| 释义 |
West Lothian question, n. Brit. Polit.
Brit. |ˌwɛst ˈləʊðɪən kwɛstʃ(ə)n|, U.S. |ˌwɛst ˈloʊðiən ˌkwɛstʃ(ə)n|, |ˌwɛst ˈloʊðiən ˌkwɛʃtʃ(ə)n|
[‹ West Lothian, the name of a former parliamentary constituency in Central Scotland (the MP for which, Thomas (Tam) Dalyell (b. 1932), raised this question in Parliament in debates on Scottish and Welsh devolution during 1977–8) + question n.]
The British constitutional anomaly that, following devolution, Westminster MPs for Scottish and Welsh constituencies are unable to vote on Scottish or Welsh matters devolved to the assemblies of those countries, but are able to vote on equivalent matters concerning England, whilst MPs for English constituencies have no reciprocal influence on Scottish or Welsh matters; the problem or parliamentary question (see quot. 1977) relating to this anomaly.
[1977T. Dalyell in Hansard Commons 3 Nov. 31 Under the new Bill, shall I still be able to vote on many matters in relation to West Bromwich but not West Lothian, as I was under the last Bill, and will my right hon. Friend [sc. James Callaghan, MP for Cardiff] be able to vote on many matters in relation to Carlisle but not Cardiff? ] [1977T. Dalyell in Hansard Commons 14 Nov. 122 The West-Lothian-West-Bromwich problem pinpoints a basic design fault in the steering of the devolutionary coach which will cause it to crash into the side of the road.] 1978Times 18 May 2/5 An attempt to deal with what has become known as the ‘West Lothian’ question, named after the constituency of the Labour MP Mr Tam Dalyell. 1979M. Keating & D. Bleiman Labour & Sc. Nationalism vi. 192 The West Lothian question can become an argument in favour of English devolution. 2002Daily Mail (Nexis) 18 June 13 It would be fanciful to suppose that many of those waving or displaying the flag of St George are privately cut up about Scottish MPs' voting rights or the Government's failure to address the West Lothian question. |