Constitution

The SNP is strongly committed to giving Scotland a choice on our future after the covid crisis. Tackling COVID to keep people in Scotland safe has been, and will remain, the top priority of an SNP Government. However, after the pandemic in Scotland is over, our great national mission – as it will be for…

Although SNP MPs have historically not voted on matters which only affect England and Wales, issues which may superficially appear to be “England-only” can often have very serious knock-on consequences for Scotland in terms of our public finances via the Barnett Formula. One example is decisions on NHS spending – the SNP’s 2015 manifesto stated…

Since the Scottish Parliament reconvened in 1999, decision making power is now split between MPs in London and MSPs in Edinburgh. Issues decided at Westminster are said to be ‘reserved’ while issues decided by the Scottish Parliament are ‘devolved’.A limited level of further devolution has taken place since 1999, following the Scotland Acts  2012 and…

The Scotland Act 2016 devolves the following powers to the Scottish Parliament: Powers to set rates and thresholds of Income Tax, and devolution of Air Passenger Duty. Some social security powers including disability and carers’ benefits, Winter Fuel Allowance. The power to create new benefits in devolved areas and to top-up reserved benefits. The power…