Meeting of the Parliament 16 September 2015
I am delighted to take part in this debate. I am stimulated and encouraged by the Scottish Government’s chosen title for the debate, “Scotland’s Future, Democracy and Devolution”, because, if the Scotland Bill is about anything, it is about our future—a future confirmed by the democratic decision of voters last September to reject independence, to stay within the United Kingdom and to give more powers to this Parliament.
As someone who believes that Scotland benefits from the partnership of the United Kingdom but who recognised the need for enhanced powers for this Parliament, I was delighted to serve on the Smith commission with Mr Swinney and others from across the parties and to achieve the united position reflected by the Smith agreement.
Over the years, it has been a genuine pleasure to work with Mr Swinney, whether on the Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee under his convenership or while engaging with him on his important ministerial roles in government. I acknowledge and respect his undoubted commitment to this Parliament and his wider service to Scotland. I was therefore wounded when, on the publication of the Smith agreement, Mr Swinney appeared to have been seized by an onslaught of simultaneous amnesia, fickleness and inconstancy. Never did I think him capable of such frailties. Suddenly, this much discussed, carefully crafted and painstakingly drafted document disassembled in Mr Swinney’s mitts. It was not enough. It was not good enough, big enough or brave enough. I think that the Smith agreement was a pivotal contribution to devolution and was historic in its own right.