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PM backs Scottish powers review PM backs Scottish powers review
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown has told the BBC he backs a review of powers of the Scottish Parliament, including taxation policy. Gordon Brown has told the BBC he backs a review of the powers of the Scottish Parliament, including taxation policy.
Speaking to BBC Scotland's The Politics Show, the prime minister said there was a "very strong case" for a review after 10 years of devolution. Speaking to BBC Scotland's The Politics Show, Mr Brown said there was a "very strong case" for a review after 10 years of devolution.
One outcome could be more tax-raising powers for the Holyrood parliament. He said changes to tax-raising powers for the Holyrood parliament would be part of the review.
Mr Brown also backed Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander, who is under pressure over an illegal donation to her leadership election campaign. Mr Brown also said that the review was not a "one-way street" and some powers could be returned to Westminster.
"She has had my support, has my support, will continue to have my support," he said. 'Difficult circumstances'
"She's a talented individual full of ideas about the future." He pointed to last summer's terror attacks and the foot-and-mouth outbreak, saying that UK-wide solutions were necessary.
'Financial responsibility' Mr Brown gave his backing to Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander.
Mr Brown said she was "doing a very good job in difficult circumstances... after the Scottish Parliament elections" last May, when Labour lost to the Scottish National Party. He said he supported her both in her leadership role and in her plans for a fresh study of the devolved settlement. Mr Brown said she was "doing a very good job in difficult circumstances... after the Scottish Parliament elections" last May, when Labour lost to the Scottish National Party.
Ms Alexander faced calls to resign after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign accepted an illegal donation.Ms Alexander faced calls to resign after her Scottish Labour leadership campaign accepted an illegal donation.
We can assume the commission is dead in the water replaced by a Downing Street review or working party Spokesman for Alex Salmond
While the Electoral Commission found there was insufficient evidence to prove an offence, it said not all reasonable steps had been taken to prevent one.While the Electoral Commission found there was insufficient evidence to prove an offence, it said not all reasonable steps had been taken to prevent one.
The Scottish National Party said her leadership has been undermined by the investigation.The Scottish National Party said her leadership has been undermined by the investigation.
Backing her plans for a fresh study of devolution, Mr Brown said: "There is an issue about the financial responsibility of an executive or an administration that has £30bn to spend but doesn't have any responsibility for raising [that].Backing her plans for a fresh study of devolution, Mr Brown said: "There is an issue about the financial responsibility of an executive or an administration that has £30bn to spend but doesn't have any responsibility for raising [that].
"In any other devolved administration in the world, there is usually a financial responsibility that requires not only the spending of money by the administration but also its responsibility to take seriously how it raises money.""In any other devolved administration in the world, there is usually a financial responsibility that requires not only the spending of money by the administration but also its responsibility to take seriously how it raises money."
Mr Brown continued: "Now the question is, just as local government has to raise some of its money through council tax, just as many other areas in the world where there are devolved administrations have to raise money through assigned taxation, is there a case for doing so?" 'Devolved administration'
'West Lothian question' Mr Brown added: "Now the question is, just as local government has to raise some of its money through council tax, just as many other areas in the world where there are devolved administrations have to raise money through assigned taxation, is there a case for doing so?"
Ms Alexander unveiled her plans for a Scottish Constitutional Commission on 30 November. A spokesman for First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Gordon Brown uses the word 'review' of the current arrangements no fewer than four times - which clearly confirms the reports that Wendy Alexander's proposed commission has been strangled at birth by Downing Street.
At the time, she said there remained "unfinished business" from the 1998 Scotland Act, which was the cornerstone of the devolution settlement, and that it was up to pro-unionist parties at Holyrood to "fix it". "We can assume the commission is dead in the water replaced by a Downing Street review or working party.
The debate over devolution is likely to re-open the controversy over the voting rights of Scottish MPs in Westminster, known as the "West Lothian question". "Nevertheless, the Prime Minister's acceptance that change is necessary stands in stark contrast to the 'no change' position in which he fought last year's Scottish election campaign.
Some Labour MPs are known to be unhappy about the review of devolution, saying that it plays into the hands of the Nationalists, who under Alex Salmond are pushing for independence.
For the full interview with Gordon Brown watch The Politics Show on Sunday at 1200 GMT on BBC One.