Kennedy: UK parties should have united on plan earlier

THE main UK parties should have come together a year ago to agree joint proposals to hand Holyrood more powers, Charles Kennedy has said.

The former Lib Dem l e ader backed Gordon Brown’s four-month timetable to produce a new Scotland Bill if Scots vote No next week.

But he said the shortened process, announced on Monday and agreed by other parties the following day, should have been put together last year.

Speaking during a campaign walkabout in Glasgow’s West End, he said: “I very much welcome what Gordon has done. I wish it had been done a year ago, but we are where we are.”

Describing the timetable as “ambitious,” he added: “We have to stick with the WALKABOUT: Former LibDem leader Charles Kennedy. timetable. Give a year and we’ll take a year. It’s tight, but we have to stick to it.”

Labour, the Conservatives and the Lib Dems have each produced their own proposals for further devolution.

All three plans would give Holyrood greater control over income tax and devolve some powers over welfare, but there are significant differences between them.

The parties have agreed to iron out their differences before the end of the year in the event of a No vote.

Mr Kennedy said: “Everyone is going to have to compromise. This has to go beyond the parties if it is to command wi d e s p r e a d support and legitimacy.”

The former rector of Glasgow University was speaking as he campaigned in one of his favourite stomping grounds, Byres Road.

On a walkabout along the trendy thoroughfare, he popped into a cheesemongers, deli and cafe, chatting with shoppers and passersby. Reaching a No campaign street stall, he said: “It’s a pleasure to be out in the hallowed West End of Glasgow.”

He said it was “entirely appropriate” for MPs to put the positive case for the UK.

But he i nsi s t e d t he message people were really listening to came from big business and industry.