Vow has handed country control

THE final days of the independence referendum campaign were intense and divisive.

But it really went into overdrive with The Vow.

Today, that last-minute intervention by Westminster leaders has finally come to a conclusion – and Holyrood is stronger for it.

Scotland has more powers, more selfrule, but also maintains economic and financial links with the rest of the UK.

The Daily Record presented the initial offer in a striking front page which dragged politicians to a place where most of the Scottish public already were.

Since that initial pledge was made, The Vow has been used and abused by people who should know better.

Some hardline unionists saw it as a sell-out – they should be ignored.

And on the Yes side, it was seen as the act that put the breaks on independence. That’s also nonsense.

The fact is, it got every political party, including the SNP, together in one room to thrash out a deal to enhance devolution.

It put more power in the hands of those we elect to shape domestic policy.

For No voters, it was a mainstream solution to a better place in the Union.

For Yes voters, it should be seen as a distinct improvement. Without The Vow, it’s likely a No vote would have been returned with no insurance policy.

For many, the campaign for independence is very much alive. The Scottish Government now has the perfect opportunity to show it can take on more powers.

A Scottish welfare state is taking shape. Innovative tax policies are being debated at long last.

It’s fitting that the final piece of the puzzle is a welfare scheme to give healthy food to children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

In the wake of Brexit uncertainty, the future of Scotland may be put to the people once more.

But as things stand, Scotland is stronger because of a compromise brokered in the heat of battle.