04/06/2014 Politics Scotland

Hello and welcome to Politics Scotland.

The State Opening of Parliament - the UK Government unveils

its new legislative programme in a critical year for Scotland.

My government will continue to implement new financial powers for

the Scottish Parliament. It will make the case for Scotland to remain

as part of the United Kingdom. At Westminster we will consider whether

this is a game-changer for Scotland. A new session of Parliament

has started at Westminster. The Queen made her way to

the throne in the House of Lords to Pensions took centre stage in

an 11-bill programme, with changes Voters will also get limited powers

to remove misbehaving MPs, and as we saw, Her Majesty

reiterated her Government would continue to make the case

for Scotland to remain in the UK. Let's now take a look at some

of the speech. My lords and members of the House of

Commons, my government's legislative programme will deliver on its

long-term plan to build a stronger economy and a fever society. To

strengthen the economy and provide stability and security our ministers

will reduce the deficit for the country and ensure that interest

rates remain low. An updated charter for budget responsibility will be

brought forward is to ensure that future governments spend taxpayers

money responsibly. My government will continue to cut taxes in order

to increase people's financial security. My ministers will

implement measures to increase father the personal allowance and to

freeze fuel duty. A key priority for my ministers will be to continue to

build an economy that rewards those who work hard. Legislation will be

brought forward to give those who have saved this correction over the

use of their retirement funds. My government's pension reforms will

also allow the innovation and the private pensions market is to give

greater control to employees, extend the isa and premium Bond schemes and

abolish the 10p tax treat. -- rake. We will ensure that public

expenditure continues to be controlled. Bolasie 's will be

pursued so that people are helped from the welfare to work. My

ministers will introduce legislation for all Members of Parliament. My

government will continue to implement new financial powers at

the Scottish Parliament and make the case for Scotland to remain a part

of the United Kingdom. My ministers will continue with legislation

enabling the National Assembly for Wales and Welsh ministers to have

more powers over taxation and investment. My government will work

to promote reform of the European Union, including a stronger role for

member states of national parliaments. My ministers will

champion efforts to secure a global agreement on climate change.

Our Westminster correspondent David Porter is standing by

David, Labour have criticised this as the Zombie Parliament,

Dennis Skinner shouted out in the House of Commons this was

Well, it is traditional, let us deal with Dennis Skinner firstly, when

the Black Rod comes to summon the MPs, this year talking about the

last stand of the collagen, that was his phrase, looking as we are

towards a general election in less than one year came, many are looking

at Westminster and are surprised that the coalition has lasted this

long. Those at the top of the coalition have said it will last

until the general election. As to when the government will respond to

it being a zombie parliament, they will not judge the Queen's Speech by

its quality -- it's Qualcomm -- its quantity but by its quantity. They

have pointed out that when criticised, it is not all about

legislating, the role of parliament, the role of the government and the

executive is not just to legislate but to run in Great Britain plc and

if they need to legislate in an emergency, they will do that. Just

because there are not a lot of rules laid down, do not think they will be

sitting with their feet on their desks, they say they will be working

hard. David, you have been speaking to ministers and their advisors,

what are you picking up, what are the proud about, what are the

standout bills and policies? Something they will want to major on

over the next few days and weeks, they see this as a Queen's Speech

that will help firms, families and give fairness to those who want to

get on and they are pointing towards important changes to pensions. They

say that will literally affecting millions of people throughout the

United Kingdom. They are looking at putting up extra subsidies for

childcare and they say that will benefit 160,000 families in Scotland

but they are also saying that if you look at the infrastructure, they are

willing to go ahead with the proposals on the oil industry. They

say they want to go ahead and put forward the policies of the wood

commission. There is a bill coming forward to recall MPs as they do

something wrong that they could be recalled by constituents, saying

that they want to get rid of their MPs. They are floating the idea that

that could in some shape or form be extended to Scotland in terms of

Hollywood being invited to look at a similar bill and perhaps pass

similar legislation so if there was a case that an MSP was found to be

doing something wrong, there would be re-dress and recall on that

issue. Thank you, David, back with you shortly.

I'm joined for the duration of the programme by our commentator

You have been looking at the Queen's Speech, what stands out for you?

