Greens, SNP and Plaid Cymru invited to take part in TV debates: Politics live blog
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Version 0 of 1. 6.46pm GMT18:46 Summary That’s all from me for today. Thanks for all the comments. It’s been a blast. 6.09pm GMT18:09 Here is the Guardian’s full obituary of Lord Brittan of Spennithorne. 6.00pm GMT18:00 The Guardian’s broadcasting correspondent John Plunkett has been reporting on the TV debates developments. You can follow him on Twitter here. Adam Boulton, the Sky News presenter who chaired the broadcaster’s 2010 leader debate, said the prime minister had made “two gains” in the proposals but Nick Clegg had lost out. “If this is true … he has got the Greens included, and you shouldn’t overlook that, and the notion of parity between the two big parties and the Lib Dems has been abandoned, because there was going to be a three-way debate [between Cameron, Miliband and Clegg],” said Boulton. “That is a further blow for the Lib Dems.” Boulton, who was speaking in a personal capacity and is not involved in the current round of negotiations, added: “What he specifically didn’t ask for was the inclusion of the nationalist parties, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. “If they are going to launch further objections, it would probably be if you are including Plaid Cymru why can’t we have the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Fein and you end up with a debate which clearly would be completely ungainly.” Boulton said it would have been difficult for the BBC and ITV to include the Greens but not other parties because “it is perfectly likely the SNP will have more MPs than the Greens or Ukip, and certainly possible that Plaid Cymru could have more than the Greens”. 5.53pm GMT17:53 So, to recap, new TV debates proposals from the BBC and ITV include the leaders of the Green party, the SNP and Plaid Cymru. The DUP wants in too. And, apparently, so does George Galloway – the Respect party’s only MP. Leaders Debates; Oi...What about me? Updated at 7.01pm GMT 5.42pm GMT17:42 Nick Clegg has followed suit and released a statement on Leon Brittan’s death. According to a 2010 article by former Guardian journalist Allegra Stratton (now Newsnight’s political editor), Brittan is thought to have been the first to spot the deputy prime minister’s political potential when the then EU commissioner gave Clegg a job in Brussels almost twenty years ago. In 2010 the coalition returned the favour when it appointed the Brittan (then 70-years-old) as a full-time, paid trade adviser. The deputy prime minister’s statement reads: Leon was one of the most intelligent figures in modern British public life. When I worked for Leon in Brussels almost twenty years ago, his forensic understanding of detailed issues combined with his passionate belief in internationalism was evident to everyone. His courage in sticking up for his pro-European views, despite huge pressure to the contrary, never wavered. His intellectual curiosity about politics; the arts; history; and literature was encyclopedic. Even as illness affected him badly in recent years, he kept up his lifelong habit of reading a constant flow of books on a huge range of subjects. My heart goes out to Diana Brittan and Leon’s family at this very sad time. Updated at 5.51pm GMT 5.08pm GMT17:08 The SNP’s Westminster leader, Angus Robertson, has commented on reports that his party leader Nicola Sturgeon – along with Green party and Plaid Cymru leaders – will be included in televised election leaders debates: If it is true that SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon will be included in UK-wide debates under the broadcasters’ new proposals, it represents very welcome progress. With a larger membership than the Lib Dems and Ukip combined, and more elected MPs than Ukip, the case for including the SNP in the televised debates is unanswerable. A recent YouGov poll shows that most people across the UK support Nicola Sturgeon being included in the televised leaders debates. We want these debates to happen, and they need to include the SNP so that the diversity of politics and our democracy across the UK is reflected. With polls indicating strong SNP support, and the possibility of holding the balance of power at Westminster, it is only fair that people north and south of the border have the opportunity to hear what the SNP have to say about reversing austerity, cancelling Trident, and achieving new powers for Scotland The inclusion of the SNP, Plaid and the Greens with Nicola Sturgeon, Leanne Wood and Natalie Bennett will also rightly show that politics beyond Westminster isn’t just an old boys club. Updated at 5.22pm GMT 4.48pm GMT16:48 Lots of people saw this coming... The leader of Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist party (DUP), Peter Robinson, has tweeted saying he will be writing to the BBC and ITV to ask why his party isn’t included in their proposed debate format. I will be writing to BBC