AROUND 1,000 people have signed a Worcester petition calling for 'English votes for English laws' - with the city's MP handing it to parliament.

Robin Walker presented his petition to ministers last night after saying the campaign was among the most popular he's ever been involved in.

As your Worcester News revealed in February, the Conservative launched it down the High Street and inside the first hour it amassed 470 responses.

His submission of the petition comes in the same week new research was released suggesting three quarters of people across England's regions - including the West Midlands - support a change.

A study at Edinburgh University resulted in more than 4,000 people in England being asked for a view, and found most backed the notion of laws for England being passed by MPs representing English constituencies only.

Mr Walker said: "We did an online petition as well as the High Street and the response was excellent, I'm very pleased with the reaction.

"We've had really positive feedback and what it does show is that people do want a fairer system and really care deeply about this.

"Some people who don't like this campaign say it's anti-unionist but I don't agree with that at all, this is about fairness."

Because of the way the Commons system works, the only signatures ministers will officially recognise on the petition are those from people living in Worcester, which immediately swipes more than half the names off the 1,000 strong list.

But the submission comes at a time when many other MPs have done the same, planting the campaign into the minds of whichever party is in power after the General Election.

In the Edinburgh study UKIP and Conservative supporters were most in favour of English votes for English laws, 86 per cent and 84 per cent respectively.

Support was lowest among people who identify with Labour at just 59 per cent.

In each English region including the West Midlands between 70 and 75 per cent supported English votes for English laws, apart from Greater London where support was 66 per cent.

Last month the Conservatives announced a proposal to allow English MPs an effective 'veto' on legislation over the kind of issues which Scotland decides for itself in the Scottish Parliament.

Legislation would then be voted on by the whole of the Commons at the final stage.

But there is concern on the Tory backbenches that the proposals do not go far enough and would still allow nationalist parties in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to hijack decision-making.