Vote no in Scottish independence referendum for more tax and legal power, says Westminster

Scotland could get greater control over its tax and legal systems if it votes No in the independence referendum next moth, Westminster politicians have promised. 

 

The leaders of Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives in Westminster agreed to hand over more powers to Scotland if the nation votes against independence on 18 September. 

 

The move, which is being seen as a last ditch attempt to win votes for the pro-Union Better Together campaign, would see Scotland given additional powers over its tax and legal systems. 

 

Responsibility over inc­ome tax and housing benefit would be devol­ved to the Scotland, the leaders promised. 

 

The three-party pledge was published by the Better Together campaign yesterday, lead by Alistair Darling. It comes as new polls suggest voters in Scotland want the nation to have more power and control over its affairs, instead of complete independence from the rest of the UK. The document promises the “commitment will deliver a stronger Scot­tish Parliament in a stronger United Kingdom”.

 

However, the pledge was immediately attacked by Alex Salmond’s team yesterday.  

 

“No one in Scotland will be fooled by this Westminster-led re­hash of vague promises and unspecified more powers in the event of a no vote – the Tories have tried that before,” Sal­mond’s spokes­man said.

 

Of those Scots “absolutely certain” to vote on independence:

■ 54 per cent said “No”

■ 40 per cent said “Yes”

■ 6 per cent undecided.

(The Yes vote was up four points on the last poll in June)

 

■ Outgoing William Hill chief executive Ralph Topping has endorsed a “Yes” vote and said he believed there would be a currency union. “It is not the location of a bank’s brass plate in Scotland, but rather the concentration of economic assets in the rest of the UK that matters to British financial stability,” he said.

 

■ In April, the Confederation of British Industry made an unexpected U-turn on independence, asking for its status as a supporter of the No campaign to be rescinded following an outcry from members. 

 

■ Jupiter Fund Management said its business “would prosper regardless of the outcome of September's vote”.

 

■ However, fellow asset manager Blackrock warned that Scottish independence would bring “major uncertainties, costs and risks” and that a potential currency union with the UK would be “infeasible”.