POWER OF SCOTLAND OF SCOTLAND
KEIR Starmer promised more powers to Scotland under a Labour government as he announced the key figures in his Shadow Cabinet.
Writing exclusively for the Daily Record, the new Labour leader said that even in opposition the party would set up a constitutional convention to work out a federal system of government for the whole UK.
He said: “I want to see Scotland use the powers it has got. I also want it to have more powers itself.”
During the leadership campaign, Starmer had said he didn’t want the UK Labour Party to “impose” a second referendum on Scottish Labour, but also ruled out support for independence.
Yesterday, he made that position clear, saying: “Labour’s pioneering leader, Keir Hardie, was not a supporter of nationalism but of home rule for Scotland within the UK.”
In Starmer’s first appointments, former Treasury minister Anneliese Dodds was named Shadow Chancellor and Lisa Nandy will be Shadow Foreign Secretary.
Aberdeen-born Dodds has represented Oxford East in the Commons since 2017, having been a Labour MEP.
A day after being announced as Jeremy Corbyn’s successor with more than 56 per cent of members’ first preference votes, Starmer made Angela Rayner, the newly-elected deputy leader, Labour party chair.
Rachel Reeves will be Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with Jonathan Ashworth staying in the health brief. Also remaining are veteran Nick Brown as Chief Whip and Angela Smith as Shadow Lords leader.
Left-wingers Barry Gardiner, Jon Trickett and Ian Lavery will leave the Shadow Cabinet but Emily Thornberry, who Nandy replaced, will stay on.
Her position and other posts, including the Scottish Secretary, will be confirmed today.
Laying out his plans, Starmer said: “We are living through a national emergency. Under my leadership, the Labour Party will always act in the country’s interest to save lives and protect livelihoods. That will be the No1 priority of my Shadow Cabinet. “We will be a responsible opposition that supports the Government where we believe they are right and challenge them when we believe mistakes are being made.”