Tory ‘U-turn’ on devolution

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson yesterday announced greater controls, which could include further tax-raising powers, will be included in the UK Tory manifesto for the 2015 general election.

A party commission will be set up and report back with specific proposals for increasing Holyrood’s power in a move Ms Davidson said would help Scottish politics “grow up” and become more responsible for both taxation and spending.

In 1997, the Tories opposed devolution, then were lukewarm until taking part in the Calman Commission that led to the recent Scotland Bill at Westminster, which handed over a range of new powers.

When she took over as Tory leader 18 months ago, Ms Davidson insisted devolution should go no further.

But yesterday she was accused by the SNP of performing a massive U-turn by pushing for more powers for Holyrood.

Ms Davidson said a new group of experts and Tory MSPs will consider how far devolution should move next, in a strategy to head off independence in 2014.

In her speech, she conceded that hindsight shows her party was wrong to oppose devolution in 1997.

She also said she discussed her plan with Mr Cameron.

Any pledges will be in place before September 18 next year, when the ballot will be staged. Ms Davidson said: “When this work is done, the people of Scotland will be able to compare our proposals for a strong devolved nation within the United Kingdom with the SNP’s plans for a Scotland separated from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.”

The proposals will form part of the UK Tory manifesto for the 2015 general election and the 2016 Scottish election, assuming a No vote in the referendum in September next year.

But SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing said: “The only reason Ruth Davidson and others in the anti-independence parties are grudgingly talking about more powers for the Scottish Parliament is because we are going to have an independence referendum next year to achieve these very powers and more.”