This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/6079026.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| McConnell warning on extra powers | McConnell warning on extra powers |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| First Minister Jack McConnell has warned that Holyrood will "subside into inertia" if MSPs continue to obsess about gaining new powers. | First Minister Jack McConnell has warned that Holyrood will "subside into inertia" if MSPs continue to obsess about gaining new powers. |
| His comments came ahead of a lecture on Tuesday where he defended the current devolved settlement. | |
| However, two leading economists have argued that the Scottish Parliament must gain more control over tax. | However, two leading economists have argued that the Scottish Parliament must gain more control over tax. |
| And his comments were criticised by the SNP and the Conservatives, who said he was burying his head in the sand. | And his comments were criticised by the SNP and the Conservatives, who said he was burying his head in the sand. |
| In an interview with BBC Scotland ahead of the lecture, Mr McConnell dismissed calls for more tax-varying powers as a "fad". | In an interview with BBC Scotland ahead of the lecture, Mr McConnell dismissed calls for more tax-varying powers as a "fad". |
| To abandon devolution here in Scotland after just seven or eight years... would be to demonstrate quite shocking irresponsibility Jack McConnell First Minister | To abandon devolution here in Scotland after just seven or eight years... would be to demonstrate quite shocking irresponsibility Jack McConnell First Minister |
| "My job as first minister and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland is to say what's right, and not necessarily is the current fad," he said. | "My job as first minister and leader of the Labour Party in Scotland is to say what's right, and not necessarily is the current fad," he said. |
| "I think that in Scotland today we can see the benefits of devolution, of home rule. | "I think that in Scotland today we can see the benefits of devolution, of home rule. |
| "But we also know that in Scotland, we get a union dividend from our close working relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom." | "But we also know that in Scotland, we get a union dividend from our close working relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom." |
| Giving the annual JP Mackintosh lecture in Haddington, East Lothian, the first minister said the Scottish Parliament now had "a whole welter of powers" at its disposal. | Giving the annual JP Mackintosh lecture in Haddington, East Lothian, the first minister said the Scottish Parliament now had "a whole welter of powers" at its disposal. |
| "It can't be other than sensible for us to make the fullest possible use of those powers before demanding lots more," he argued. | "It can't be other than sensible for us to make the fullest possible use of those powers before demanding lots more," he argued. |
| "For if such demands become a persistent feature of Scottish politics, and there are those who want this to be so, then we'll sink all too quickly into a collective - and wholly self-imposed - inertia." | "For if such demands become a persistent feature of Scottish politics, and there are those who want this to be so, then we'll sink all too quickly into a collective - and wholly self-imposed - inertia." |
| 'Running scared' | 'Running scared' |
| He said Scotland was seven years into "a great enterprise, a great venture". | He said Scotland was seven years into "a great enterprise, a great venture". |
| "To abandon devolution here in Scotland after just seven or eight years - to declare the game a bogey and to take ourselves off in a huff - would be to demonstrate quite shocking irresponsibility," said Mr McConnell. | "To abandon devolution here in Scotland after just seven or eight years - to declare the game a bogey and to take ourselves off in a huff - would be to demonstrate quite shocking irresponsibility," said Mr McConnell. |
| SNP leader Alex Salmond said Labour was running scared of a debate on independence. | SNP leader Alex Salmond said Labour was running scared of a debate on independence. |
| Jack McConnell is acting like a political ostrich, with his head buried in the sand Annabel GoldieConservative leader | Jack McConnell is acting like a political ostrich, with his head buried in the sand Annabel GoldieConservative leader |
| "They are the wee fearties of Scottish politics," he claimed. | "They are the wee fearties of Scottish politics," he claimed. |
| "Their unionism is backward-looking and inward-looking. | "Their unionism is backward-looking and inward-looking. |
| "Labour want Scots to believe the incredible proposition that we are the only country in the world that isn't capable of flourishing with independence." | "Labour want Scots to believe the incredible proposition that we are the only country in the world that isn't capable of flourishing with independence." |
| Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "Jack McConnell is acting like a political ostrich, with his head buried in the sand. | Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said: "Jack McConnell is acting like a political ostrich, with his head buried in the sand. |
| "Scotland urgently needs fresh thinking and new ideas. | "Scotland urgently needs fresh thinking and new ideas. |
| "We do not close our minds to new powers but argue that there should be a mature and reasoned debate about the way forward." | "We do not close our minds to new powers but argue that there should be a mature and reasoned debate about the way forward." |
| Last week a think-tank set up by the Conservatives called for Holyrood to be handed greater powers on tax-varying. | Last week a think-tank set up by the Conservatives called for Holyrood to be handed greater powers on tax-varying. |
| Control spending | Control spending |
| The case for more tax-varying powers was made on Tuesday by Glasgow University economist, Professor Ronald MacDonald and an American colleague, Professor Paul Hallwood, of the University of Connecticut. | The case for more tax-varying powers was made on Tuesday by Glasgow University economist, Professor Ronald MacDonald and an American colleague, Professor Paul Hallwood, of the University of Connecticut. |
| They said that, under the current block grant from Westminster, Holyrood had no incentive to grow the economy or control spending. | They said that, under the current block grant from Westminster, Holyrood had no incentive to grow the economy or control spending. |
| Their report, in the Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly Economic Commentary, restates their case for more powers after an earlier paper this year came in for criticism. | Their report, in the Fraser of Allander Institute Quarterly Economic Commentary, restates their case for more powers after an earlier paper this year came in for criticism. |
| A commission has recommended to the Lib Dems that Holyrood be responsible for raising the money it spends. | A commission has recommended to the Lib Dems that Holyrood be responsible for raising the money it spends. |
| Former Holyrood Presiding Officer Lord Steel said that a commission under his chairmanship had recommended to the Lib Dems that Holyrood be responsible for raising the money it spends. | Former Holyrood Presiding Officer Lord Steel said that a commission under his chairmanship had recommended to the Lib Dems that Holyrood be responsible for raising the money it spends. |
| He said: "We were greatly influenced by the experience of Ireland in boosting their economy with taxation policies markedly different from those of Westminster." | He said: "We were greatly influenced by the experience of Ireland in boosting their economy with taxation policies markedly different from those of Westminster." |