There were big measures announced in the Budget, particularly about the

fact that pensioners would no longer have to buy an annuity. They would

be able to spend the money and other ways and spend it earlier so there

was a lot of debate about pensioners going out and buying flash cards or

luxury yachts, whatever! This is taking things a bit further. With

the closure of so many occupational salary schemes, many people have

been invited to save two less profitable schemes through their

employers and now there is talk where people are saving from

themselves -- for themselves and putting money into personal pension

pots and that they might do it in a different way, not just as

individuals, they are then at the prey of the market and high fees,

but they would instead join collective rules of savings, it

happens on the continent in places like Holland. There is some merit in

having the cloud of a lot of people saving for their old age and seeding

into the same pool of money and then they can come and better fees from

investment companies in the marketplace and potentially produce

better returns. That is what this second piece of information that has

come out in the Queen's Speech today about this pooled vehicle for

pension savers, whether it will work or not and how quickly it works, you

know, pensions are things that change very slowly over many, many

decades. Individual lives we are talking about. It will take time to

know whether it will deliver the kind of financial security and old

age that all people crave as they get older. What you make of the

accusations of a Zombie Government and the Queen's Speech before the

election? I suppose now Government has the full steam head just before

a general election, but there seems to be fewer bills compared to 2009.

We always get this talk before the next election, particularly in the

days when it was not a fixed date, there was always talk about the

manoeuvring about when the date as and when the right time to go as and

so the legislative programme took a back seat. This time the focus is

slightly different because they have the quality and, it has had problems

recently and there have been tensions, even tensions within each

side of it, we witnessed the road between Theresa May and Michael Gove

between schooling and Birmingham. You get that kind of tension and at

the end of the parliament you will think they will do less, but they

have been doing less, MPs and peers have been on holiday for months as

far as I can tell. Someone said they were not being called down because

they are no longer needed at the moment, so it has been slow anyway

and whether these 11 bills are of such substance that will mean they

are beavering away until the next deadline until the next general

election, I would rather doubt that to be the case. Five end parliaments

tend to have a fag end legislation is. You mentioned the quality on. Do

you think there is a deadlock that they cannot agree on to get through?

The Labour Party said there was nothing on immigration. Yes, there

was no bill to give us the promised referendum on Europe apparently

because of a Lib Dem opposition to that. There was a lot of talk, was

there not, that some months before there would be a quiet parting of

the waves, how that would have worked I do not know, but I think

they have sort of settled for staggering on to the end and then

going into competition with the election when it comes. Thank you

very much for the moment. Let us go back to David at Westminster who has

been joined by a guest. I am joined by the Secretary of

State for Scotland Alistair Carmichael. The obvious question

will be what is in this Queen's Speech for Scotland? Four years ago

at a call Ishant government we undertook the massive task of

reconstructing and rebalancing our economy, we are now about one year

away from facing the electorate and explaining the decisions that we

have made and we will explain them to the people of Scotland are to be

arguing so across the United Kingdom. In 2010 we had to take on

difficult and unpopular decisions but they have worked. And the

Queen's Speech today we have a government that is getting on with

the job of rebuilding and rebalancing the economy, helping to

get people into work, more help for small businesses to get access to

finance and help for people who are in work to make sure that they get

more of the money that they earn. Some would say that the call Ishant

is now treading water, they know there will be an election in less

than one year time, the big chunky legislation, it is not visible. We

have a session that is starting in June and will run until the end of

March, yes, it is a shorter near -- year than you would expect, but

there have been many significant changes and long-term changes to the

way in which we organise our private pensions and the future. That was a

significant long-term reform and also things like the Modern Slavery

Bill, not at the top of everyone's priority, but in terms of protecting

some of the most vulnerable people who come to this country, very, very

important legislation. Is it not a case that if there is anything

controversial, June time wise you will not be able to get it through,

you can get it through the Commons but the House of Lords, if they dig

their heels in, you will be stopped. If you are a small business and you

are looking for help to get finance to get people to take on more people

to create the tax system and public services that we all need and value,

the measures in the Queen's Speech are presents to help small

businesses get that access to finance and they are very important.

They may not be controversial but they are important and will make a

difference to the calculation is that every family in Scotland has to

make every week about how they will make ends meet. The fact that they

are not paying as much money in income tax and the fact that it was

confirmed today that the freeze on fuel duty will continue for the rest

of the parliament, these are important decisions that have

impacts on everyone's legs. The infrastructure built, you are giving

a commitment basically to see we agree with what Sir John would set?

