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Scotland's referendum: What are the 'no' parties offering instead of independence? | Scotland's referendum: What are the 'no' parties offering instead of independence? |
(2 months later) | |
The Scottish National Party is clear about what it wants to see happen to Scotland in the future, but what of the pro-Union parties which are part of the Better Together campaign? | |
Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have all said they favour more devolution for Scotland. | |
But what exactly do they support, and what have they said so far? | |
In early 2012, Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont set up a commission to look at further devolution for the Scottish Parliament. | |
The commission reported back in March 2014, with recommendations centred on more tax varying powers and control over some elements of welfare and benefits policy. | |
Under the proposals MSPs would be able to vary tax by up to 15p, giving them the option of restoring the 50p rate for top earners. But there would be no power to cut the upper income tax rate, which currently sits at 45p. | |
This goes further than the Scotland Act 2012, which will give Holyrood the power to vary income tax by 10p from 2016, regardless of the outcome of the independence referendum. | |
Elsewhere, the commission proposed that housing benefit should be devolved to Holyrood, as well as the attendance allowance - paid to disabled over-65s - and the work programme, which manages services for the unemployed. | |
Powers over housing benefit would allow MSPs to scrap the UK government's controversial under occupancy charge - called the "bedroom tax" by opponents. | |
Under the proposals all other pensions and benefits would stay at Westminster, and there would be no powers for Holyrood over corporation tax, national insurance, VAT, capital gains tax or air passenger duty. | |
Launching the plans, Ms Lamont said: "This is an important piece of work which we hope will answer people's desire to have a stronger, more accountable Scottish Parliament." | |
In March 2013, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson set up a commission, headed by Lord Strathclyde, the former leader of the House of Lords, to look at further devolution. | |
During her leadership campaign in 2011 Ms Davidson had described the current devolution settlement as "a line in the sand", but this stance changed when she announced the commission, saying her party was "committed to a new path; more responsibility for the Scottish Parliament and a strengthening of devolution". | |
The commission will report later this year - before the referendum - but there have already been strong hints that, like Labour's, it will recommend further tax powers for Holyrood. | |
During a speech at the Scottish Conservatives conference in March 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron said a "No" vote in the referendum "can mean further devolution". | |
He added: "Giving the Scottish Parliament greater responsibility for raising more of the money it spends - that's what Ruth believes, and I believe it too." | |
The Liberal Democrats have long been proponents of home rule for Scotland within a federal Britain. | The Liberal Democrats have long been proponents of home rule for Scotland within a federal Britain. |
They set out their most recent plans in October 2012 with a report titled Federalism - the best future for Scotland, written by a constitutional commission chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who has called the current arrangements "unsustainable". | They set out their most recent plans in October 2012 with a report titled Federalism - the best future for Scotland, written by a constitutional commission chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who has called the current arrangements "unsustainable". |
As well as delivering home rule for Scotland - a system where the vast majority of domestic policy would be decided and managed by the Scottish Parliament - the report advocated significant devolution from Westminster for other parts of the UK, including England. | As well as delivering home rule for Scotland - a system where the vast majority of domestic policy would be decided and managed by the Scottish Parliament - the report advocated significant devolution from Westminster for other parts of the UK, including England. |
The report argued for "fiscal federalism", where Scotland would raise and spend most of its own taxes and borrow on its own terms. The Barnett Formula would be scrapped and replaced with a new "needs-based" arrangement reflecting the fiscal changes. | The report argued for "fiscal federalism", where Scotland would raise and spend most of its own taxes and borrow on its own terms. The Barnett Formula would be scrapped and replaced with a new "needs-based" arrangement reflecting the fiscal changes. |
Oil would continue to be managed at a UK level, as would welfare and pensions, defence and foreign affairs. | Oil would continue to be managed at a UK level, as would welfare and pensions, defence and foreign affairs. |
Under the plans, the Act of Union between Scotland and England would be scrapped and replaced with a declaration of federalism. | Under the plans, the Act of Union between Scotland and England would be scrapped and replaced with a declaration of federalism. |
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "With a consensus on more powers emerging the momentum is now behind our party's approach on new powers that should be delivered when Scotland opts to stay in the UK." | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: "With a consensus on more powers emerging the momentum is now behind our party's approach on new powers that should be delivered when Scotland opts to stay in the UK." |