Lib Dems appoint Robert Brown as Constitutional Affairs spokesman
December 13, 2010 5:38 PM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott MSP has appointed Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson Robert Brown as the party's Constitutional Affairs spokesperson.
Robert Brown sits on the Scottish Parliament's Scotland Bill Committee, which will question UK Ministers tomorrow.
Commenting on the appointment, Mr Scott said:
"Robert Brown was a leading member of the Steel Commission on which much of Sir Kenneth Calman's report was founded. He will play a key role on this new Committee, bringing real experience of Home Rule and constitutional issues to the table.
"I'm delighted to appoint him as Constitutional Affairs spokesperson in addition to his role as party Justice spokesperson, so that he can continue to play his part in the strengthening of the Scottish Parliament."
Commenting ahead of the committee, Mr Brown said:
"This Committee will be doing a vital job in scrutinising the Scotland Bill and making sure it works really well for Scotland and our place in a strengthened United Kingdom.
"This weekend's poll makes it clear that people in Scotland want a stronger Scottish Parliament.
"The SNP are all over the place on this. They want independence, then they dump the independence referendum. They want fiscal autonomy, but have given away Scotland's only tax raising power and now they're opposing more powers for the Scottish Parliament. They abandoned the Scottish Constitutional Convention and they poured scorn on the Calman Commission.
"The Scotland Bill needs and has got wide consensus across Scotland. The SNP need to get on board with the majority of MSPs in the Scottish Parliament who want a stronger Parliament and are working together with Westminster to drive forward the Scotland Bill.
"I will be questioning UK Ministers to make sure that the income tax plans and the proposed borrowing powers, which go further than expected, are effective, solid and workable. I want to explore the principles on which these new powers will work.
"The Scotland Bill is the most radical package of new measures for a generation. It's the basis of a framework that will take us forward as a strong Scotland within a strengthened United Kingdom."
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