Yes, Sir Ian Wood, his policies are going to be implemented, that will

be an early piece of legislation and that will come on track and is

important because the oil and gas industry in the North Sea becomes an

even more mature asset and so it is important that we have a way to get

more out of the North Sea, the people who are best ways to do that

are the oil and gas industry themselves. They came up with the

proposals that informed us all and it will be implemented under a new

regulator. For Scotland that is an important piece of legislation.

If the Scottish parliament and government decide they want to do

things differently, that is their right and that is the whole point of

this -- devolution and it will be respected. There is a real call to

parliament if it is seen that they are all they have transgressed --

recall. I have written this morning to the leaders of the Scottish

parties in the Scottish Parliament outlining the fact we have this

measure in the Queen's speech and legislation will come forward. If

they are able to reach a consensus about what they would want to do

with the Scottish parliament so that the sort of situation we had a few

months ago when an SNP member was on trial and was convicted of serious

offences in court, so that he could be dealt with by the Scottish

Parliament authorities, then then if they can reach a consensus we will

implement that in this legislation. It is an opportunity for them as it

is for the House of Commons. It was mentioned in the Queens speech that

the UK government wants to see Scotland remain part of the union.

It would be naive to think this Queen 's speech will not be seen

through the referendum prism, wouldn't it? It is an important

consideration and it is absolutely right it

consideration and it is absolutely should be in there, not just because

the UK government wants the UK to continue, but also to remind people

that there is already more devolution coming down the road. As

of next year, the Scottish parliament will have increased tax

powers and borrowing powers and the year after, they will have this

opportunity to legislate for income tax. That is work in progress and

devolution that is guaranteed. Thank you for joining us. I know you have

to get back into the house of commons. Back to you.

Thank you. Let's get some political reaction at

Holyrood to some of today's top political stories. I'm joined by the

Conservative MSP and peer Baroness Goldie and from the SNP we have

Jamie Hepburn. Let us pick up on the report from

the IFS suggesting independent Scotland would face higher taxes and

bigger spending cuts than previously expected if it is to balance the

books. Not good news for you if there is a budget deficit of 5.5% of

GDP compared to the UK is a budget deficit of 5.5% of GDP compared to

the UK's 2.4%? We should put this in context. It points out that in the

first year of independence, our fiscal position would be equivalent

to the UK's fiscal position. We have already been here with the IFS. They

published reports and this one looks 50 years hence. There is difficulty

with forecasting five years hence. We have seen that previously with

the Office for Budget Responsibility. This report

criticises their forecast. The four idea that you can look 50 years

hence you somewhat fantastic. I don't think anyone would think that

is possible. But they are not looking that far ahead, are they?

They have updated some of their figures from the latest oil and gas

predictions and they don't look that great for you. We talked last week

about eight lakh hole in spending because of reduced revenue from oil

and gas and the IFS have done their sons on the Scottish White Paper on

independence and they have found black holes there. Do you have to

raise taxes and cut spending in an independent Scotland? In terms of

oil and gas, they draw heavily on the Office for Budget Responsibility

who had a pessimistic view of future oil and gas. I had the Secretary of

State saying the future for oil and gas and the best people to rely on

our the industry figures themselves and they have a much more optimistic

forecast. We know the measures are set out in page 78 and 79 of

Scotland's future so we know the measures are set out there and the

forecast and costs are there for everyone to see. We had there the

figures. It sounds like the IFS are taking a vaguely -- very negative

figures when there are more positive figures available. I am struck with

a reference to the White Paper which I was looking at before I came on

air. This is the difficulty for the yes campaign. The projection was a

deficit for the first year of independence. We all estimated they

had overestimated income and underestimated expenditure. The

Scottish government produced its own oil and gas bulletin and it revised

its own projections for income from the North Sea, it reduced them. It

also said there are items of expenditure not in the White Paper

analysis. We haven't had them quantified but there are items of

expenditure not in the White Paper so Jamie cannot get away with saying

that all is tickety-boo in the economic garden of the yes campaign.

