Speaker’s Corner: Scotland vote momentous for UK and my Tour success pride

I am deeply committed to our country and like millions of others across Britain I would have been devastated if our United Kingdom had come to an end.

For residents of Scotland the debate has been long and hard fought on both sides, but with a clear and decisive question on the ballot paper, I am pleased that the issue has now been clearly settled.

As a nation together we, The British, have achieved so much in the past and together we can achieve more in the future.

We now have to move forward and build on the recent vote of confidence in the United Kingdom.

As an Englishman I feel that we now have a great opportunity to change the way the British people are governed, and change it for the better.

I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement that there will be a special cabinet committee to be led by William Hague to look in to the matter.

I believe it is only right and fair that the settlement of more devolved powers to be negotiated for Scotland should be accompanied by a new and fair settlement that applies to England as well.

We have heard the voice of Scotland - and our government must not ignore the millions of voices of the English.

Many people have complained to me about the unfairness to England of the devolution settlement created by the previous Labour Government.

We need to address the so-called ‘West Lothian Question’. So, just as Scotland will vote separately in the Scottish Parliament on their issues of tax, spending and welfare, so too English MPs should be able to vote on these issues in England - and all this must take place in tandem with, and at the same pace as, the new settlement for Scotland.

Under a future Conservative government David Cameron has promised an In/Out referendum on our continued membership of the European Union. I am so pleased that when we face this monumental decision on our future we will do so as a United Kingdom.

It may seem to some to be a trivial point, but to me the continued existence of the Union Flag under which so many British have for hundreds of years served and sacrificed their lives is a moving and emotional achievement.

The Tour of Britain cycle race was a spectacular event as it came through Dacorum on Friday September 12.

Local residents turned out in their thousands and did the borough proud.

This was a great event for Dacorum and really helped put us on the map.

I very much hope that we will be able to host the Tour of Britain again in the future.

A big thank you to all involved to make it happen.