PMQs: David Cameron fires back at SNP over Vow claim

DAVID Cameron has challenged the SNP to come up with a list of items which his government has failed to devolve after he was accused of breaking the referendum Vow in exchanges during Prime Minister’s questions.

Prime Minister David Cameron speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London. Picture: PA

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson marked the one year anniversary of the Vow made by Mr Cameron and then Labour leader Ed Miliband and former Lib Dem Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in the last days of the referendum.

Earlier today, Deputy First Minister John Swinney also said that the Vow had not been delivered.

The SNP claim that the Scotland Bill currently going through parliament fails to deliver devo max which the Nationalists believe was the promise behind the vow.

Mr Robertson said: “One year ago today to the day the Prime Minister made a vow to Scotland. Promises were made to deliver Home Rule and federalism as quickly as possible.”

But he then quoted former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said last week that the current Scotland Bill had “fallen short” on the recommendations of the five party Smith Commission on devolution.

He added “When will the Prime Minister deliver on the commitments he made to the people of Scotland?”

Mr Cameron turned on Mr Robertson and insisted: “We have delivered on all the promises we made to the people of Scotland” including a Scotland bil “unprecedented” devolution of taxes and welfare powers.

He went on to challenge them to say what they would do with the powers and called the SNP “frit.”

“Whatever happened to the new style of PMQs,” Mr Robertson shot back in reference to a new calmer tone promised by Mr Cameron and new Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Mr Robertson also quoted the STUC, the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations, Carers Scotland and Enable Scotland in saying not enough is being delivered to Holyrood.

He added: “Only nine per cent of the people of Scotland believe the vow has been delivered. Not one single amendment to the Scotland Bill has been accepted by the Government.

“Tory bluster and condescension will not go down well in Scotland.”

Mr Cameron promised to answer “very calmly”.

He went on: “What I notice from his question is that he has not given one single example of where the vow wasn’t delivered.

“If he can point to a tax we have promised to devolve but haven’t devolved I would accept it. If he can point to a welfare change we promised to devolve that we haven’t devolved I would accept it.

“He hasn’t done those things. All he is doing is continuing an argument about process because he doesn’t want to talk about the substance.

“He should give me a list on the things that were promised and weren’t delivered then we could have a reasonable conversation.

“Until then it is all bluster from the SNP.”