Tories 'Must Keep Devolution Promise'

Plans on further devolution are not being implemented fully by the Conservatives.

Scottish Labour say the secretary of state for Scotland, David Mundell, must keep his promise to deliver the Smith agreement in full. It is the basis of the Scotland Bill, which is supposed to deliver more powers to Scotland in the wake of last year's independence referendum.

Speaking as the Conservatives meet in Manchester, shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray has published a report detailing Labour’s changes and issued a direct challenge to Mr Mundell.

Mr Murray said: "The Smith Agreement was historic. It brought together all of Scotland’s major political parties and agreement was found on how to create the powerhouse Parliament that people across Scotland want.

"But the Bill fell short of what was agreed. Labour has led the way on improving the Scotland Bill. Now David Mundell and the Tory Government have to stay true to their word and deliver the letter and spirit of the Smith Agreement by accepting Labour’s changes. That means agreeing to the changes Labour has proposed on welfare which would give the Scottish Parliament the power to create a Scottish social security system, which Iain Duncan Smith couldn’t interfere with.

"The Tories have started an ideological attack on working people with their changes to welfare. It means that working people across Scotland will be worse off. The changes we have proposed would give the Scottish Parliament the opportunity to mitigate the worst of the Tory’s welfare reforms. That is an opportunity we should grasp with both hands."