-
I'll try to summarise her points without the volatile language;
If the polls weren’t so close would they have made their ‘vow’? If they planned it all along, why wait till two days before polling? If they didn't, why should Scots believe they'll be motivated to see this unloved policy through the stormy year ahead?
Because the Devo-max proposal been made at the eleventh hour, without costings or any chance for questions, its implementation is impossible by Spring thanks to a House of Commons Committee which decided further devolution of UK taxes to Scotland would require the consent of the rest of the UK. That means a nationwide debate and parliamentary assent -not assured since many English MPs object to granting any further powers.
This (and the calls for more power by Ireland and Wales that Riddoch speculates) will take years to resolve. The UK will also have a General Election and an in/out European referendum. The proposed Devo-max timetable is impossible.
Why did the media not ask Cameron any of the searching questions that have been constantly asked of the Yes campaign’s 9-month old white paper? How much will his plans cost? Do the people of Scotland actually want it? How can the proposed devolution of Housing Benefit be achieved when it's about to be subsumed into the Universal Credit system? Which of the various Unionist offers are the three leaders even talking about?
Cameron said the UK is special -- "This is not any old country; this is the United Kingdom" -- and went on to list the pensions, passports, a welfare state and health service British subjects have created together. Almost every aspect of that "offer" is currently under attack from his own government.
Every modern social democracy in Europe has pensions, passports, a welfare state and a health service. Those services are what states provide. A UK-free Scotland will provide the same.
Lesley Riddoch tears apart the ridiculous, last-minute 'vow' of devo-max:
http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-opinion/9753-vote-no-for-devo-something-sometime