Meeting of the Parliament 08 January 2014
I will not, just now.
Let us contrast that economic growth and rising employment with the uncertainty of independence. There is uncertainty over the currency, but we cannot leave the UK and then demand the benefits of the UK. There is uncertainty over the terms of membership of the European Union, but we cannot expect all 28 member states of the EU to agree to every demand on the rebate or even on fishing rights. There is also uncertainty over the affordability of public services; because of our faster ageing population and volatile oil revenues, our finances will be tighter. It was not I who said that—it was the finance secretary himself, in the famous memo that he wrote to the Cabinet.
I appreciate—this is Patrick Harvie’s point—that no one can exactly predict the future. However, with independence we are talking about a whole different order of uncertainty to compound the normal uncertainty that we have in life. I do not want to derail the progress that we are making on the economy at UK level with the uncertainty of independence.
I have always been a pragmatic but strong supporter of the UK. I am a proud Scot and a Fifer who wants to continue Scotland’s enduring relationship with our friends across the UK, whether they are in Liverpool, Manchester or Cornwall, where I lived for many years. I have a vision for a stronger economy and a fairer society—not just for us, but across the UK.
As a Liberal Democrat, I want everyone to get a chance to get on. It is why we have increased the tax thresholds to ensure that people on low and middle incomes can be relieved of income tax. I want to move to a position where people on the minimum wage do not pay any income tax at all. Pensions have increased and nursery education and free school meals have been delivered. Those are the benefits of devolution based on a strong economy.
The Liberal Democrats and the Liberals before us have a long and proud tradition of advocacy of home rule in a federal UK—from Gladstone through Steel to those who made the case that ultimately led to this Parliament—but the job is not done.
I want to see further financial and constitutional powers being transferred to the Scottish Parliament not because I believe in separating power but because I believe in local power. That will be sustainable constitutional reform—a settlement that means we can determine our own destiny on the domestic agenda while sharing risk and reward with the rest of the UK.
Consensus is emerging; the devo more project, the devo plus group, Labour, the Conservatives and the trade unions are publishing plans. I am sure that we will also have the nationalists on board in that growing consensus by the end of the year.
We are building a stronger economy and a fairer society that will give everyone the chance to get on. We are on the right track with the economy. Let us not derail that progress with the uncertainty of independence.
I move amendment S4M-08714.1, to leave out from first “; agrees” to end and insert:
“, including falls in unemployment and rises in employment that match exactly the pattern across the UK; believes that a stable UK Government provided by the coalition in the most challenging financial and economic circumstances has been in the national interest; notes that there are 110,000 more people in employment in Scotland than three years ago and that this figure far exceeds the flagship employment proposals of the Scottish Government; further notes that this is being done while cutting income tax for workers by £700 and increasing the state pension by the highest ever cash amount, and believes that the determined path to a stronger economy and a fairer society is through partnership within the United Kingdom.”
15:48Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.