Cameron considers more powers for Scotland _ but not fiscal

[Lite Beer]

Cameron considers more powers for Scotland _ but not fiscal
SYLVIA HUI, Associated Press

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister David Cameron said Friday he would consider handing over more power to Scotland, but stopped short of agreeing to demands from Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to grant the territory full fiscal autonomy.

Cameron and Sturgeon met in Edinburgh for their first talks since Britain's national election last week, in which Sturgeon's pro-independence Scottish National Party gained unprecedented national influence.

Sturgeon called the talks "constructive," and said the two agreed that previously drawn up plans to transfer greater governing powers from London to Scotland should be implemented as soon as possible. But she said she and Cameron disagreed on whether Scotland should control all of its tax and spending policies.

Scotland has its own parliament and government, which decide policies on topics including health care, justice and education, but it must defer to the central U.K. government in London on broader issues such as defense, immigration and fiscal policies. The two share the same currency — the pound.

Cameron has pledged to introduce legal changes that would allow the Scottish government to control some policies including the rates of income tax in Scotland and some welfare spending.

That does not go far enough for Sturgeon, however. She says Scots want to take more substantial control over their economy, including the right to decide their own minimum wage, employment laws and business taxes.

Sturgeon's party upended Britain's political landscape last week when it swept 56 of Scotland's 59 seats in the 650-seat U.K. Parliament. That surge made the SNP the third-largest bloc in the House of Commons — after Cameron's Conservatives and the Labour Party — a force that Cameron cannot ignore.

The prime minister said he remained committed to delivering a stronger Scottish parliament, and would consider "sensible suggestions." But he also pledged to keep the four regions that make up the U.K. — Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland — together in one united nation.

"I'm a great believer that in our United Kingdom we want a strong Scottish parliament. But we also want the solidarity between the different parts of the U.K. and I don't want to lose that," he said.

The SNP failed to realize its dream of making Scotland an independent country last year, when Scots voted 55 percent to 45 percent to remain inside the U.K. in a historic referendum. But since then the party's popularity has surged, not diminished, and Sturgeon argues that support clearly shows Scots want a sea change in British politics that listens to their aspirations.

Sturgeon said Friday that Cameron had a choice to make about how he responds to the strong vote for her party.

"He can act as if it is business as usual and nothing has changed, and people will draw their own conclusions from that," she said. "They will think that Westminster isn't capable of listening or responding."

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-05-16

[emilymat]

'When David met Nicola.'

I'm no great fan of Nicola but she is certainly playing the medium term game shrewdly.

There is no doubt in my mind that Scotland will conduct another referendum within the period of this parliament, and probably win the vote for independence. Good luck to them. All they need now for that to happen is.;

1. Renewal of Trident

2. Refusal of Cameron to extend fiscal autonomy to minimum wage, etc etc.

3. European referendum - with each country being counted separately

4. A further landslide for SNP in the Scottish elections next year.

5. Mega rows in Westminster Parliament about further devolution.

Plus a few more bits and bobs.

There just seems an inevitability about all of this. I've no idea if it will be good or bad for Scotland in the long run but it will happen.

[Lokie]

SNP? never got in cause they are that good, is only because Scottish labour were that bad (and the rest of the shower of $ hite Westmisnster To $$ pots) Scots who want independance should be careful what they wish for, they are nothing without the Union, bit like Scottish football, one or two good things and the rest is mostly crap lol

[Baerboxer]

SNP? never got in cause they are that good, is only because Scottish labour were that bad (and the rest of the shower of $ hite Westmisnster To $$ pots) Scots who want independance should be careful what they wish for, they are nothing without the Union, bit like Scottish football, one or two good things and the rest is mostly crap lol

Not a bad summary and analogy Lokie.

Sturgeon and troll Salmond are still committed to an independent Scotland - of which of course they'll be PM and President. Most Scots can see through their bullshit and recognize they couldn't make an independent Scotland anything but a third rate minor country.

Sturgeon is clever and very mouthey and will use this new found power to full advantage - for her own agenda. She assured Scots the election was not a vote on independence and that there are no plans (or reasons) for another referendum. Naturally, she has her own agenda and like all politicians isn't bothered about lying.

It's the tail wagging the dog. SNP didn't win the independence referendum and polled approx 50% of the votes in the general election. The first past the post system rewarded them with 56 seats based on approx 400k votes.

No way in anyone's tiny brain should such a small percentage of the UK voters be allowed to determine the future of the UK. Time all UK citizens, put this cocky upstart in her place and reminded her of reality.

The Union is the union. Not hers to break up unilaterally.

[emilymat]

The only thing I would add is that an independent Scotland would retain the Queen as Head of State. To suggest otherwise would be to alienate too many 'floating' voters at any new referendum. NS for PM is about right though.

[mrfill]

SNP? never got in cause they are that good, is only because Scottish labour were that bad (and the rest of the shower of $ hite Westmisnster To $$ pots) Scots who want independance should be careful what they wish for, they are nothing without the Union, bit like Scottish football, one or two good things and the rest is mostly crap lol

Not a bad summary and analogy Lokie.

Sturgeon and troll Salmond are still committed to an independent Scotland - of which of course they'll be PM and President. Most Scots can see through their bullshit and recognize they couldn't make an independent Scotland anything but a third rate minor country.

Sturgeon is clever and very mouthey and will use this new found power to full advantage - for her own agenda. She assured Scots the election was not a vote on independence and that there are no plans (or reasons) for another referendum. Naturally, she has her own agenda and like all politicians isn't bothered about lying.

It's the tail wagging the dog. SNP didn't win the independence referendum and polled approx 50% of the votes in the general election. The first past the post system rewarded them with 56 seats based on approx 400k votes.

No way in anyone's tiny brain should such a small percentage of the UK voters be allowed to determine the future of the UK. Time all UK citizens, put this cocky upstart in her place and reminded her of reality.

The Union is the union. Not hers to break up unilaterally.

The people of Scotland would be the ones who determined the future of the UK by a referendum, not a single woman. And if Scotland is a 'third rate minor country', surely the rest of the UK will be glad to get shot of it.

And, don't forget, the Union was enabled by Queen Anne (from a Scottish dynasty - the Stuarts)

[fvw53]

The topic is : "Cameron considers more powers for Scotland _ but not fiscal"

My comment : in the end it is ALWAYS about money....

[Basil B]

'When David met Nicola.'

I'm no great fan of Nicola but she is certainly playing the medium term game shrewdly.

There is no doubt in my mind that Scotland will conduct another referendum within the period of this parliament, and probably win the vote for independence. Good luck to them. All they need now for that to happen is.;

1. Renewal of Trident

2. Refusal of Cameron to extend fiscal autonomy to minimum wage, etc etc.

3. European referendum - with each country being counted separately

4. A further landslide for SNP in the Scottish elections next year.

5. Mega rows in Westminster Parliament about further devolution.

Plus a few more bits and bobs.

There just seems an inevitability about all of this. I've no idea if it will be good or bad for Scotland in the long run but it will happen.

If she did hold a referendum it would be unconstitutional, clearly the the last referendum was "legalised" with the "Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013" Passed By the UK Parliament at Westminster.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2013/14/enacted

[andy8017]

I say give them all they wish for, and when they start their ,spend spend policy ,as they say they will. The rest of the UK can sit back & watch them go the way of Greece and other southern EU countries.

The only proviso needed when giving them all they ask for is WE ,THE REST of THE UK will not bail you out,!! On you go Jock!!