Best of Both Worlds
I've been a supporter of 'home rule' and more powers for the Scottish Parliament for a long time unlike others I could mention such as the former Labour leader Gordon Brown, who jumped onto this particular bandwagon in the last few campaigning days of the independence referendum, as the Better Together side panicked about losing the popular vote.
So if you ask me, the Scottish Parliament should become responsible for raising all of the money it spends (including 100% of income tax) and as a willing partner within the UK, Scotland continue to be represented at Westminster in areas such as defence and foreign affairs where, arguably, decisions are better made on a UK-wide basis.
But the Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem parties have made a rod for their own back by refusing to have a second 'more powers' question on the referendum ballot paper and if they had listened to what I said almost three years ago, they wouldn't be in the mess they find themselves in now.
Best of Both Worlds (28 December 2011)
The Scotsman newspaper reports on an interesting survey today - which suggests that most Scots believe that the Holyrood Parliament should have more powers.
Now this seems like a 'no brainer' to me - why have a parliament that raises only half the money it spends - why not have a parliament that takes responsibility for raising all of the money it spends on behalf of the people of Scotland?
Because if we had that power in place now Scotland could make its own decisions about how best to combat the recession - and how to promote sustainable growth and economic recovery.
Whereas at the moment we have no choice but to agree that on many key issues - Westminster knows best - in crucial areas Holyrood is a 'pretendy parliament' because it has no influence over what Ministers in London decide.
The survey was carried out by Reform Scotland - which is campaigning for a 'third way' option in any future referendum on independence - not just a straight 'Yes' or 'No' but a 'Devo-Plus' question as well.
In other words a potential outcome that would be short of independence - but would mean the majority of revenue powers being transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
Under Reform Scotland's plan the Holyrood Parliament would no longer be handed down a budget from Westminster - but would become solely responsible for raising all the money it spends - and then handing over Scotland's share of UK wide spending priorities - in areas such as defence, for example.
Reform Scotland asked 811 people - a range of questions about independence and devolution.
Asked if they thought the Scottish Parliament should be responsible for raising the majority of the money it spends - 86% said yes.
According to the Scotsman report a majority answered yes across the political parties - though about 54% of the sample declared themselves to be SNP supporters.
66% of those questioned said they would vote 'Yes' for independence - if presented with a straight-forward yes or no question - a clear majority but much lower than the level of support for the Devo-Plus option.
So it will be interesting to see where this all leads in the months ahead.
But my money's on a three question referendum - because that's likely to appeal to people as giving Scotland the best of both worlds.
The Scotsman newspaper reports on an interesting survey today - which suggests that most Scots believe that the Holyrood Parliament should have more powers.
Now this seems like a 'no brainer' to me - why have a parliament that raises only half the money it spends - why not have a parliament that takes responsibility for raising all of the money it spends on behalf of the people of Scotland?
Because if we had that power in place now Scotland could make its own decisions about how best to combat the recession - and how to promote sustainable growth and economic recovery.
Whereas at the moment we have no choice but to agree that on many key issues - Westminster knows best - in crucial areas Holyrood is a 'pretendy parliament' because it has no influence over what Ministers in London decide.
The survey was carried out by Reform Scotland - which is campaigning for a 'third way' option in any future referendum on independence - not just a straight 'Yes' or 'No' but a 'Devo-Plus' question as well.
In other words a potential outcome that would be short of independence - but would mean the majority of revenue powers being transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
Under Reform Scotland's plan the Holyrood Parliament would no longer be handed down a budget from Westminster - but would become solely responsible for raising all the money it spends - and then handing over Scotland's share of UK wide spending priorities - in areas such as defence, for example.
Reform Scotland asked 811 people - a range of questions about independence and devolution.
Asked if they thought the Scottish Parliament should be responsible for raising the majority of the money it spends - 86% said yes.
According to the Scotsman report a majority answered yes across the political parties - though about 54% of the sample declared themselves to be SNP supporters.
66% of those questioned said they would vote 'Yes' for independence - if presented with a straight-forward yes or no question - a clear majority but much lower than the level of support for the Devo-Plus option.
So it will be interesting to see where this all leads in the months ahead.
But my money's on a three question referendum - because that's likely to appeal to people as giving Scotland the best of both worlds.
