
Holyrood’s tax powers should be a boon to Labour and the Tories
Both of the national parties are built around different attitudes to economic policy, and the Scottish Parliament’s new responsibilities will force tough choices on the SNP.
Henry Hill is an award-winning centre-right blogger and assistant editor of ConservativeHome.
Follow @Both of the national parties are built around different attitudes to economic policy, and the Scottish Parliament’s new responsibilities will force tough choices on the SNP.
Also: Sargeant’s son to contest his seat at Welsh by-election; and Labour may use direct rule to align Northern Irieland with the mainland on abortion and gay marriage.
And after hitting a personal low last month, the Budget seems to have got the Chancellor (just) back into the membership’s good books.
Also: Welsh Labour abandon investigation into Sargeant as Jones faces fresh accusations; and Mundell suggests a dangerous retreat on EU powers.
Their aggressive campaign against the scandal-mired First Minister is helping to keep one of Labour’s most senior elected figures off the national chessboard.
Also: DUP gear up for enhanced role whilst working on border compromise; and Holyrood committee shows its teeth and plunges SNP policy into chaos.
As Margaret Thatcher learned, there’s a lot more involved in ensuring the widespread ownership of capital than simply handing it out.
The Tories are working hard not just to argue but to demonstrate that Scottish interests are best served within British institutions and frameworks.
Hammond tries to lure Stormont back to its feet with yet more powers; Scots Tories highlight Budget role; and more.
Just as with Leave voters, another big swath of the electorate might be abandoned to Ruth Davidson as her rivals focus elsewhere.
The end of Rhodesia did not need to herald mass murder, economic collapse, and a nosedive in life expectancy.
Also: Scottish Labour plunge into chaos again as interim leader resigns; Brokenshire threatens MLAs’ pay; MPs debate ‘indyref2’; and more.
Most of the powers involved in ordering the Single Market are technical and trivial-seeming, but supporters of Section 11 of the Withdrawal Bill see danger ahead.
Replacing one female Brexiteer with another is an elegant solution, but the new International Development Secretary brings experience to the role too.
Also: Brokenshire challenges Brussels to find a ‘creative solution’ for Northern Ireland; Jones faces calls to quit after colleague’s apparent suicide; Salmond bids for control of anti-independence paper.