PM under fire over Queen's Speech

Commenting on the publication of a Written Ministerial Statement by Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy on application of the Queen’s Speech, which makes no reference to implementing the Calman proposals, SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson MP questioned the UK Government’s commitment to delivering more responsibilities for the Scottish Parliament.

The absence of any reference in the Scotland Office statement follows the failure of the Prime Minister to even mention the Calman proposals in his 32 minute address to parliament yesterday, after it earlier emerged references to the Calman Commission in the Queen’s Speech were missing from the version published on the Downing Street website, suggesting it was an afterthought.

Mr Robertson said:

“It looks increasingly like Labour have conned people over their commitment to implementing the Calman proposals. 

“First the recommendations were only added to the Queen’s Speech as an afterthought, then they were ignored by Gordon Brown, and now Jim Murphy has airbrushed them from the legislative programme for Scotland.

“Instead of commitments on Calman, Jim Murphy is focussed on cross border reservoir safety – despite the fact there are no cross-border reservoirs!

“The Scottish Government has already prepared the necessary legislation, and these powers could be transferred immediately for the good of Scotland - there is no reason for delay.

“The Calman Commission backs these powers, the opposition parties back these powers, the Scottish Government backs transferring these powers – it seems the only people holding Scotland back are Gordon Brown and Jim Murphy.

“Anything less than a full commitment to transfer powers to Scotland ahead of the general election will expose the Calman Commission as a nothing more than a pointless talking shop – and Jim Murphy as the man responsible for the ‘Calman con’.”

Note:

1.         A copy of The Scotland Office Written Statement is attached.

2.      Interviewed on BBC Newsnight Scotland on 15th June 2009, Sir Kenneth Calman himself said of his report: “I think there are lots of bits, as I mentioned, which I think can be implemented quickly and easily without too much fuss, others will take a bit of time to think through”.

3.      In the Times yesterday the UK Labour Government suggested any moves to transfer powers would be put back until after the General Election http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6919355.ece

4.      In an interview in July a source close to David Cameron said: “You could see a set of powers agreed but I don’t see the powers being enacted and in use at the Scottish parliament certainly within its next parliamentary term which takes it to 2015.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article6689936.ece

5. I his statement, and in the Scotland Office Queen’s Speech briefing, Mr Murphy makes reference to cross-border reservoir safety issues – while acknowledging that this is a purely precautionary measure as there are currently no such reservoirs.