CAMERON’S RESPECT AGENDA COLLAPSES OVER CALMAN.

CAMERON’S RESPECT AGENDA COLLAPSES OVER CALMAN.

SCOTLAND NOT A PRIORITY AS TORIES LEARNING NOTHING FROM THATCHER YEARS.

Commenting on the remarks made by Philip Hammond, the Tories shadow Treasury chief secretary, on BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland where he effectively sidelined the borrowing power recommendations of the Calman Commission, with David Cameron ruling out the devolution of borrowing powers, SNP MSP Dr Alasdair Allan said:

“The Scottish Parliament and Government needs full economic and financial powers, and the case for that has never been greater than during the current downturn.

“It appears that the Tories have ripped up the Calman consensus by making a mockery of the entire process. Their foot dragging is reminiscent of their empty promises for a better devolution proposal in the 1980’s – a policy they failed to deliver.

"Once again Tory claims of "respect" for Scotland are exposed as nothing more than tartan window dressing.

"Borrowing powers are a sensible way forward for the Scottish Parliament's financial powers.

"Philip Hammond’s comments leave the Calman parties, particularly the LibDems in particular in a quandary – they claim to want to move Scotland forward, but their Tory partners – as ever – want to hold Scotland back.

“The closer we get to the General Election, the more the Tories are being shown up in their true colours. It's back to the Tories saying No, No, No to Scotland – just like during the Thatcher years.”