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Parliamentary Representation (England)

As usual, my hon. Friend has proposed a good and logical solution. It is similar to the possible solutions proposed by my right hon. and learned Friends the Members for Kensington and Chelsea and for Devizes. Although I cannot anticipate what my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe will propose, it could be along those lines as well. There are ways in which this matter could partially be put right. We will not have a perfectly balanced constitution, but we could have one that is perceived to be much fairer than it is at present. It is that perceived unfairness that I want to put right—and I want it to be seen to be put right—because the growing resentment within some political movements in England will give rise to English nationalism, which will be just as bad as Scottish nationalism, or any other kind of nationalism, which seeks to divide one set of people from another at a time in our history—and that of the world—when we should be coming together and not looking for divisions. I do not want to see nationalism that draws lines, but a Union that brings people together. However, I understand why the Government do not wish to discuss the matter. It is because of the 59 seats that come from Scotland—or the 59 Members of this House who are returned from Scotland. At present, 40 of them represent the Labour party, which is a low figure compared with the past 50 or 60 years. It is usually a higher proportion. Therefore, the current Government are terrified of losing 40 votes in matters that they want to push through this House. Naturally enough, they do not want to address the issue, especially as two of those 40 Members are the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I put it to the Minister and the House that if we do not correct the perceived unfairness, then we will allow resentment to grow. That resentment is not good for the constitution or for government. Government should be fair, and I will be interested to hear what the Minister has to say about how this Government propose to correct the perceived unfairness.