and ITV to identify why the DUP is not included in new debate format. More seats than Plaid, SNP & Greens. Updated at 5.23pm GMT 4.38pm GMT16:38 It’s that time of the week again. Here’s the Guardian’s Politics Weekly podcast. This week, Toby Helm, Rowena Mason, Randeep Ramesh and James Mackenzie join Tom Clark to discuss the surge in popularity of the Green party; the political battle over the NHS; and the latest delay to the Chilcot report into the Iraq war. 4.29pm GMT16:29 Here is the prime minister’s statement on the death of Leon Brittan – Leon Brittan was a dedicated and fiercely intelligent public servant. As a central figure in Margaret Thatcher’s government, he helped her transform our country for the better by giving distinguished service as chief secretary to the treasury, home secretary and secretary of state for trade and industry. He went on to play a leading role at the European Commission where he did so much to promote free trade in Europe and across the world. More recently, he made an active contribution to the House of Lords. My thoughts are with Leon’s family and friends at this sad time for them. 4.01pm GMT16:01 Twitter is responding to the news that there may be a seven-way TV election debate in classic fashion. Reckon that the set they've booked for the TV Election Debates is looking great. #GE2015 #GreenSurge #election2015 pic.twitter.com/HEy3yLOeWF They should invite ALL election candidates to the TV debates. Do them in stages, who goes to next round decided by phone in vote. @AlbertoNardelli what like Swedish election debates? pic.twitter.com/pNdjvgzEXX Really hope that Anne Robinson accepts the invitation to come back for the special edition of the Weakest Line with 7 party leaders. We're basically just talking about having debates for the sake of it now, aren't we. Whether it enhances the process totally irrelevant. Updated at 4.16pm GMT 3.51pm GMT15:51 Simon Danczuk, the Labour MP for Rochdale who first named Brittan in the house of commons as being accused of failing to properly investigate child abuse allegations, has commented on the former home secretary’s death: Firstly, I’d like to offer my condolences to Sir Leon’s family for their personal loss. However, Lord Brittan’s untimely death is also a loss to the inquiry that the home secretary ordered into establishment child abuse. Only this morning we were debating the lack of progress in the inquiry and Sir Leon is someone who should have faced questions and been compelled to give evidence to the inquiry over his role as home secretary in the 1980s when a dossier containing allegations of establishment child abuse was handed to him. If we’re going to get to the truth of what happened then Theresa May needs to start making progress. A lot of the people who need to give evidence are in advanced years and we’re running out of time. Updated at 4.16pm GMT 3.36pm GMT15:36 The Greens, SNP and Plaid invited to take part in TV debates The Radio Times has learned that the BBC and ITV will present revised television debates plans to politicians this afternoon. They will reportedly offer to hold identical debates featuring seven political parties, including the Green party, the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru. The debate organised jointly by Channel 4 and Sky News will be a straight head-to-head between David Cameron and Ed Miliband. Updated at 5.25pm GMT 3.27pm GMT15:27 William Hague has made a statement to parliament about the death of Leon Brittan, describing him as a kind, assiduous and brilliant man. I hope it’s appropriate for me to inform the House that while we’ve been having this debate news has emerged that Lord Brittan of Spennithorne, Leon Brittan, has passed away and many of us who have known him a long time know that he has been ill for many months but it is a sad moment to receive this news. He was, as the House will understand, my predecessor as Member of Parliament for Richmond in Yorkshire, which is why I particularly want to pay tribute to him as a former member of this house and former Home Secretary and he was a kind, assiduous and brilliant man and I know the whole House will join me in sending our deepest condolences to his wife Diana at this difficult time. Former chancellor Norman Lamont has been talking to Sky News: He and I were friends for over 50 years, I knew him first when I was a student, he was by far and away the most brilliant of his generation - always destined to a glittering career. But he was not just a very clever man, he was a very kind man, a shy man, a good man, and I am very, very sad to hear the news of his death. He has been very ill for quite some months, and he was extremely brave and stoical during his illness. 