Today is when the house of cards begin to fall down because the IFS

is respected internationally and at Westminster and with the Scottish

government. It is not in the business of flinging figures into

the fresh air just to grab attention. When it says there will

be an 8.6 billion deficit in the first year of independence, that

equates to ?1600 worth of deficit per head of population. If you look

at what Mr per head of population. If you look

Hepburn was saying about the different figures and more positive

figures when it comes to revenue from the North Sea, you can look at

your figures and pick your side in a way. Maybe it comes down to who do

you believe? No, it comes down to what seems to be a reasonable

treatment of figures and a reasonable approach. What is

worrying people is the yes campaign is taking the best projection in oil

he -- yields, not midpoint. They are minimising expenditure and not

taking a carefully estimated expenditure figure, which if it was

not as much with that, would help us. It is the opposite. For that

reason people are troubled. It is not the first independent body to

cast doubt on the independence argument. The figures as they stand

mean we will face public expenditure cuts or both. On the Strathclyde

commission, we heard that Scotland should be heard -- given full income

tax powers following a vote for independence. Mr Hepburn, it sounds

like the pro-union parties have built up a head of steam in more

powers for the parliament. Where does it leave the yes campaign? I

don't buy it. Earlier we had Ben Thompson who is a great advocate of

further devolution and he is not advocating independence as I and

others are. He agreed there is no guarantee in the context of a no

vote. We can expect to see further demolition. We have had other

recommendations for air passenger duty and that was stripped out.

Liberal colleagues and the Conservatives had the chance to pass

minimal tax and they still had the chance to do it and the paper makes

the point that you don't even need new legislation to pass that taxon.

In the Guardian newspaper yesterday, Ruth Davidson was

apparently unable to talk about that. Let us put that to Baroness

Golding. Hearing from Mr Hepburn and there. Different offers from the

different pro-union parties. Hard to come to any agreement on what might

be offered and a litany of broken promises perhaps? Jamie is a brave

laddie. He normally puts the best face he can on this. The publication

of the Strathclyde commission shocked the nationalist fox. There

is a clear chance for voters in September. Many of those inclined to

support independence don't deny there are benefits for the UK. They

can have the benefits of that, including the pound, but they can

also have a much more powerful Scottish Parliament. I would just

say by way of illustration, it was a conservative led coalition who

delivered the Scotland act of 2012 and that same prime minister and his

Chancellor both said they believed the Strathclyde permission --

commission proposals in relation to income tax, they would implement

those and labour have a clear programme of what they want to do

and so have the Lib Dems. There is no question that if you vote "no, --

"no", you vote... You are voting for no guarantee for further demolition.

Vote yes which means... We will have to stop you there.

Now to the debate live in the chamber at Holyrood this afternoon.

MSPs will be debating a controversial report from the

parliament's European Committee on Scotland's relationship with the EU.

Pro-union members have issued a minority report claiming

criticism of the Scottish government has been watered down.

The committee convener has had her say.

Let's hear from the Scottish government's Fiona Hyslop.

The member makes the point that there is no provision under the

European Union currently for citizens who are members to leave

that. In terms of the arguments being made, it makes common sense

that in terms of the stability and the continuity, that the proposals

we set out to do with continuity of effect makes sense from everyone's

point of view. The enquiry shows that it is not just the supporters

of independence who questioned the arguments of how and if it would be

possible or desirable for the Scottish people to be left in that

situation. The balance of evidence had by the committee accepted that

Scotland would continue as an EU member post independence. Even David

Martin, Labour 's most senior MEP and Iain Duncan who has recently

been elected as a Conservative MEP for Scotland have recently

acknowledged that an independent Scotland would be welcomed as an EU

member. Not a single witness to the committee considered Scotland cast

doubt would be desirable. A hiatus in a membership was described in the

report as absurd. It would breach the rights of Scots and citizens of

other member states. It is clearly in everyone's interests for the

timetabled to be met and we are confident -- we are confident that

this is the most pragmatic way of doing this. The honorary director

general has recognised our time frame as realistic. I recommend a

recent European policy Centre publication which highlights the EU

will look at the case of Scottish independence in a flexible and

pragmatic way. She has not addressed the terms of

pragmatic way. She has not addressed the terms membership of an

independent Scotland. Could she address them, please? I'm glad the

member recognises the continuity and membership was the right way forward

within the timetable. The issue becomes the terms of the negotiation

and budget. That is why the continuity of effect is satisfactory

for the rest of the UK and other members, bearing in mind the budget

will be in operation for a number of years and it has been negotiated

closely over the recent period. Continuity of effect is an important

part of the process, not just for Scotland but for other members.

