Scotland will quickly be given “real powers with real consequences” under Conservative plans for further devolution, David Cameron has pledged.
The Prime Minister was speaking after the launch of the Tories’ blueprint for the future of the UK in the event of a No vote in September, which recommends that all income tax is raised north of the border among a swathe of proposals.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, however, accused the party of having a “long record of broken promises” and cast doubt over whether or not the plans would see the light of day.
The document, launched by Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson and devolution commission chairman Tom Strathclyde, argues all income tax rates and bands should be set in Scotland but the threshold at which wages become taxable shouldcontinue to be set at Westminster.
It says “a case” could be made for devolving housing benefit, attendance allowance and giving Holyrood more power to supplement welfare benefits but it argues that all pension control should be retained at Westminster.
The report says a recommendation would have been made to devolve VAT if it was not illegal under EU law and it suggests control over air passenger duty should be given to Holyrood.
It also sets out reform of the Scottish Parliament, saying that more decision-making responsibility should be given to local authorities and communities although there is little detail on the mechanisms.
The Prime Minister said: “Ruth supports the commission’s key recommendations and wants them implemented. I agree with her.
“All the mainstream pro-UK parties believe in further devolution, so whilst we would want to build consensus for a set of measures and legislation, there is no reason why these changes shouldn’t happen early in the next parliament.
“We want to make the Scottish Parliament more responsible for the money it spends these are real powers with real consequences.”
Ms Davidson said the publication, which follows proposals from Labour and the Liberal Democrats, was “a very good blueprint for going forward”but Ms Sturgeon claimed the Conservatives had “inadvertently made the case for independence”.
She said: “With their package of proposals today, the Tories have demolished a central pillar of the No campaign by recommending ending uniform tax and benefits across UK.
“They have also, inadvertently, made the case for independence by saying they wanted to recommend devolving VAT but can’t under EU law, as Scotland needs to be independent to control VAT and all taxes.”