3.13pm GMT15:13 Backbench MPs from most of the major political parties have proposed a motion that would force a vote on a moratorium on fracking in the UK. The infrastructure bill, which will be voted on by MPs on Monday, includes measures to pave the way for fracking. A motion backed by MPs from the Labour party, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green party would, if passed, introduce a moratorium on fracking for up to two and a half years while the risks are assessed. Meanwhile, Labour has tabled an amendment to prevent fracking in the UK unless 13 outstanding loopholes in the regulation are closed. According to the party, the necessary conditions for fracking include conducting an environmental impact assessment and monitoring the site over a 12 month period. Shadow secretary of state for energy and climate change Caroline Flint accused David Cameron of repeatedly ignoring people’s “genuine and legitimate environmental concerns over shale gas.” Updated at 5.25pm GMT 2.48pm GMT14:48 Former home secretary Leon Brittan dies aged 75 The family of Conservative peer and former home secretary Leon Brittan has confirmed reports that he has died at the age of 75. A statement from the family reads – It is with great regret that we announce the death of Leon Brittan. As a family, we should like to pay tribute to him as a beloved husband to Diana and brother to Samuel, and a supportive and loving stepfather to Katharine and Victoria, and step-grandfather to their children. We also salute his extraordinary commitment to British public life as a Member of Parliament, Minister, Cabinet Minister, European Commissioner and Peer - together with a distinguished career in law, and latterly in business. Leon passed away last night at his home in London after a long battle with cancer. We shall miss him enormously. There will be a private funeral service for family only, and a memorial service to be announced. Brittan was was educated at the Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School and then Cambridge University, where he was Chairman of Cambridge University Conservative Association. He was elected as MP for Cleveland and Whitby in 1974 and then for Richmond in Yorkshire in the 1983 general election, after which he was promoted to become the youngest home secretary since Winston Churchill, aged only 43. Brittan also served as chief secretary to the treasury, trade and industry secretary and vice-president of the European commission. He resigned as trade and industry secretary in the 1986 Westland affair after it was revealed he had authorised the leaking of a letter which was critical of defence secretary Michael Heseltine, who also resigned. Updated at 6.57pm GMT 2.38pm GMT14:38 David Cameron defends universal credit, but says that Scottish ministers will be able to make changes to the system in line with the recommendations in the Smith commission. They will have the “absolute right” to change housing benefit rules. PM: Scottish mins will have right to make changes to universal credit in line with Smith Comm as dismisses Nicola Sturgeon criticism Updated at 5.24pm GMT 2.34pm GMT14:34 In response to a question from the BBC’s Nick Robinson, David Cameron says it would have broken his heart if Scotland had voted to leave the union. On the question of “English votes for English laws”, he says the government will set out plans in the coming days, but that – if he were prime minister after 7 May – there would be rules put in place to ensure that English MPs have the decisive say on issues that only affect England. Updated at 5.24pm GMT 2.28pm GMT14:28 David Cameron is speaking in Edinburgh, saying that the Scottish parliament will be one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world. “Scotland spoke, we listened and now here we are delivering. I know it’s not fashionable; politician makes commitment, politician keeps commitment, but that is what is happening here today.” The questions have started and David Cameron is repeating that he’s happy to have a debate in parliament about votes for 16-year-olds. He says he is happy with the voting age being 18, but he’s a “reasonable kind of guy” and is open to argument. Updated at 4.04pm GMT 2.09pm GMT14:09 MP David Mundell, the man known as “Scotland’s only Tory”, said on BBC Radio 4’s the World at One that the SNP had already agreed to the Smith proposals. The Conservative MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweeddale said: What the SNP did was to sign up to the agreement at 8 o’clock one evening and at 8’oclock the next morning began a process of finding ways to object to the agreement. I think that the clauses that have been set out today fully reflect what was agreed. If SNP politicians who were part of the Smith Commission hadn’t wanted certain things or were unhappy with the reservation for example of Universal Credit they should have said so at the time and we would have had a different shape of agreement possibly. 1.40pm GMT13:40 Summary This legislation is wrong, not only is it counter to freedom, the basic building block of prosperity, but it is an abuse of Parliamentary process, and most important of all, it is ineffectual and in fact could lead to worse health outcomes than we have now. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Simon Clark, director of the pro-smoking group Forest, said: We find it bizarre that the government should announce this when the government hasn’t even reported on the consultation they held last year. There will be a lot of people out there who will be asking what’s the point of a consultation if you are simply going to ignore the public response or pretend it didn’t happen. Lebanon has agreed to find educational places for these children. The teachers have been persuaded that they should be taught in Lebanese schools. The teachers have agreed to do double shifts. But the international community has failed to see that for a dollar a day it could provide schools and educational opportunity for all the refugee children. It’s going to take a year, two years to push Isil back out of Iraq but we’re doing the things that need to be done to turn the tide against Isil and I’m confident that Isil will be defeated in Iraq. I don’t accept it’s failed at all. What we’ve done it the coalition airstrikes have halted the Isil advance which was surging across Iraq last summer, it’s started to turn it back. If that’s not enough to keep you going, you can read more from the Guardian’s politics team here. Updated at 2.01pm GMT 1.31pm GMT13:31 Here is a report from the Guardian’s home affairs editor Alan Travis on the quarterly crime statistics published today by the Office for National Statistics. The figures show an 11% fall in overall crime levels in the 12 months to September 2014 compared with the previous year, continuing a downward trend in crime rates, which are now at their lowest level since 1981. The separate measure of police recorded crime figures show no change in the 12 months to September 2014. Today’s figures show that the number of rapes recorded by the police in England and Wales has risen by 31% in the past year to 24,043, the highest level since for at least 10 years. Updated at 5.34pm GMT 1.15pm GMT13:15 That'll be David Cameron arriving at Holyrood pic.twitter.com/kN9qvPnTzT 1.04pm GMT13:04 Scotland reporter Libby Brooks says the Scottish TUC has now joined in criticism of the Smith-based draft bill. It has challenged the Scottish Labour party to look “very carefully at these clauses and take a clear view on whether they meet its aspirations and the spirit of the Smith commission proposals.” A spokesperson said: “The UK government will present today’s publication as significant progress, but the truth is that we are not even at the end of the beginning of progress to meaningful additional devolution. “It’s now vital that the fullest possible public consultation is conducted, including a citizen-led process.” Updated at 5.34pm GMT 1.00pm GMT13:00 Deputy prime minister Nick Clegg has released a statement on the publication of the draft clauses, hailing it as “a great achievement not just for the Liberal Democrats but for all of Scotland.” Liberal Democrats in Government have not only met the timetable set for more powers for Scotland but we have completed it ahead of schedule. The Scottish Parliament will raise over half of the money it spends, we will have a Scottish Welfare System with a starting budget of over £2.5 billion and there will be votes for 16 and 17 year olds for Holyrood and local government elections. Today is a proud day for the people of Scotland and for Liberals who have campaigned for Home Rule for more than a century. 12.56pm GMT12:56 The Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy is speaking on the BBC’s Daily Politics. He is saying he thinks “the vow” made by the major party leaders has been delivered, but that politicians need to make sure sure “the words become facts and are delivered on the ground.” He says that he wants to take power from the Edinburgh parliament and put it in the hands of Scotland’s citizens. When asked about the ‘English votes for English laws’ issue and the SNP’s insistence that their MPs in Westminster would vote on English NHS policy, Murphy says the Scottish Nationalists were playing games in the run up to the general election. In the absence of a clip from the interview, here is Scottish Labour’s new campaign video, which was released yesterday. It reminds me a bit of a mobile phone advert. 