SNP plays shame game in quest for new powers

THE SNP is planning to shame Labour into backing greater financial powers for Scotland by accusing the party of lining up with the Conservatives on the country’s constitutional future.

Senior SNP figures have revealed they intend to brand the Scottish Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat parties together as “anti-independence” as the pre-referendum debate gains momentum this year.

The ploy, which will put fresh pressure primarily on Labour to back more devolution of tax-raising powers – so-called devo-max – will also see the SNP lampooning its main political rival as effectively being led on the referendum debate by former Conservative Scottish Secretary Michael Forsyth, the man who opposed devolution in the late 1990s.

But with the pro-Union campaign likely to get up and running early this year, both Labour and UK government sources last night dismissed the SNP strategy, saying voters would see through claims they were on the “negative” side of the argument.

The SNP strategy will be based on last year’s hugely successful Holyrood election campaign. A source close to the First Minister said last night: “Between now and the referendum, the SNP will hammer home the message that the Tories, Labour and Lib Dems are the ‘anti-independence’ parties – they are against something rather than for anything.”

He added: “Labour and the Lib Dems look set to fall into a trap of their own making by campaigning with the Tories against any more powers for Scotland – the ultimate losing position in Scottish politics.”

He went on: “At this stage, the effective leader of the No campaign is Michael Forsyth – that is who Labour are lining up behind, the man who scaremongered against a Scottish Parliament in the 1990s and lost every single Tory seat in Scotland.

“The lesson of 2011 is that a positive campaign on Scotland’s future beats a negative one.”

Labour figures said last night they would not be pushed into backing a devo-max position by the SNP. Instead, sources close to new Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said they would consider more powers for Holyrood only on a case-by-case basis.

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, have set up a Home Rule Commission under former national leader Sir Menzies Campbell to examine the case for further devolution.

One source close to Lamont said: “We don’t dogmatically want all powers transferred to Edinburgh like the SNP. The question is whether sending powers to Edinburgh would sort out Scotland.”

The new offensive comes with the referendum debate expected to dominate Scottish politics over the coming months. Salmond is facing growing pressure to hold it immediately. Lamont yesterday called on Salmond to make 2012 “the year of the referendum”.

She said: “The SNP promised a referendum bill in 2008, 2009 and 2010. But now they have a majority, they won’t name the day. The SNP should get on with it – with one question – and let the people’s voice be heard.”