David Cameron unveils 'English votes for English laws' plan

Scottish MPs could be banned from voting on income tax changes in England if the Conservatives win the next general election.

David Cameron today launched his party's first manifesto for England, with a new system of "English votes for English laws" as its centrepiece.

"Soon, the Scottish Parliament will be voting to set its own levels of income tax — and rightly so — but that has clear implications," he said in Lincolnshire this morning.

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"English MPs will be unable to vote on the income tax paid by people in Aberdeen and Edinburgh while Scottish MPs are able to vote on the tax you pay in Birmingham or Canterbury or Leeds. It is simply unfair. And with 'English votes for English laws' we will put it right."

The Smith Commission, set up after the Scottish independence referendum, recommended that that the Scottish parliament should set its own income tax rates and bands and retain all income tax revenue raised north of the border.

The Conservatives want to remove voting rights from Scottish MPs for any issue devolved to Holyrood, which also includes measures in areas such as jobs, health and housing.

Former foreign secretary William Hague appeared alongside Cameron to outline a timetable for delivering the new system.

The Guardian notes that the manifesto was unveiled in one of the stronger areas of Ukip support, underlining Cameron's determination to squeeze Ukip voters' resolve.

"A serious crack in the Ukip vote – which until now has been resilient – is a precondition of a Tory majority government," says the newspaper.

Labour has accused the Tories of trying to create a "two-tier Commons" for narrow party advantage.

Cameron has denied supporting English nationalists and insists the Tories do not want a separate English parliament. The party has also published Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish manifestos.