Brown pushes for powers

Gordon Brown has called for 100,000 Scots to sign a petition demanding that Westminster keeps its vow on further powers for the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Brown has also outlined a “14-point practical plan for new powers”, which include more control over investment, job creation, welfare, transport, elections and taxation.

He has called for the transfer of up to £4billion of VAT revenues to the Scottish Parliament alongside devolving the majority but not all of income tax.

Thi s would av o i d falling into what he described as “the Tory trap that would end income tax as a shared tax and threaten to reduce the rights of Scottish representatives at Westminster on budget tax decisions”.

The former prime minister was instrumental in establishing a timetable for more devolution and in the signing of “the vow” by DavidCameron, NickClegg and Ed Miliband, just days before Scotland voted to reject independence in the referendum.

The vow pledged swift “extensive new powers” for Scotland under a No vote but the prime minister’s post-referendum plans to restrict Scottish MPs from voting on English matters led to fears that their delivery will be stalled. AHighland MSP has urged conspiracy theorists who believe the independence referendum vote was rigged to accept the result and move on.

Na t i o n a l i s t Da v e Thompson, whorepresents Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said the challenge now was to ensure Westminster parties kept their promises on more devolution of power to Holyrood.

He claimed the No campaign victory would be “won on a lie” if the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal

Gordon Brown