Members also heard from Irish colleagues and they provided

examples of the successes there in budgetary talks. Of course, remember

that Scotland receives the low which Irish -- lowest average payment per

member. Ireland also successfully enhanced its key priorities in what

was an internationally acclaimed presidency of the council. Ireland

has dedicated significant time and resource into building

relationship. The nature of decision-making regardless of member

states size, Asus 's shift to the different system of voting means

that at least 55% of member states are required for qualified majority

in the council. The voting procedures are more likely to

protect advantages enjoyed by smaller states.

Let us speak to Alf Young once again. Alf, let us go back to the

chat with the MSP s there. And the IFS row report. What did you make of

it. There have been successions of reports and what can we make of all

these numbers? The starting point is that forecasting any numbers from

today is fraught with difficulty. You get an estimate. When Mr Hepburn

was saying trying to forecast what Scotland's deficit would be in 2017

was so far ahead it would be meaningless... A couple of weeks

ago, when Alex Salmond and Dudley Alexander were trading economic

futures, one questioning the cost of setting up a separate state and the

other painting a picture of a much more prosperous Scotland, we were

talking about things happening up to 2030. They are all at it in that

sense in terms of forecasting a future that is inherently

unknowable. Some of the things, because they take a rounded picture,

some of the things the IFS are not comfortable for one side or the

other. In their assessment, they talk about all sides of the picture.

There has been a lot of pitch from the "yes" side had the Scots pay

more in tax. I had someone interviewed earlier today who said

that is true, but the bit of the picture that is dropped out of that

story is that they get more back than the average English taxpayer in

terms of services. The more they get back is greater than the tax they

pay, if you include Scotland's share of North Sea oil so you can play

these games for ever. What does it do to the vast majority of the

voting public? I think it leaves them confused and concerned and a

bit turned off because we have been talking about this for the best part

of three years and still nearly four months to go. I wonder whether the

consequence might be that the turnout will not be as high as

everyone says it will be and that a lot of people, given there is so

much confusion, when it gets to the point of voting, they might not vote

at all might float in ways that is not expected by anyone.

Thank you. Let us get back into the chamber again and listen to the

European debate once more. Labour is now speaking.

The evidence showed that nothing is certain. Most witnesses believe that

Article 49 remains the most likely route towards EU membership and that

any negotiations will be tough. The timescale for those negotiations are

set out by the Scottish government remains highly optimistic at best.

It is clear there would need to be amendments to all relevant treaties

of the EU and that these would need to be agreed unanimously by all 28

member states. What is it that will be up for negotiation? The report

highlights some of the important areas such as the single currency

opt out. It may be that we would have to commit to joining the euro

at the point of entry or a later time. Given the Scottish government

is all over the place on the currency and that it would not an

independent an independent Scotland's best interest to keep the

pound, with no say over interest rates, the money supply, targets,

perhaps the euro is the Nationalist plan B. Whether it is the Schengen

opt out for justice and security measures or the rebate itself which

would have major financial implications for the people of

Scotland, on all these matters, tough negotiations would be needed

and nationalist ministers still insist they would be no compromise.

That is not the view shared by the many experts who gave evidence to

the committee as the report shows. One QC stated that an independent

Scotland might not in Herriot all the benefits that have been carried

out but half of the UK as a whole -- might not inherit. The director of

the law centre said that the fundamental flaw in the White Paper

is that it fails to acknowledge EU membership of an independent

Scotland would require the agreement of the EU institution of member

states. They may decide not to offer probable and foreseeable outcome of

successful negotiations. I could continue to quote from many more

experts in this field, all of whom say negotiations with the EU would

be tough. Are they all wrong? If your definition of wrong is that you

disagree with the wisdom of Mr Salmond and missed sturgeon, I

suppose they are wrong. There is far too much at stake from all these

questions and issues to be passed aside by nationalists set upon

independence at any cost. We know that there would be major concerns

around the pensions of thousands of Scots duo to EU rules on a

cross-border pensions but again, important issues such as these are

simply brushed aside. We will leave that debate for the moment and let

us return to the top story, the Queen's Speech at Westminster, let

us head back to David Porter who is at College Green. It may not have

rained on the Queen and parade but it is raining now. That is why we

have moved out of a nice BBC gets able on college green and Johnny May

on this day is Angus Robinson from the SNP and Margaret Curran for

Labour. This is an obvious question to you and any opposition

politician, what does this Queen's Speech not deliver for Scotland that

it should have done? It shows that it has ran out of ideas and that

Scottish people are again being let down by two failing governments.

