Starmer blasts Sturgeon on plans for ‘Indyref election’
FM’S poll bid makes no sense, Labour leader claims
NICOLA Sturgeon’s plan to turn the next General Election into a “de facto” referendum on independence defies common sense, Sir Keir Starmer insisted, as former prime minister Gordon Brown set out radical proposals to expand the powers of Holyrood.
The Labour leader said he rejected attempts to “re-frame” the election as anything other than a contest between Labour and the Conservatives, saying that no party leader could reduce the vote to a “completely different constitutional question”.
Sir Keir was speaking in
Edinburgh after joining Mr Brown and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to discuss the former prime minister’s long-awaited plans for constitutional reform.
The former Labour prime minister labelled the blueprint as “the biggest transfer of power out of Westminster and Whitehall” that “our country has seen”.
Under the plans, Holyrood would gain powers to join some international schemes, such as Erasmus, while control over job centres would be localised.
It also advocates for more devolution within Scotland, including elected mayors.
Failing to reform the centre of the UK was the “missing element” of Labour’s devolution plans, Mr
Brown said, something his new report seeks to address.
Asked about Ms Sturgeon’s plans for a de facto referendum yesterday, Sir Keir insisted: “It is a General Election between ‘carry on with the Conservative government’ or’ change it to a Labour government’. No amount of discussion by other people is going to change the terms of a General Election.
“That is what a General Election is about: what government do you want to lead on the economy, on international matters, or security, on defence on conflict in Ukraine, on the health service, or the cost of living, the energy crisis?
“These are not issues that can be reduced by somebody else into a completely different constitutional question. That is what a General Election is about – all those issues.
“And the idea that all of that is as naught, nobody is interested in those questions, we’re arguing about something that Nicola Sturgeon defines in that way, is just to stand in the way of common sense of what a General Election is about.”
A spokesperson for the First Minister said Labour’s position was “utterly hypocritical”.
They added: “They will claim a mandate for their constitutional proposals regardless of whether or not voters in Scotland endorse them, and yet they will simultaneously stand shoulder to shoulder with the Tories in blocking the cast-iron democratic mandate which exists for an independence referendum.”
Sir Keir was asked what he would do if he were prime minister and pro-independence parties achieved more than 50 per cent of the vote in Scotland.
He said: “I know there are lots of attempts to re-frame the next General Election, but a General Election is a General Election across the whole of the United Kingdom about what government do you want in Westminster.”
He said the contest between a Labour or Tory government was “the central most important question that will be before the country”.
Launching the report yesterday, Mr Brown said: “In 2014 I heard so many people saying ‘I’m voting for independence because I don’t think there’s any other alternative to change Scotland or to change Britain’.
“Now we have an alternative, now we have a set of proposals that are groundbreaking, that can actually show we can make a difference.”
SNP ministers would have borrowing limits raised while extra protections would be rolled out to ensure the UK Government does not undermine devolution, under radical plans unveiled by Labour.
Gordon Brown has finally published his devolution blueprint for the United Kingdom as part of Labour’s commission on the UK’S future.
Under the plans, Holyrood would gain powers to join some international schemes such as Erasmus while control over job centres would be localised.
It also advocates for devolution within Scotland such as elected mayors and pushing more powers to councils.
Failing to reform the centre of the UK was the “missing element” of Labour’s devolution plans, Mr Brown said.
The Uk-wide proposals radically shift power out of Westminster and into the regions of England.
Plans to abolish the House of Lords and replace it with a democraticallyelected assembly of nations and regions were announced by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in July.
For Scotland, a Labour UK government would strengthen protections over UK legislation in devolved areas, such as the controversial Internal Market Act – by rolling out further safeguards for the Sewel convention, which dictates Prime Ministers should not act in devolved areas without consent form the nations.
The document states that the assembly of regions and nations, while losing the Lords’ power to hold up legislation, would be able to enforce the Sewel convention being “one of the protected constitutional laws which require the consent not just of the House of Commons but of the reformed second chamber also”.
It adds: “This entrenches the convention as part of the UK’S territorial constitution.
“It will succeed where the present legislation has failed in ensuring that the powers of the devolved legislatures cannot simply be overridden by the Government of the day.”
Sir Keir denied it would give Holyrood a veto over UK legislation.
He said: “The report is quite careful about what it says about the Sewel convention.
“What we want to ensure is that the constitutional arrangements and the arrangements of devolution are properly respected.
“I don’t think they have been properly respected in recent years.
“This is a recommendation that allows us to give the respect that is due to those instruments and conventions including the Sewel convention.”
The plans set out a consultation being launched on expanding the limited borrowing powers of the Scottish Government after criticism the set-up is not fit for purpose following the pandemic.
Mr Brown said how much the powers are extended by would be “a matter for the new chancellor in the event of a Labour government”.
He added: “Obviously you’ve got to look at the UK position and you’ve got to look at the Scottish position – you’ve got to look at them both at the same time.
“One of the first acts of a Labour government will be to discuss these issues.”
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy has argued that no change is needed to Scotland’s devolution agreement.
He said: “The present settlement strikes a good balance and people in Scotland want their two governments to work together, especially when there are much more pressing issues to be focusing on, such as the global cost-ofliving crisis and our struggling public services.
“While Labour try to meet Nicola Sturgeon half way on the question of independence, only the Scottish Conservatives are standing up to the SNP and building a real alternative, focused on people’s real priorities.”
Scottish Greens’ co-leader, Patrick Harvie, claimed “Labour is more concerned with making sure real power stays in Westminster, regardless of how people in Scotland vote”.
He added: “The report does not live up to the urgency of the situation we are in or offer the bold and transformative change that is needed.”
SNP depute leader Keith Brown criticised Labour for the plans.
He said: “Ironically, a report which claims to be about strengthening devolution in many cases actually looks set to undermine it.
“The fact is, Labour are now a pro-brexit party with a pro-brexit leader. They are completely at one with the Tories when it comes to ignoring Scotland’s vote to remain in the EU, and ignoring the democratic will of the people of Scotland to determine their own future – and nothing in these proposals changes that.”
I don’t think they (devolved powers) have been properly respected in recent years