ANOTHER Tory minister chose to answer a serious question on the limitations of the devolution settlement with a “dismissive” response promoting the Union in the Commons this morning.
SNP MP Tommy Sheppard asked Jacob Rees-Mogg about the need to devolve further fiscal powers to the Scottish Parliament to help the Government better respond to the challenges the pandemic brings.
This week a report from the group set up to advise the Scottish Government on the nation’s post-pandemic economic recovery put forward a number of recommendations – including the need to look at the scope of devolved fiscal powers.
READ MORE: Scotland needs more powers to tackle coronavirus crisis, report says
The report by the Advisory Group on Economic Recovery said there is a “strong case” for the Scottish Government to have greater autonomy to use fiscal measures to respond to the problems caused by the virus crisis. Currently, Scotland’s capital borrowing is subject to an annual limit of £450 million.
Tommy Sheppard asked the Leader of the House: “Last week I informed the House of the decision of the Scottish Parliament to seek a review of the financial arrangements within which it operates in order that it could better deal with the aftermath of Covid-19.
“I asked when that request, backed by four out of five parties in Scotland, would be considered by this Parliament and I did not get an answer.
At today's business questions I asked again when Parliament would debate calls to loosen the straitjacket on Scotland. Again I got a dismissive and evasive reply. pic.twitter.com/a2dL5oG6Ua
— Tommy Sheppard MP (@TommySheppard) June 25, 2020
“This week Mr Speaker we saw the publication of the report by the independent economic recovery group in Scotland, a mainly private sector perspective. Guess what their first recommendation was?
“Also, to loosen the financial straitjacket that constrains the Scottish Parliament. We do need to discuss this. The financial set-up of devolution was not designed to deal with the type of problems the Scottish Government now faces. And platitudes about how wonderful the Union is will not address this serious problem.”
But the Tory MP ignored Sheppard’s plea to at least “discuss this” – choosing to do exactly what the SNP MP had asked him not to and give platitudes about the Union.
Rees-Mogg accused Sheppard of “wanting more money for the Scottish Government”, saying it had already “had £3.7bn from UK taxpayers”. However, Sheppard had been asking for powers to be devolved to Holyrood, not requesting cash.
He went on: “Without the strength of the UK economy, I hate to think what situation Scotland would be in had it been independent.
“The separatists’ arguments are crumbling away day by day and that is absolutely crucial.”
Rees-Mogg’s claim that the argument for independence is losing ground is in stark contrast to the weekend’s Panelbase poll putting support for self-determination at 54% - the highest since 2016.
That survey comes after a series of results putting support for independence ahead of support for the Union.
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