IN the aftermath of Scotland’s astonishing General Election result, delivering the recommendations of the Smith Commission was the bare minimum the Tory Government could have done – and in the publication of this weak, watered-down Bill they have failed to meet even that low benchmark.
The Smith Commission proposals disappointed so many people in Scotland and did not go nearly far enough – keeping key powers over social security, the economy and the minimum wage in Westminster’s hands – and so for the UK Government to row back from even that position represents a spectacular breach of trust and yet another broken promise to the people of Scotland.
This isn’t simply a partisan point – in recent weeks, the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party Devolution Committee has found that the UK Government’s plans fall short of what we were promised. That was a view endorsed even by the Scottish Tories.
And the idea that the UK Government should have the ability to veto decisions made in Scotland – including on issues like the Universal Credit and on scrapping the Bedroom Tax – is completely unacceptable and clearly runs against the spirit of what was promised by the Smith Commission.
Scotland’s Parliament, civil society, trade unions and popular opinion are united in seeking the powers we were promised. Just three weeks ago, people in Scotland gave the SNP an overwhelming democratic mandate to pursue the extensive new powers the Scottish Parliament needs to make Scotland grow our economy and tackle poverty – and David Cameron simply must respect that.
The days of business as usual in the Tories behaviour towards Scotland are over – and the serious shortcomings in this bill need to be rectified as soon as possible if the UK Government is to come close to meeting its commitment to Scotland and delivering the powers people voted for so convincingly at the General Election.
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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