Last night, MP for North East Hertfordshire Sir Oliver Heald was one of 18 MPs from all parts of England presenting petitions on the floor of the House of Commons calling for English Votes for English Laws. Under this principle, only MPs representing constituencies in England would be eligible to vote on issues in the House that affect England only. This is part of Oliver’s campaign, which has led to clashes in the House with Gordon Brown and parliamentary questions and speeches, as set out on his web-site. The signatures came from constituents of each MP’s constituency. Councillor Jeff Jones of Buntingford is the first name on Sir Oliver’s petition, which has signatures from across the constituency.

Find out more about Oliver’s EVEL campaign here.

Watch Sir Oliver’s presentation here, and read the report here.

The full text of the petition is:
The Petition of residents of North East Hertfordshire,

Declares that the Petitioners believe that when Parliament makes decisions affecting only the people of England or England and Wales then those decisions should be made only by the Members of Parliament elected to represent England or England and Wales.

The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons creates fairness in the devolution settlement by ensuring decisions having a separate and distinct effect on England or England and Wales, are only decided by the Members of Parliament elected to represent England or England and Wales.

And the Petitioners remain, etc.

Follow Sir Oliver on Twitter at www.twitter.com/OliverHealdMP
Read his blog at www.oliverheald.wordpress.com