 | 'SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it was clear that Mr Brown's change of heart reflected the SNP's success in the Glasgow East by-election and his fear of the upcoming Glenrothes poll.' Tim Pauling in the Press & Journal, 6 th September 2008. |  |
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has been accused of "caving in to pressure" to concede more powers to the Scottish Parliament for fear of losing the upcoming Glenrothes by-election.
Senior SNP figures welcomed the "conversion" as a great step forward.
Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott warned that Scottish voters would judge the prime minister harshly if his switch turned out to be rhetoric aimed at the by-election in Fife. It follows Mr Brown's speech at a CBI dinner in Glasgow on Thursday in which he indicated that he favoured enhanced financial powers for Holyrood.
He said the union was key to the economy but offered the prospect of greater financial accountability.
Finance Minister John Swinney said this was a "massive" change by Mr Brown, who had said last year there was no case for more powers for Holyrood.
"Here we are a year later," Mr Swinney told BBC Radio Scotland. "Gordon Brown has caved in to pressure from the Scottish National Party and rising support for the SNP, based on the aspirations of the people of this country.
"I'm immensely encouraged that we are now going to be in a situation where we will have a Scottish Parliament that will have more financial powers."
Mr Brown visited Glenrothes yesterday afternoon but Labour insisted it was not a campaign visit but a private one associated with his role as chancellor of Adam Smith College in Fife.
First Minister Alex Salmond also piled further pressure on Gordon Brown after the prime minister conceded the case for change in the way Scottish devolution is funded. Mr Salmond called for greater tax-raising powers for the Scottish Parliament.
He told a financial conference in Aberdeen: "The more economic and financial responsibilities we have, the better Scotland can do."
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it was clear that Mr Brown's change of heart reflected the SNP's success in the Glasgow East by-election and his fear of the upcoming Glenrothes poll.
"It is amazing the impact a lost by-election and the prospect of a challenging contest in Glenrothes has had on the prime minister," he said.
Mr Scott said Mr Brown must back his words with action. "The people of Scotland will judge him harshly if these turn out to be weasel words just to get through a by-election," he said.
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