They are not doing the things that matter, this government is not

moving forward with issues that concern Scots. We need action on the

cost of living, freezing energy prices, attacking a banker's

bonuses, more powers for the Scottish Government, we will get

that within one year from the Labour Party. Big reform on pensions and

they say they are increasing subsidies for childcare, the

government would argue those are big issues, they would argue that they

are going to adopt the wood report and they would see they are

significant factors for the whole of the UK and especially people living

in Scotland. It does not go far enough. They are long-term issues,

we need action now to tackle the issues that families and businesses

faced throughout Scotland. People are really struggling and worrying

about the futures of their families. They want action from their

government now and I believe that the Labour Party had a clear policy

programme of the action needed. We know there is strong support for

freezing energy prices across Scotland and now there is strong

support to tax banker's bonuses father and we need a government to

do that and get real change and answer the issues that people are

concerned about, not politicians speak, not talking about things that

may or may not happen in the future, things that are needed now and the

Labour Party would do that if we were elected. I suspect, Angus

Robertson, you would be in agreement that this means beach was not good

enough. Absolutely, I agree with Margaret on that. From the two

parties in coalition, they have said that they want to improve the

government in Scotland and improve the quality of life to people living

in Scotland, to economic growth and the jobs market, but where is it?

This is the Queen's Speech, where legislation is meant to be brought

forward, Margaret is correct, action now, where is it? Zombie Parliament,

absolutely right, what is going on? There is time and opportunity to

discuss legislation that would move decision-making powers from London

to Edinburgh and make a difference to people's legs. There is one thing

that people have not even been legislated at all, things that would

make a huge difference to people like Air Passenger Duty, that was

not even mentioned. The Westminster parties are totally incapable of

realising that 2014 it's a historical year for Scotland and

people want to see what is being proposed. They had an opportunity

today and they dropped the ball. There will be no proposals at all

that will help anyone in Scotland. It is not giving decision-making

powers to Edinburgh so that we can make better decisions closer to

home. They had the opportunity and they have blown it. The Queen

acknowledged the historical year for Scotland and her speech and said

that she and her government, she was obviously a speech written her --

for her by the government, she was not ducking the issue. The Scottish

Government is in favour of independence, it is the call is the

quality and who had an opportunity to bring forward proposals. These

proposals are not good enough. There is time and opportunity to have

brought forward changes. It is a missed opportunity and I think

people will be asking if these proposals are made in good faith,

why have they not being proposed? They had all the time to put them

before Parliament so that we Ganzi the detail and people can then make

a decision, why have they put that off? Margaret Curran, the argument

is that the Unionist parties will want more power for the Scottish

Parliament, why did we not see that on offer today and the Queen's

Speech? The parties have passed legislation in this Parliament. I am

a great critic of this government but they have given the Scottish

Government more powers. The SNP cannot make up their mind but the

art in favour of it or not. They keep on changing their minds. But I

would agree with Angus and that it was the void of any proposals that

will help Scottish people at the moment. They talked about powers but

they do not talk about what people do. I would like to ask Angus

Robertson and he will join the Labour Party and trying to back the

freeze on fuel prices? We have an SNP Government obsessed with

independence, they believe it is the answer to everything and I believe

that people are fed up with that and they want real policies that will

change lives. What a surprise, the Labour Party stands up for the Tory

Party and the coalition! Where is the action that we need at the

moment coming through? The party and the governments that we did not vote

for, they had an opportunity today to bring forward powers and they did

not do that. The Labour Party could not even David UKIP and the recent

elections, do not lecture me. The SNP are ahead of the liver party in

Scotland. The Labour Party are promising jam tomorrow and we should

trust them when exactly the same thing has happened in the past and

we have been let down? Let us judge governments by what they deliver,

the Westminster government had an opportunity to bring forward

legislation, I am sorry they have not done so. Margaret decides to

defend that, but for me it is not good enough. You are misrepresenting

my argument. You are struggling. I am not defending the Conservative

government but I am asking whether the SNP would support the call of

the river party to freeze energy prices question that you had that

opportunity and you did not act. We are fed up in Scotland of people

having this kind of talk. We need concrete policies and changes.

