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MSPs back call for greater powers MSPs back call for greater powers
(9 minutes later)
MSPs have voted to push for greater powers for Holyrood before the next general election.MSPs have voted to push for greater powers for Holyrood before the next general election.
The Scottish government won the backing of the Liberal Democrats and called for early adoption of powers "where there is consensus".The Scottish government won the backing of the Liberal Democrats and called for early adoption of powers "where there is consensus".
SNP ministers want control over airgun laws and drink-driving limits, areas covered by the Calman Commission.SNP ministers want control over airgun laws and drink-driving limits, areas covered by the Calman Commission.
The Tories said they would ditch the plans if they won the general election next year. Labour accused the SNP of "cherry-picking" the proposals and trying to achieve independence by stealth.
Labour accused the SNP of trying to achieve independence by stealth. The Tories said they would introduce their own white paper at Westminster if they were to win power at the general election.
The extra powers were recommended in the Calman Commission report which also revealed Labour's plans for a new Scotland Bill to deal with issues such as borrowing powers and control over some taxes. The extra powers were recommended in the Calman Commission report, which also revealed Labour's plans for a new Scotland Bill to deal with issues such as borrowing powers and control over some taxes.
The new external affairs minister, Fiona Hyslop, said: "The Scottish Parliament has spoken and it is urging the Labour government at Westminster to implement the Calman recommendations and devolve responsibility across a range of key powers before the general election, including drink-driving and speed limits, airguns and administration for Holyrood elections."The new external affairs minister, Fiona Hyslop, said: "The Scottish Parliament has spoken and it is urging the Labour government at Westminster to implement the Calman recommendations and devolve responsibility across a range of key powers before the general election, including drink-driving and speed limits, airguns and administration for Holyrood elections."
But Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said of the SNP: "They would cherry-pick the Calman proposals on anything which progressed their view that Scotland should be independent. It is dressed up as a consensual approach."But Labour MSP Pauline McNeill said of the SNP: "They would cherry-pick the Calman proposals on anything which progressed their view that Scotland should be independent. It is dressed up as a consensual approach."
The Liberal Democrats, who supported the SNP in the vote, said there was now fresh pressure on the UK government to move forward on giving the Scottish Parliament more powers.The Liberal Democrats, who supported the SNP in the vote, said there was now fresh pressure on the UK government to move forward on giving the Scottish Parliament more powers.
The party's chief whip Mike Rumbles said:"The Labour and Tory parties will have to explain to voters at the next election why they are so determined to stand in the way of real change for Scotland."The party's chief whip Mike Rumbles said:"The Labour and Tory parties will have to explain to voters at the next election why they are so determined to stand in the way of real change for Scotland."
But the Tories said they would ditch the plans and come up with their own proposals if they won the general election, which must be held by June next year.