MURPHY ON MANEAUVERS OVER CALMAN COP OUT

MURPHY ON MANEAUVERS OVER CALMAN COP OUT

LABOUR CONFIRM NO POWER TRANSFER IN CURRENT PARLIAMENT

POWERS POSTPONED BY MINISTER PRE-OCCUPIED WITH EMPIRE BUILDING

The UK Government is under fire after Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy confirmed there would be no transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood as recommended by the Calman Commission - on drink drive limits, speed limits, control of air weapons, and responsibility for Scottish elections – within the current parliament.

The Scottish Government has published the necessary Orders to achieve the transfer – which could be approved at the Privy Council meeting in March if they are laid at Westminster by 15 January (Friday) and at Holyrood by 20 January.

Mr Murphy’s admission that the transfer would not be progressed until the “next parliament” confirms Labour are back peddling on the recommendations of their own commission.

Commenting, SNP Scottish Affairs Select Committee member Pete Wishart MP said:

“Jim Murphy has confirmed what was increasingly plain, that Labour are back peddling on the transfer of powers and abandoning their own commissions recommendations. Labour have swindled the Scottish people over their commitment to devolution and the delivery of new powers.

“It is regrettable and disappointing that the UK Government is refusing to work together with Scotland’s Parliament and Government in order to make these important and necessary changes. After spending more than £600,000 of taxpayers money on the Calman commission it is shameful that Labour now want to ignore its recommendations.

“There is no possible reason why the people of Scotland need wait for these important and necessary changes. If they are the right thing to do – and we all agree that they are – then we should be delivering them as quickly as possible.

“Far from kicking this into the long grass after the election, Labour have just made this a key issue for the election campaign.”

Separately, Mr Wishart also mocked the Scotland Secretary over his personal wish to have a platform to regularly address the Scottish Parliament.

Mr Wishart said:

“Jim Murphy’s delusions of grandeur know no end. Other than MSPs, the Queen and on occasion visiting dignitaries address the Scottish Parliament. If Jim Murphy wants to stand for Holyrood and replace Iain Gray as Labour leader, he can speak in it as often as he likes. And it is entirely open to any Scottish Parliament committee to seek evidence from Mr Murphy or any other UK minister – in a similar way as the First Minister appeared before a Westminster committee this week. The reality is that UK Ministers have resisted appearing before Holyrood committees.”