We will deliver new power to Scotland, Cameron insists
DAVID Cameron has vowed to deliver his devolution commitments in full – and warned the SNP that Scotland’s place in the UK is now settled.
The Prime Minister promised sweeping new powers for Holyrood would be included in the first Queen’s Speech of a new Tory government.
Mr Cameron said the Tories would deliver ‘one of the most extensive packages of tax and spending powers’ given to any devolved administration in the world.
But Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy launched a ‘desperate’ attack on the Tories, describing income tax proposals as a ‘brutal betrayal’ of the Smith Agreement. Meanwhile, on the campaign trail yesterday:
Nicola Sturgeon was challenged on SNP health spending and access to GPs during a testy radio phone-in.
The English Green Party threatened to kill off North Sea oil and gas in its manifesto.
Mr Murphy insisted he and Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls were ‘singing from the same hymn sheet’ following disagreements over spending cuts.
After Ed Miliband managed only six words on Scotland in Labour’s manifesto, Mr Cameron’s went into great detail. ‘A new Scotland Bill will be in our first Queen’s Speech and will be introduced in the first session of a new Parliament,’ the manifesto said.
‘We will implement the recommendations of the Smith Commission so that more than 50 per cent of the Scottish parliament’s budget will be funded from revenues raised in Scotland. We will provide the Scottish parliament with one of the most extensive packages of tax and spending powers of any devolved legislature in the world.
‘We will retain the Barnett Formula as the basis for determining the grant to cover that part of the Scottish parliament’s budget not funded by tax revenues raised in Scotland.’
In a warning to Nationalists hoping for a second independence vote, the manifesto said: ‘ We held the referendum on Scottish independence. It was the right thing to do, and the question of Scotland’s place in the United Kingdom is now settled.’
The number of Scots MPs would be reduced by seven under proposed boundary changes that would see the UK total fall from 650 to 600. The manifesto also sets out plans for an English rate of income tax – once MSPs have been given the power to set rates and bands north of the Border.
Mr Murphy said: ‘The Tory manifesto is very clear. It is about blocking Scottish MPs from these Budget decisions, setting an English rate of income tax.
‘This is a brutal betrayal of Scotland and the Smith consensus. With a single sentence in the manifesto, the Tories have shown how little they understand Scotland and why Labour has to defeat them.’
But Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: ‘ This is complete and utter nonsense from Labour. Scottish MPs will still vote on the Budget. This is a desperation ploy from Scottish Labour after Jim Murphy got a smack down from his London colleagues yesterday. Nobody will be taken in by it.’
The SNP echoed Labour claims the Tories were plotting to exclude Scots MPs from key decisions. Deputy leader Stewart Hosie said: ‘The Tories’ plan to exclude Scottish MPs from key votes and issues which directly impact on Scotland demonstrate that as a party they remain deeply hostile to Scottish interests.’
‘Complete and utter nonsense from Labour’