Brown: SNP have to wake up and smell the coffee on their opposition to the Scotland Bill (Orkney Liberal Democrats)

Orkney Liberal Democrats <katie@njcoward.co.uk>

Brown: SNP have to wake up and smell the coffee on their opposition to the Scotland Bill

December 6, 2010 5:26 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Commenting on continued SNP attacks on the Scotland Bill, Robert Brown, the Liberal Democrat Member of the Holyrood Committee set up to scrutinise the Bill, said:

"The SNP have to wake up and smell the coffee. Their pathetic attempts to scupper the Scotland Bill are getting more desperate by the day.

"Significant constitutional change has to be built on a broad consensus of Scottish public opinion, The Calman Commission and the Scotland Bill will give more powers to the Scottish Parliament on a stable basis which also reinforces the unity of the United Kingdom. This position is backed by 80% of Scottish voters and by the three main Parties.

"We must remember that the SNP want independence, splitting Scotland off from the rest of the United Kingdom - a view supported by fewer people than ever before. The trouble for the SNP is that their case was holed below the waterline by the banking crisis and the troubles faced by independent Ireland, so often held up by them as a model.

"The proposals in the Scotland Bill do represent 'Calman Plus'. The borrowing powers in the Bill are more generous than Calman envisaged, and power over council tax benefit is to be devolved to Holyrood, which was not in the Calman Commission.

"The Scotland Bill is the way forward. Liberal Democrats in Government are implementing proposals supported by the vast majority of people in Scotland. We are also setting in place a robust framework for the future.

"It seems clear that the SNP are not prepared to back the increased powers for the Scottish Parliament in the Scotland Bill. This is something on which they have form."