12.30pm GMT12:30 More from Libby Brooks in Holyrood – Speaking at first minister’s questions just now in Holyrood, Nicola Sturgeon reiterated her concerns that the draft bill represented a “watering down” of what the Smith Commission had proposed, in particular with regard to the clauses relating to welfare powers. Insisting that she welcomed the bill, she said that it was “really important that the spirit and letter of the Smith Commission is translated into legislation”. Earlier in the session she noted that neither Labour nor Conservative representatives in the debating chamber had raised the draft bill, saying that they didn’t “have the gumption to stand up here and say that the vow has been delivered because it has not”. Updated at 12.34pm GMT 11.53am GMT11:53 Nicola Sturgeon says draft bill is 'watered down' Here’s our Scotland reporter Libby Brooks again, who is covering today’s events from Holyrood – Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has described this morning’s publication of draft legislation to give new powers to the Scottish parliament as a “significant watering down” of what was promised by November’s Smith Commission, in particular in relation to welfare powers and whether the approval of the UK government would be required in order for Holyrood to make changes such as the abolition of the bedroom tax. Announcing the draft clauses of the new bill in Edinburgh, chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander described them as “the faithful fulfilment of the Smith Commission”, the all-party group which was set up in the aftermath of September’s independence referendum to fast-track further powers to Scotland. But Sturgeon immediately hit back that the draft bill handed a veto to UK ministers in key areas. “For example, the proposals on welfare do not allow us to vary Universal Credit without the permission of the UK Government. That means – under the current proposals – we will not have the independence to take action to abolish the bedroom tax.” She added: “This cannot, under any interpretation, represent the meaningful progress on the devolution of the powers we need to design a social security system that meets Scotland’s needs. Asked about Sturgeon’s charge, which she tweeted whilst the UK government’s press conference was still going in, both Alexander and the Scottish secretary Alistair Carmichael denied that the proposed legislation included any such veto, insisting that devolution always required “mature conversations” between governments. In terms of welfare powers specifically, Carmichael said: “It’s a consultation process because universal credit is reserved but it’s not a veto.” In terms of timing for the new legislation, Carmichael said that it was a matter of agreement between the UK parties that the bill is expected to be in the first Queen’s speech, and that he would expect a bill to be introduced early in the next parliament. “I don’t see any reason why we couldn’t have this on the statue book by the end of December or early January,” he added. “There is a clear appetite that we get on and we do this as quickly and as smoothly as possible.” Updated at 11.54am GMT 11.37am GMT11:37 Reaction to the news that the government plans to press ahead with legislation on plain packaging for cigarettes before the general election is still rolling in. Ukip’s Nigel Farage has described the move as “counter to freedom, the basic building block of prosperity”, “an abuse of Parliamentary process” and “ineffectual”. Yesterday he said the legislation would be an “appalling intrusion into consumer choice”. Cigarette manufacturers to be compensated for plain packaging by being allowed to brand the coffins of their customers. Similar legislation was introduced in Australia in 2012 and research suggests that support for the measure from Australian smokers has increased steadily since plain packaging was introduced. Writing in the Guardian in November last year, Suzi Gage, a translational epidemiology PhD student at the University of Bristol, looked at the research. The study assessed the beliefs of roughly 1000 Australian smokers at 5 time-points, from 2007 to 2013 via phone or web surveys. Standardized packaging was introduced in Australia in 2012, so the final time-point fell approximately six months after its introduction. Whist opposition before introduction was stable at approximately 50%, in the final survey it fell dramatically to 35%. Conversely, support amongst smokers rose from around 30% in the first 4 time-points to just under 50% in the final survey. Critically, there was net support for the packaging from smokers after introduction, whilst before introduction more smokers were opposed to it than in favour. In particular, support came from smokers who stated that they were considering a quit attempt, and young smokers (although the evidence for these findings is less strong, due to the small number of people in that group). Not all participants were questioned in every wave, but of those that were questioned both before and after implementation 48% increased their support and 20% decreased (the rest stayed stable). Updated at 11.47am GMT 11.28am GMT11:28 Apologies for not opening comments until now. (I’m new to this game.) Here (pdf) is a link to the new Scottish Parliament powers bill. Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has said the bill is a “significant watering down” of what was promised. Smith clauses publication welcome - but doesn't include a general power to create new benefits in devolved areas as was promised 1/2... 