Thursday, 27 November 2014

Everything You Need To Know About Scotland's New Powers

The Smith Commission has announced what new powers it believes Scotland should get. Here’s all you need to know so far.



Paul Hackett / Reuters


The Smith Commission, a cross-party group set up in the aftermath of the independence referendum to deliver new powers to Scotland, has announced its main points of agreement.


In the week before the referendum, the three main UK party leaders signed 'The Vow' which promised further devolution. Now the recommendations have been announced, they will be made into draft legislation by the end of January, and they are already raising questions about the future of the United Kingdom.


Here's all you need to know so far.


This is the headline you'll see a lot of today. Scotland's control over its own income tax is the biggest transfer of tax powers in the modern era, and will allow the Scottish parliament to increase income tax for the rich if it chooses to.


It's being seen as a significant retreat from Labour. Just one month ago Gordon Brown said fully devolving income tax would be a "lethal cocktail" that would eventually lead to the break-up of the UK.




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