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| Gordon Brown calls for Scottish politics 'reset' | Gordon Brown calls for Scottish politics 'reset' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown says politicians in Scotland must stop obsessing about constitutional change and focus on improving people's lives. | |
| The Labour MP is to give a speech in Glasgow later. | The Labour MP is to give a speech in Glasgow later. |
| He will challenge the SNP to explain how it will use the extra powers to be devolved to Scotland, outlined in the Smith Commission report. | He will challenge the SNP to explain how it will use the extra powers to be devolved to Scotland, outlined in the Smith Commission report. |
| Mr Brown told the BBC: "Scottish politics has got to reset and Labour is pressing the reset button." | Mr Brown told the BBC: "Scottish politics has got to reset and Labour is pressing the reset button." |
| The SNP said they would use the new powers "to govern in the best interests of the Scottish people". | The SNP said they would use the new powers "to govern in the best interests of the Scottish people". |
| Mr Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, is reportedly planning to stand down at the general election in May but it is understood he does not intend to comment about that yet. | Mr Brown, the MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, is reportedly planning to stand down at the general election in May but it is understood he does not intend to comment about that yet. |
| Instead he will focus on the powers over income tax and welfare which the three main UK parties have pledged will be devolved to Scotland after the general election. | Instead he will focus on the powers over income tax and welfare which the three main UK parties have pledged will be devolved to Scotland after the general election. |
| Mr Brown will argue that the Smith Commission means a future Westminster government would no longer be able to foist the "bedroom tax" or the poll tax on Scotland. | Mr Brown will argue that the Smith Commission means a future Westminster government would no longer be able to foist the "bedroom tax" or the poll tax on Scotland. |
| Urging the SNP to accept the result of the referendum, Mr Brown will outline five areas in which he says Scotland will benefit from a powerful Scottish Parliament within the UK: youth employment, the NHS, the wider economy, pensioners and "fairness". | Urging the SNP to accept the result of the referendum, Mr Brown will outline five areas in which he says Scotland will benefit from a powerful Scottish Parliament within the UK: youth employment, the NHS, the wider economy, pensioners and "fairness". |
| He will highlight Labour's plans for a "bankers tax", a "mansion tax" and an increase in the top rate of tax, to 50% for people earning more than £150,000 per year. | He will highlight Labour's plans for a "bankers tax", a "mansion tax" and an increase in the top rate of tax, to 50% for people earning more than £150,000 per year. |
| Mr Brown will make his speech in front of an audience of Labour councillors in Glasgow, where the party holds all seven seats at Westminster, six of them with majorities greater than 10,000. | Mr Brown will make his speech in front of an audience of Labour councillors in Glasgow, where the party holds all seven seats at Westminster, six of them with majorities greater than 10,000. |
| It is nonetheless expected to face an election challenge in the city from the SNP after Glaswegians bucked the national trend and voted "yes" in the independence referendum. | It is nonetheless expected to face an election challenge in the city from the SNP after Glaswegians bucked the national trend and voted "yes" in the independence referendum. |
| With that in mind, Mr Brown will insist that Labour is the only party which can tackle inequality while at the same time defending Scotland's place within the United Kingdom and maintaining the benefits which he says that union brings. | With that in mind, Mr Brown will insist that Labour is the only party which can tackle inequality while at the same time defending Scotland's place within the United Kingdom and maintaining the benefits which he says that union brings. |
| "The focus has got to move from the constitution to economic change," said Mr Brown. | "The focus has got to move from the constitution to economic change," said Mr Brown. |
| "It's not now what the parliament is, the question is what it can do." | "It's not now what the parliament is, the question is what it can do." |
| It's understood the former Labour leader will throw his weight behind the Smith Commission despite previously expressing grave concerns about the dangers of devolving control of income tax, including the ability to set rates and bands, to the Scottish Parliament. | It's understood the former Labour leader will throw his weight behind the Smith Commission despite previously expressing grave concerns about the dangers of devolving control of income tax, including the ability to set rates and bands, to the Scottish Parliament. |
| Two classes | Two classes |
| In the weeks after the people of Scotland rejected independence at the ballot box, Mr Brown warned that such a plan was a "Tory trap" which would lead to Scottish MPs being stripped of their voting rights at Westminster. | In the weeks after the people of Scotland rejected independence at the ballot box, Mr Brown warned that such a plan was a "Tory trap" which would lead to Scottish MPs being stripped of their voting rights at Westminster. |
| In an interview with the BBC on 30 September, he said "75% of it or so could be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the other 25% left to Westminster." | In an interview with the BBC on 30 September, he said "75% of it or so could be devolved to the Scottish Parliament and the other 25% left to Westminster." |
| Mr Brown said: "If we do it another way there will always be someone knocking at the door saying Scottish MPs should be taken out of voting on income tax at Westminster and then the budgets at Westminster will be distorted by having two classes of members of parliament voting them. | Mr Brown said: "If we do it another way there will always be someone knocking at the door saying Scottish MPs should be taken out of voting on income tax at Westminster and then the budgets at Westminster will be distorted by having two classes of members of parliament voting them. |
| "It is not in Scotland's interest." | "It is not in Scotland's interest." |
| Although the proposals in the Smith Commission go further on tax than Mr Brown wanted, Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said they still fell "far short of the 'modern form of Scottish home rule' promised by Mr Brown" during the referendum campaign. | Although the proposals in the Smith Commission go further on tax than Mr Brown wanted, Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney said they still fell "far short of the 'modern form of Scottish home rule' promised by Mr Brown" during the referendum campaign. |
| Mr Swinney added: "It's no surprise he now wants people to stop talking about further powers for the Scottish Parliament." | Mr Swinney added: "It's no surprise he now wants people to stop talking about further powers for the Scottish Parliament." |
| The SNP is keen to highlight comments from former Labour first minister Lord McConnell in the House of Lords on Thursday that the Smith Commission "may come to regret putting all the eggs in the income tax basket rather than looking at a spread of taxes". | The SNP is keen to highlight comments from former Labour first minister Lord McConnell in the House of Lords on Thursday that the Smith Commission "may come to regret putting all the eggs in the income tax basket rather than looking at a spread of taxes". |
| Mr Swinney, who is also the finance secretary in the Scottish government, said: "The SNP took part in the Smith Commission in good faith and we will always welcome new powers for Scotland. We have made crystal clear that we will use these powers to govern in the best interests of the Scottish people. | Mr Swinney, who is also the finance secretary in the Scottish government, said: "The SNP took part in the Smith Commission in good faith and we will always welcome new powers for Scotland. We have made crystal clear that we will use these powers to govern in the best interests of the Scottish people. |
| "But the Westminster parties have now gone as far as they ever will on further powers - and there is no escaping the fact that the Smith Commission proposals do not live up to the expectations of the people - or of civic Scotland. | "But the Westminster parties have now gone as far as they ever will on further powers - and there is no escaping the fact that the Smith Commission proposals do not live up to the expectations of the people - or of civic Scotland. |
| "Unfortunately, the proposals unveiled this week will see 70% of taxation remaining under Westminster control. It is impossible to deny this is a missed opportunity for Scotland." | "Unfortunately, the proposals unveiled this week will see 70% of taxation remaining under Westminster control. It is impossible to deny this is a missed opportunity for Scotland." |