2/2...and gives UKG effective veto over changes to universal credit, including bedroom tax. @scotgov will work to secure improvements 11.14am GMT11:14 Back to the child abuse inquiry debate ... The BBC’s Rebecca Keating has been following it closely. Dennis Skinner suggests May is the problem with the child abuse inquiry: "Has she considered the unthinkable? Has she considered resigning?" Theresa May says nominations for a new child abuse inquiry chair have been whittled down to "quite a short list" but refuses to say how many Theresa May has written to party leaders asking them to ensure their members & staff co-operate with any requests from child abuse inquiry 11.10am GMT11:10 Draft clauses on Scottish devolution published Libby Brooks reports from a press conference for the publication of the draft clauses on Scottish devolution – Publishing the draft clauses in Edinburgh just now, Danny Alexander described them as “the faithful fulfilment of the Smith Commission” whilst Alistair Carmichael said: “This is home rule, a long cherished Liberal vision.” But a row has already broken out with first minister Nicola Sturgeon complaining that the proposals represent a “significant watering down” of what was promised by the Smith Commission, in particular in relation to welfare powers and whether the approval of the UK government would be required in order to make changes such as the abolition of the bedroom tax. At the press conference, both Alexander and Carmichael denied that this was a “veto”, insisting that many aspects of the proposals would require “mature conversations” between governments. Carmichael said he would prefer it if, “instead of trying to kick up dust, the nationalists told us what they wanted to do with the [new] powers”. In terms of timing for the legislation, Carmichael said that there was a clear appetite from all parties to get on with it as soon as possible, and said that he expected the bill to be brought before parliament early in the next session. He said he saw “no reason” for it not to be on the statute book by next January. Updated at 11.17am GMT 11.07am GMT11:07 Theresa May is saying that the inquiry was first established on a model based on the Hillsborough panel inquiry, which worked very well. In discussions with survivors it became clear that statutory powers were needed and when the inquiry resumes it will do so on that basis. 11.01am GMT11:01 Simon Danczuk, Labour MP for Rotherham says, the inquiry has been so badly run that it makes Chilcot look punctual and efficient. Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, asks May about yesterday’s reports that a secret file on “unnatural” sexual behaviour which was prepared for Margaret Thatcher was not given to the inquiry. May says that the file has now been handed over to the police. Updated at 11.02am GMT 10.52am GMT10:52 Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper says she thinks that there’s is no choice but to start the inquiry again. Labour MP for Leicester East Keith Vaz says May is “losing control of the process” and that the process has been “lamentable”. Sarah Champion, Labour MP for Rotherham, says that we need more than just an inquiry, but a “national task force because this is a national issue”. 10.44am GMT10:44 Speaking in parliament Theresa May is saying she will announce a new chair of the historic sex abuse inquiry and statutory powers for the inquiry by the end of the month. Yvette Cooper says the home secretary has “let down” the victims of child abuse. 10.17am GMT10:17 Nick Clegg has been hosting his weekly Call Clegg radio show on LBC and Guardian political correspondent Rowena Mason has been listening keenly. Here’s a summary. You can watch him recording the show here – 10.00am GMT10:00 Yvette Cooper to question Theresa May on child abuse inquiry The shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper will ask Theresa May for a statement on the delayed child abuse inquiry this morning at 10.30am. Urgent Commons Question granted to Yvette Cooper at 10.30am to ask Theresa May for a statement on the delay of the child abuse inquiry. Yesterday Cooper described the home secretary’s handling of the abuse inquiry as having been “a fiasco from start to finish.” She was responding to the announcement that the work of the inquiry had been suspended until either a chairman is appointed or a decision is made by May as to whether the panel should be replaced. Here’s the Telegraph’s story. Yvette Cooper said: “We have consistently argued that the Child Abuse Inquiry can only work if it puts victims at its heart and establishes a process for hearing survivors in a supportive environment. The Home Secretary should have done this from the start. It is unbelievable that all listening events are now on hold due to more incompetence and delay at the Home Office. This situation was easily avoidable. Other inquiries into historic child abuse, most noticeably in Northern Ireland and Australia, have put survivors at the heart of their process and established a system to support those who come forward. Labour has been very clear these inquiries provide a model for