Thread by @LiamSpender

1/9 #BuildingSafetyBill: the Commons has just agreed to abolish English Votes for English Laws (EVEL), without a formal vote.

EVEL was introduced in 2015 to exclude Scottish MPs from laws decided in Westminster but which did not apply in Scotland.

2/9 The idea behind EVEL was to create an English Parliament, to reflect the fact that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can make their own laws, whereas there is no separate Parliament for England.

3/9 After only slightly more than an hour's debate this evening, EVEL was abolished.

EVEL had been suspended since coronavirus restrictions were introduced to Parliament in March 2020.

4/9 This change is of significance to the #BuildingSafetyBill because it means Scottish MPs can now vote on it.

The current government working majority is 83, taking into account the non-voting Speaker, Deputy Speakers and Sinn Fein MPs.

5/9 Abolition (perhaps deliverance) from EVEL means only 42 Conservative rebels are required to pass amendments to the #BuildingSafetyBill.

Previously, under EVEL, it required 72 Conservative rebels to amend bills in the Commons.

6/9 42 rebels is dangerously close to the 40 Conservative MPs who either voted against (30) or abstained (10) the government on 27 April 2021, when the government defeated Fire Safety Bill amendments to protect leaseholders.

7/9 Of course, we cannot know whether the SNP will continue its policy of abstaining on non-Scottish issues, which means more Tory rebels are required.

The #BuildingSafetyBill does not affect Scotland.

Conservative MPs may also not rebel if they know gov't defeat is likely.

8/9 Nevertheless, this rule change is potentially encouraging, particularly given the sizeable Conservative rebellion seen on 27 April over leaseholder protection when the Fire Safety Bill was considered.

9/9 Last but not least, the fact that another significant change to the British constitution was nodded through with only an hour's debate in Parliament is a depressing story in its own right.