People watching this will be wondering why someone from a Labour

opposition in London rather than attacking the government in power,

the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, is choosing the opportunity to

simply bash the SNP. Because you are here! That says it all. The Queen's

Speech was an opportunity for the quality and to present opportunities

and powers to Scotland, they have failed miserably. It is about time

that I got a word and edgeways. What about the proposal for becoming MPs,

a question to both of you, should there be a similar proposal to

recall MPs and the Scottish Parliament? Any working solution

that improves governance, that needs to be looked at in detail. As I

understand it, that as 10% of the electorate over an eight week

period. It is worth looking at, we should not put everything down in a

Queen's Speech, there will always be something of merit and we are happy

to look at that if it is a workable solution for Scotland. I largely

agree with that but we have to understand the frustration of people

with the political representatives and how they feel and we must come

back to them. If we can get workable solutions, we have to work towards

that. I would be open-minded about all options. Margaret Curran and

Angus Robertson, thank you very much.

On the final question on a very busy day for you, it is a by-election

tomorrow and it looks like the Conservatives are the favourites for

Newark? That is correct, they have thrown a lot at the kitchen sink. A

huge number of Conservative MPs have had to go up there to canvas in the

by-election. The bookies have the Tories as favourites to win that

one. It will be an important by-election coming after the

European and the local elections here in England and which UKIP did

very well. This is really a seat which the Conservatives should win,

they had a majority of something like 16,000, if they do not win it

it will be bad for the Conservatives.

Thank you for that, David Porter. A final chat with our commentator for

the afternoon, Alf Young, let us pick up with the chat we were having

with some of the MSPs there about the Strathclyde Commission that

reported earlier in the week, what did you make of that? Where the

Conservatives bowled and their proposals? A bold as an appropriate

word because if you take where the Conservative Party in Scotland used

to be on these issues and not a thing being interested in devolution

itself as a concept, the fact that they have got to this stage were

Lord Strathclyde has got a proposal where he said that all of the income

tax should be controlled from Scotland is very significant and

takes the issue much further than the McCalman proposals and herded

and that are currently being enacted. It is bold. It means that

all three of the Unionist parties have now got proposals for greater

fiscal autonomy, not full fiscal autonomy but certainly greater

fiscal autonomy for our future devolved Scottish Government. It

does change the story. As Anders Robertson demonstrated, the other

side and always say yes, you will promise to do it, but will you

actually do it? Is it a serious commitment? That is always going to

be a difficulty, but, you know, they have moved significantly. The

question now and this was coming up through some of the interventions

that Gordon Brown has made over the past few days was whether they can

get their act together and come up with something that they can share.

And propose as a common commitment. do you think the Conservatives were

bolder than Labour work? Certainly on income tax. Will the commitment

be delivered? That will always be the comeback. That gets us back into

the political debate that turned so many voters. Let us head back to

where we started the programme and the State opening of Parliament. We

started with the pictures there of the nod to the heritage of an

ancient state. People in Scotland might love it or hate it. It lays

out the Westminster Parliament in it falls -- full glory or in its stage

idiosyncrasies. What do you make of seeing that panoply of state? I

worry about anything to do with having to wear a heap of metal on

your head and walking up and down steps to the throne and yet on the

day it wasn't her under strain. One of the boys fainted. We started with

four and then there were three because one of them had a turn. It

is very antique. Lots of parts of the world think it is amazing. The

coach she was riding in is the work of a Republican Australian who

has... Australia has threatened to ditch the monarchy from time to

time. He remortgaged his house to build this coach which has the Stone

of destiny embodied in it. Who gave the authority to someone to chip off

bits of the stone I don't know! I don't particularly love it or think

it's appropriate in the 21st century but a lot of people do.

Before we go, a quick prediction for the by-election tomorrow. It looks

like the Tories. The script will have to change again because UKIP

were on the surge so why have they not done better? We're back at the

same time next week, 2:30pm on BBC Two. Thanks for your company this

afternoon. Bye for now. This is one of the most

fire-prone regions on earth.