the Home Secretary to follow. Her refusal to do this has caused huge additional trauma for survivors. At the end of October last year when the second chair resigned, Theresa May apologised to victims and promised personally to sort it out. Three months on, the inquiry seems to be in more chaos than ever. We have delays in starting this inquiry then the loss of two chairs and now more continued delay and lack of care for the survivors. Its time for the Home Secretary to make this inquiry a priority and put matters right.” Updated at 11.16am GMT 9.46am GMT09:46 Libby Brooks, Scotland reporter for the Guardian, will be covering the publication of the draft clauses. You can follow her on Twitter @libby_brooks. In an article published today, she writes about a “bunch of mavericks” standing for selection as Scottish National party candidates. She introduces the day’s events below – The prime minister will meet Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss the next stages of devolving further powers to Scotland, as well as representatives from the oil industry to discuss the ongoing crisis in the sector. The draft clauses will be published as a command paper, which is expected to contain 44 clauses over 100 pages. It will contain Smith Commission recommendations including giving the Scottish parliament full power to set income tax rates and bands, about £3bn of welfare powers including the housing elements of universal credit, and the devolution of fracking licensing and management of the Crown Estate in Scotland. Westminster has already moved to allow the Scottish Parliament to extend its franchise so 16 and 17-year-olds could vote at the 2016 Holyrood elections. The all-party commission, which reported just before St Andrews Day last November, and the draft clauses published in advance of Burns Night on January 25, were contained in the “vow”, made by all three Westminster party leaders in the final days of the referendum campaign, to fast-track more powers in the event of a no vote. Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland earlier this morning, the Scottish government’s finance secretary John Swinney, who was one of the SNP representatives on the cross-party Smith Commission, whose recommendations form the basis for the new bill, said : “What I said when the Smith Commission reported back in November was that the report was welcome because it devolved to the Scottish Parliament greater responsibilities and gave us greater ability to tackled some of the issues that affect the lives of people in Scotland. “ “What I do accept is the Smith Commission generated a set of proposals that would give the Scottish Parliament more power and more influence, and as a consequence of that we have to make sure what the Smith Commission recommended back in November is translated into practical form in the clauses today.” Speaking on the same programme, Alistair Carmichael insisted that the legislation would be passed after the next general election, echoing the words of David Cameron, who will say in a speech later today: “Be in no doubt, whoever forms the UK government after 7 May, these new powers are guaranteed. The Scottish parliament will have more control of its tax and spending – making it one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world.” David Cameron will make his first visit to Scotland today since the independence referendum, as secretary of state for Scotland Alistair Carmichael and chief secretary to the treasury Danny Alexander meet in Edinburgh to launch the draft clauses of the bill to implement new powers promised in the aftermath of last September’s no vote. Updated at 11.32am GMT 9.28am GMT09:28 David Cameron will visit Scotland today for the first time since the referendum. He is there to meet the country’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon to discuss devolving more powers to the Scottish Parliament. The visit is timed to coincide with the publication of draft legislation based on the proposals made by the Smith commission, which was established after September’s referendum. Cameron is expected to say that the document, which will contain 44 clauses over 100 pages, fulfils “the vow” on new powers made by the three main party leaders in the run up to the referendum. We said draft legislation would be published by Burns Night and here we are, three days before the celebrations start, with those clauses before us. An opinion poll from Ipsos Mori and STV News published on Wednesday suggested that the SNP could hold the balance of power at Westminster after the general election, with 55 of Scotland’s 59 seats. Andrew Sparrow is taking a much-deserved day off, so I’ll be manning the live blog today. I will be also covering all the breaking political news from Westminster, as well as bringing you interesting political comment and analysis from the web. I will post a summary at lunchtime and another in the afternoon. If you want to follow me on Twitter, I’m on @fperraudin. |