General Election 2015: Tories published English manifesto to promote SNP, says Jim Murphy
Murphy said the Tory leader was acting like 'an election agent for the SNP' adding 'you don’t defeat Scottish nationalism with English nationalism'
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Your support makes all the difference.Labour’s Scottish leader has accused David Cameron of “playing with fire” by intentionally publishing the Tories’ first “English manifesto” in the hope that it will increase resentment towards Westminster and promote the SNP.
Jim Murphy accused the Prime Minister of using “cheap and crude tactics” by announcing that English MPs would have new ring-fenced powers over income tax and other financial policies within a 100 days if he won a second term in government.
Mr Murphy said the Tory leader was acting like “an election agent for the SNP” adding “You don’t defeat Scottish nationalism with English nationalism.”
In an unexpected joint-offensive, Labour and the Scottish Nationalists both attacked the introduction of an English rate of income tax as a breach of the Smith Commission recommendations.
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The commission, ordered after last year’s referendum by Mr Cameron, approved new devolved powers for Holyrood including Scotland setting its own level of income tax.
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s First Minister, said her party – on course to hold the balance of power after 7 May – would oppose English-votes-for-English-laws (Evel).
Mr Murphy branded the Tory document a guide to “full fiscal autonomy for England”. He said the Conservatives had committed themselves to an English tax system and the SNP were “hell bent” on Scottish-only taxes. “Neither of these will be good for Scotland,” he said.
Although David Cameron said those who opposed the new England-only laws were putting the UK at risk, and that devolution had made the UK’s democratic picture “more complicated”, the policy announcement appeared to confirm the worst fears of many SNP voters.
In Shotts, part of a central Scotland constituency mid-way between Glasgow and Edinburgh, polls suggest that the SNP will wipe-out a 12,000 Labour majority. With the Scottish media accusing Mr Cameron of “playing the English” card, Maureen Ken, owner of the Lifestyle Express general store on Shott’s Station Road, said “I’m a former Labour voter but voted Yes in the referendum. The Tories talking of England and more England, confirms I’m right in voting SNP.”
Cashiers and customers in the nearby Co-op supermarket said Mr Cameron’s decision to “prepare” for an English Parliament at Westminster, and to “reduce the power of Scottish MPs” showed “He’s scared of Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP, and he’s never been interested in Scotland anyway.”
If John Smith had not died in 1994, this would have become the North Lanarkshire territory represented by a Labour prime minister. Airdrie and Shotts was also the seat of former Home Secretary, John Reid, and former Scottish Secretary, Helen Liddell.
Its lengthy association with coal mining and heavy industry, made it a Labour stronghold. But local barber Alistair Campbell, says the English-only message will “cause real anger” and “play into the hands of the SNP.”
Mr Campbell’s barber’s chair holds no polling secrets. “Labour lost this place a long time ago. ‘New’ Labour meant nothing here. We had the pits, and Labour was our party. Generations voted the same way as their parents and grandparents. But Labour are no longer the Labour we once knew. That loyalty, especially for younger voters, isn’t there anymore.”
Mrs Ken said the anti-English message from Mr Cameron was also a warning for Ms Sturgeon. “Having spent years attacking Labour and England, the SNP should beware of doing any deal at Westminster. Scotland should be independent. That’s what Cameron wants."
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