David Cameron outlines legislation for increased Scottish powers – but there’s no mention of haggis in this Burns Night address

Prime Minister David Cameron gave his spin on a Burns Night address last night – but he failed to mention haggis once.

 

To be fair, the speech was more taken up with his plans for the people of Scotland post-referendum, specifically to note the publication of draft legislation detailing new powers for the Holyrood government. 

 

"I pay tribute to Robert for this historic agreement and with all five of Scotland’s main political parties at the table, it was a devolution first," he said. "And now here we have it, new powers for Scotland, built to last, securing our united future."

 

The legislation includes greater power over tax and spending, giving the Scottish parliament control over 60 per cent of of public money, and a "substantial" package of welfare powers, worth £2.5bn, designed to tackle unemployment and poverty as well as aiding people with disabilities. 

 

He added that the powers were "guaranteed" regardless of who wins the General Election on May 7. 

 

"Scotland spoke, we listened, and now here we are delivering. I know it’s not fashionable, politician makes commitment, politician keeps commitment but that is what is happening here today," he said. 

 

"Now it is time for all of us to move on to the next great debate. Not what the powers should be but how they should actually be used. We need a battle of ideas about the economy, about jobs, about schools and hospitals, about the future of a great country, making the most of every opportunity in front of it. Because what we are publishing today is the best of both worlds."

 

Cameron said this made Scotland "one of the most powerful devolved parliaments in the world". Not everyone agrees, however, with SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon writing in the Guardian that "the reality falls a long way short of that boast".