By David Scott
2 June 2010
Newly appointed Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has pledged to put the economy and tax reform at the top of his political agenda.
Speaking on May 31, he also hinted that he might be prepared to back further powers than those proposed by the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
The Liberal Democrat MP was speaking following his surprise elevation to the Scotland Office as successor to Danny Alexander, who was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury after the resignation of David Laws.
Moore, a qualified chartered accountant, said his priorities were to make sure that Scotland was on the ‘right track’ in tackling the fragile state of the economy and that the Calman plans on the constitution were developed.
‘There is a very exciting, important agenda out there and it’s for us to demonstrate that we are the people who can be trusted with those key policy areas and that they are right for Scotland and for the UK,’ he added.
The new Scottish secretary said he had already had ‘constructive and positive’ discussions with First Minister Alex Salmond, Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Scottish leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties.
Moore said: ‘I’m pleased that the welcome was so warm and I’m keen for that to continue.
‘I was able to set out my desire to make good progress on the implementation of the Calman proposals, which is the commitment in the coalition agreement.’
He disclosed that he would be prepared to include additional powers to those set out by the commission ‘if that assists us with the implementation of the Calman package’.
Talks are due to begin soon between the Westminster and Holyrood governments over how to implement the Calman commission’s proposals, which include a new power giving the Scottish Government control over a 10p share of income tax.
Scottish LibDem leader Tavish Scott, who has also had talks with Moore following his appointment, has said he wants Scotland to move on to a ‘Calman-plus’ – a constitutional settlement that would involve much greater control over raising taxes than so far envisaged.
Scott’s call was backed by Business Secretary Vince Cable when he had talks with Salmond during a visit to Edinburgh on June 1. He said the coalition government was committed to handing more powers to Holyrood than those outlined by Calman and by the previous Labour administration. ‘The coalition partners want to go further in devolution than the last Labour government was willing to go,’ he added.
2 June 2010
Newly appointed Scottish Secretary Michael Moore has pledged to put the economy and tax reform at the top of his political agenda.
Speaking on May 31, he also hinted that he might be prepared to back further powers than those proposed by the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution.
The Liberal Democrat MP was speaking following his surprise elevation to the Scotland Office as successor to Danny Alexander, who was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury after the resignation of David Laws.
Moore, a qualified chartered accountant, said his priorities were to make sure that Scotland was on the ‘right track’ in tackling the fragile state of the economy and that the Calman plans on the constitution were developed.
‘There is a very exciting, important agenda out there and it’s for us to demonstrate that we are the people who can be trusted with those key policy areas and that they are right for Scotland and for the UK,’ he added.
The new Scottish secretary said he had already had ‘constructive and positive’ discussions with First Minister Alex Salmond, Finance Secretary John Swinney and the Scottish leaders of the Conservative and Labour parties.
Moore said: ‘I’m pleased that the welcome was so warm and I’m keen for that to continue.
‘I was able to set out my desire to make good progress on the implementation of the Calman proposals, which is the commitment in the coalition agreement.’
He disclosed that he would be prepared to include additional powers to those set out by the commission ‘if that assists us with the implementation of the Calman package’.
Talks are due to begin soon between the Westminster and Holyrood governments over how to implement the Calman commission’s proposals, which include a new power giving the Scottish Government control over a 10p share of income tax.
Scottish LibDem leader Tavish Scott, who has also had talks with Moore following his appointment, has said he wants Scotland to move on to a ‘Calman-plus’ – a constitutional settlement that would involve much greater control over raising taxes than so far envisaged.
Scott’s call was backed by Business Secretary Vince Cable when he had talks with Salmond during a visit to Edinburgh on June 1. He said the coalition government was committed to handing more powers to Holyrood than those outlined by Calman and by the previous Labour administration. ‘The coalition partners want to go further in devolution than the last Labour government was willing to go,’ he added.
