Labour raises concerns over devolution deal delay

Ian Murray, Scotland's only Labour MP. Picture: Steven Scott Taylor

Labour has written to Scottish Secretary David Mundell raising serious concerns about the financial deal underpinning further devolution for Scotland after the UK government admitted it will not be in place until after the Scottish Budget.

Both the UK and Scottish governments have previously given commitments that the so-called Fiscal Framework will be published in the autumn. However, a written statement this week from the Scotland Office indicated it is now expected to conclude after the draft Scottish Budget in January.

Speaking after he wrote to Mr Mundell regarding the delay to the Fiscal Framework publication, shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said that the SNP should “not be allowed to drag their feet on this agreement” in order to turn the deal into an election issue, branding this as “the worst kind of cynical, dishonest politics”.

However, a spokesman for Holyrood Finance Secretary John Swinney said: “We will do a deal on the fiscal framework as soon as possible, but only if we believe it is a deal in Scotland’s interests.

“It is typical of Scottish Labour that Ian Murray is lining up to take the side of the Tory Treasury, regardless of whether a deal would leave Scotland better or worse off.”