West Lothian question

proper noun

The anomaly whereby Scottish MPs can vote on issues affecting England, but English MPs cannot vote on Scottish issues.

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Meanings

proper nounthe West Lothian question
  1. UKgovernmentThe anomaly whereby Scottish MPs can vote on issues affecting England, but English MPs cannot vote on Scottish issues.

Origin

Coined by Enoch Powell MP in 1977 after series of similar questions originally raised by Tam Dalyell, MP for West Lothian.

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Cite this entry
APA

West Lothian question. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/West%20Lothian%20question

MLA

“West Lothian question.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/West%20Lothian%20question. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “West Lothian question,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/West%20Lothian%20question.

Source: West Lothian question on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.