‘Scots will get more devolved powers when I’m PM’ says Sir Keir
LABOUR leader Sir Keir Starmer wants more devolved powers for Holyrood “quickly” if he becomes Prime Minister.
Sir Keir has asked former prime minister Gordon Brown to recommend improvements to devolution across the United Kingdom to counter nationalist support for independence.
Speaking to the Daily Record, Sir Keir said giving the Scottish Parliament more powers would be an early priority for him, were he to become Prime Minister.
With Labour consistently polling ahead of the Conservatives, who are embroiled in sleaze scandals and the so-called partygate affair, Sir Keir has accused Boris Johnson’s Government of being “paralysed”.
Reflecting on his visit to Glasgow’s Forge Market on Friday, the Labour leader said: “We’ve been in the market, we’ve been walking around the streets.
“Every single person who has come up to me has said ‘you’ve got to get Johnson out’. Every single person.
“People recognise that we are now in a position to form a Labour government.”
Asked about his priorities, he argued that the Scottish and UK governments are not doing enough to tackle the energy crisis and the soaring cost of living.
Sir Keir said: “I feel strongly that both Governments are looking the wrong way.
“Nicola Sturgeon is saying it’s the Referendum Bill that matters (but) it should be the energy bill that matters. Johnson is spending his whole time defending himself against allegations of his own making.”
Sir Keir also said he wants to make a positive case for the Union, including reforming political institutions around the UK based on Mr Brown’s report.
He added: “Obviously there is a red line, which is we want to hold the Union together. That’s very important.
“But otherwise I am openminded as to how we make the positive case for the Union.”
Asked whether he sees early implementation of the extra powers plan as an early priority for a Labour government, he said: “Yes, I do. I think it’s very important to settle that issue.”
Sir Keir said: “We need change without a referendum, but we need change quickly.”