West not North to South.”

“To suggest that changes made in England wont impact on us highlights a serious lack of understanding by the Government about how this region works.”

The debate had been called by Ynys Mon MP, Albert Owen and included contributions from many MPs with North Wales who highlighted their concerns with this proposal.

Former Tory Welsh Secretary and MP for Clwyd West David Jones has waded in to the debate saying:

The people of north Wales are reliant upon services provided in England such health service.

“They are already disadvantaged by the defective devolution settlement put in place by the party opposite (Labour), “

“Can he (Leader of the commons, Chris Grayling) assure the House that they are not further disadvantaged by the measures he is putting in place?”

Mr Grayling said some Welsh MPs would still be able to vote within a new system on some devolved issues such as health.

Synthetic outrage of certain Labour MPs over #EVEL rings a bit hollow. They refused to enter into talks about it in last Parliament.

— David Jones (@DavidJonesMP) July 2, 2015