Labour leadership contender Ed Miliband (pictured right) has called for an end to London’s control over the Scottish branch of the Labour party.
Mr Miliband argued that Scotland’s needs were at times different from the rest of the UK and that Labour’s Holyrood MSPs should be free to form policies for Scotland away from London control.
Labour leadership contender Ed Miliband (pictured right) has called for an end to London’s control over the Scottish branch of the Labour party.
Mr Miliband argued that Scotland’s needs were at times different from the rest of the UK and that Labour’s Holyrood MSPs should be free to form policies for Scotland away from London control.
Ed Miliband is one of five MPs who are battling for control of the UK Labour party, other contenders include his brother David Miliband (also pictured). The Labour MP was on a campaign visit to Edinburgh where he met with Holyrood Labour leader Iain Gray.
The Doncaster MP said:
“I think the policy in Scotland, for Scottish Labour, should be decided in Scotland.
“For me that’s not controversial. Under my leadership we would lighten up about difference because I think we gain from difference.
“The whole nature of the devolution settlement is accepting that within a United Kingdom we can learn from each other and there will be particular policies and ideas which would be appropriate to Scotland and that Scotland should be able to pursue.”
The admission from a senior Labour MP that Holyrood Labour is effectively controlled by London will cause embarassment to Mr Gray. The SNP have consistently attacked the Labour MSP over his party’s London centric policies.
Mr Miliband also conceded that Labour had lost their values and that many voters were unsure of what the party actually stood for.
Mr Miliband explained that the forthcoming Scottish elections will be a “battleground” to be used as preparation for the next UK general election adding:
“Scotland will be the next battleground in the run up to the next UK general election. The Scottish elections next year are very important.”
Mr Miliband supports Calman’s proposals for further devolved powers for Holyrood but opposes a move towards fiscal autonomy.
He added: “We benefit as a United Kingdom from being bound together but we also recognise the need for Scotland to have an ability to vary its tax rates on the basis of the Calman commission proposals.”
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