Local MP David Mundell has welcomed this week’s cross-party commitment to increased powers for the Scottish Parliament. Mr Mundell believes that this join announcement is a game changer in the referendum debate and makes it clear that a No vote is not a vote for no change.
His comments come after leaders of the three main unionist parties made a joint statement in Edinburgh on Monday affirming their support for devolution and highlighting their track record in strengthening the Scottish Parliament's powers when through the Calman Commission which resulted in the Scotland Act 2012, which saw the biggest transfer of fiscal powers to Scotland in over 300 years.
Below is the text of the statement: “Power lies with the Scottish people and we believe it is for the Scottish people to decide how we are governed.
“We believe that the pooling and sharing of resources across the United Kingdom is to Scotland's benefit in a partnership of four nations in which distinct national identities can flourish and be celebrated.
“We believe that Scotland and the United Kingdom have been strengthened since the advent of devolution.
“We support a strong Scottish Parliament in a strong United Kingdom and we support the further strengthening of the Parliament's powers.
“The three parties delivered more powers for Holyrood through the Calman Commission which resulted in the Scotland Act 2012.
“We now pledge to further strengthen the powers of the Scottish Parliament, in particular in the areas of fiscal responsibility and social security.
“We believe that Scotland should have a stronger Scottish Parliament while retaining full representation for Scotland at Westminster.
“Our common agenda can bring people together from all of Scotland, from civic society and every community.
“The Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have each produced our own visions of the new powers which the Scottish Parliament needs.
“We shall put those visions before the Scottish people at the next general election and all three parties guarantee to start delivering more powers for the Scottish Parliament as swiftly as possible in 2015.
“Our common endeavour will deliver a stronger Scottish Parliament in a stronger United Kingdom.”
Commenting Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale MP David Mundell said: “This announcement puts the commitment to devolve more powers to the Scottish Parliament beyond doubt. This debate is no longer about Westminster versus Holyrood or Scotland against England – it is about protecting our interests and ensuring that we continue to enjoy the best of both worlds.
“Under these plans we will have an even strong Scottish Parliament, with the guarantee of more powers, backed up by the strength, security and stability of belonging to the UK. That way we get all the advantages of being part of a larger economy, whilst getting to make our own decisions on the most important issues like health and education.
“People living locally can rest assured that voting no is not a vote for no change. Devolution has worked well for Scotland and we are all committed to making it work better still. The great irony of all this is that the SNP are now the only party who have failed to bring more powers to Scotland and it is now clear that the only way to bring the devolution process to an end is by voting Yes.”