The SNP have demanded that Labour ‘come clean’ over their plans for Holyrood after Ian Murray, Labour’s Shadow Scotland Secretary, said he does not support any further powers being devolved.
In a recent interview Ian Murray confirmed that a Labour UK government would not devolve key powers to Holyrood, such as employment law, despite Anas Sarwar and Scottish Labour claiming to be in favour of these measures.
This announcement also follows Ian Murray refusing to rule out further use of the undemocratic Section 35 powers which allow the UK government to veto laws passed by the democratically elected Scottish Parliament.
Gavin Newlands MP for Paisley & Renfrewshire North said: “The Tory Government continue to make a mockery of the Scottish Parliament, undermining decisions made on devolved issues and abusing their position by enacting Section 35 powers.
“Despite promises by Anas Sarwar that Scottish Labour will empower Holyrood to legislate on vital areas such as employment law, his colleagues, and I suspect his boss, have other ideas, rejecting the prospect of devolving further powers to the Scottish Parliament.
“For many years I have actively campaigned for workers’ rights, introducing my Fire and Rehire Bill in Parliament at Westminster on several occasions, however, the Tory Government refuse to adopt the Bill.”
He added: “Decisions over employment laws must be devolved to the Scottish Parliament, it is the only way to ensure we achieve a fairer society, and finally ban the abhorrent process of fire & rehire.
“For the Labour party, a party whose foundations lie in the trade union movement, to contest this makes you question, are they really the party of the working people?
“I truly believe the only way to protect devolution and the Scottish Parliament is with independence.”