‘FOR Southern Tories ‘English votes for English laws’ is a catchy slogan after the Scots rejected independence in last month’s referendum.

With new powers promised to the Edinburgh Parliament, it has genuine constitutional relevance. However, it ignores both history and political reality.

As someone who covered Westminster for Scottish papers as well as the Lancashire Telegraph, I understand something of both.

The claim Scottish MPs in 1999 suddenly started voting on laws affecting Blackburn Lancashire when they could not for Blackburn near Edinburgh (‘The West Lothian Question’) is nonsense.For centuries they never did.

Identical statutes affecting their constituencies which they voted on for England were frequently authorised with the stroke of a Scottish ministerial pen.

Or occasionally added to ‘Christmas Tree’ bills, legislation so wide items were randomly hung on and never properly voted on.

The new Edinburgh Assembly rectified that democratic deficit, but left concentration of power affecting Northern England in London.

The Scottish referendum debate has thrown up a real question - if local politicians in Scotland get more power, why not their equivalents in Lancashire?

Labour’s plan for regional assembles collapsed in 2004 because they were expensive talking shops.

For regional devolution to work politicians everywhere need to give up powers.

Westminster and Whitehall must give real power to local representatives, not government officials.

British democracy has evolved piecemeal over centuries and it took 50 years to get Scottish devolution to today, so rushed decisions will be mistakes.

A proper solution, bringing power closer to both Blackburns might even persuade the two thirds of people who fail to turn out in local elections to vote in them.

As the Scots did when they had something important to decide.