Reaction Smith Commission

1 reaction

1.1 before publication
1.2 after publication
1.3 after 2015 uk general election

reaction
before publication

in october 2014 house of commons political , constitutional reform committee heard evidence critical of timetable set smith commission. professor michael keating said believed condensed timetable, called draft legislation january 2015, unrealistic. warned of risk agreement unravel because there insufficient time consider technical issues. both professor keating , professor nicola mcewen said due political pressures, unionist party leaders having vowed grant additional powers , united kingdom general election due held on 7th may 2015.

the scottish socialist party not invited part of smith commission, leaving them 1 of 6 political parties had registered electoral commission referendum campaign not able send representative.

after publication

nicola sturgeon, scotland’s first minister, commented welcome being recommended argued doesn’t deliver modern form of home rule . claiming little power devolved scotland, added want have power in our hands create better system lift people out of poverty, our economy growing. that’s kind of powerhouse parliament want. sadly it’s not 1 that’s going delivered. iain macwhirter, writing in herald, argued lack of devolution of taxes other income tax lock scotland in economic decline . polling in november 2014 indicated majority of scots wanted greater devolution recommended smith commission.

after 2015 uk general election

the snp won 56 of 59 seats contested in scotland in 2015 uk general election, held on 7 may 2015. speaking after election, first minister nicola sturgeon called reforms greater proposed smith, particularly in respect of taxation , welfare. former first minister jack mcconnell described smith shambles , called on cameron lead new constitutional convention. malcolm rifkind, former secretary of state scotland, expressed support idea of sort of new commission. in response, cameron said @ proposals further powers scotland wanted smith commission plans implemented first.