THERE was a rather brilliant moment during the House of Commons debate on English votes for English laws (Evel) when a Tory MP cut in on SNP MP Tommy Sheppard to say that they had to introduce Evel as it was a manifesto commitment.

Sheppard replied: “And we know that you know that we know that you never thought you would have to implement this proposal.”

Evel was in the manifesto to be negotiated out when the Tories found themselves in a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. That didn’t happen.

This is where the Government now finds itself. Evel is an unworkable and unwanted policy commitment.

The Government has changed the very nature of democracy in the United Kingdom, not because it is necessary, not because of a democratic deficit, but for the politics of pandering to prejudices.

And now, the morning after the day after the night before, we see the mess of Evel writ large: debates and uncertainty over which bills, which policies, which measures should not be voted on by Scottish MPs.

That the expansion of Heathrow or Gatwick should not be voted on by Scottish MPs is absurd. And yet there is a possibility that this is what will happen.

Those under the flight path of a possible third runway at Heathrow may very well resent Scottish MPs from having a vote, but there is no getting away from the fact that the airport is a national asset.

There has already been a significant reduction in the number of flights between Scotland and London because of the squeeze at Heathrow. Of course this has an impact on Scotland’s economy.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will all lose out because of Evel. That might be worth it if England gained. But it doesn’t. Evel fixes a problem that doesn’t exist, it just manages to create new ones.

We can expect much more of this over the course of the next year.

EVEL HAS LANDED: 'Blocking Scottish MPs from airport decision would be like stopping English MPs voting on Trident'

Letters to The National, October 24: Evel will prove the Union is unequal

MP may be off committee in new Evel rules