Nicola Sturgeon: Tax powers must be ‘priority’
The First Minister said Prime Minister David Cameron appeared unwilling to go beyond the moves set out by the commission, formed after last year’s independence referendum to meet the vow to devolve more powers to Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon signalled her intent to move towards an agreement on full fiscal autonomy yesterday as she insisted the SNP is not “changing its tune” on the prospect of holding a second referendum, while Mr Cameron stressed that he would not countenance such a move.
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Hide AdThe SNP leader made it clear she expected quick action on handing over more powers on welfare and economic growth and that her party’s 56 MPs would be able to exert influence at Westminster despite the Conservatives holding a majority in the House of Commons.
She said: “Scotland clearly doesn’t want austerity to continue, and there are discussions we will require to have about the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government’s budget – discussions that I will want to have about £12 billion of welfare cuts that David Cameron didn’t specify in the election, that will hit disabled people.