Smith Commission

Smith Commission. The Smith Commission, led by Lord Smith of Kelvin, was established by Prime Minister David Cameron in the aftermath of the Scottish independence referendum, 2014, with the goal of reviewing the Scotland Act 1998 and making recommendations for further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament. This commission was a key part of the United Kingdom government's commitment to delivering more autonomy to Scotland, as promised during the Better Together campaign, which included supporters like Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling. The commission's work was also influenced by the Vow, a pledge made by David Cameron, Ed Miliband, and Nick Clegg to grant more powers to Scotland in the event of a "no" vote in the Scottish independence referendum, 2014.

Introduction

The Smith Commission was announced on October 19, 2014, with Lord Smith of Kelvin as its chair, and it began its work in November 2014. The commission consisted of representatives from the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservative Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Scottish Green Party, ensuring a broad range of perspectives, including those of Nicola Sturgeon, Jim Murphy, Ruth Davidson, Willie Rennie, and Patrick Harvie. The commission's establishment was a response to the Scottish independence referendum, 2014, which saw Scotland vote to remain part of the United Kingdom, with Glasgow and North Lanarkshire being among the areas that voted in favor of independence. The commission's work was also informed by the Scotland Act 2012, which had already devolved some powers to the Scottish Parliament, and the Calman Commission, which had made recommendations for further devolution in 2009.

Background

The Scottish independence referendum, 2014 was a pivotal moment in the history of Scotland and the United Kingdom, with Alex Salmond and the Scottish National Party leading the campaign for independence, and Alistair Darling and Better Together leading the campaign against it. The referendum resulted in a "no" vote, with 55.3% of voters choosing to remain part of the United Kingdom, and 44.7% voting for independence. The United Kingdom government, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, had promised to deliver more autonomy to Scotland in the event of a "no" vote, and the Smith Commission was established to fulfill this commitment, with input from Gordon Brown, George Osborne, and other key figures. The commission's work was also influenced by the West Lothian question, which concerns the representation of Scotland in the UK Parliament, and the Barnett formula, which determines the level of funding for Scotland from the UK Treasury.

Terms of Reference

The Smith Commission's terms of reference were to "convene cross-party talks and facilitate an agreement on the devolution of further powers to the Scottish Parliament, in line with the Vow made by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Leader of the Opposition during the Scottish independence referendum, 2014 campaign". The commission was tasked with producing a report and recommendations by November 30, 2014, and its work was informed by the Scotland Act 1998, the Scotland Act 2012, and the Calman Commission report. The commission consulted with a range of stakeholders, including the Scottish Government, the UK Government, and various Scottish and UK politicians, such as Nicola Sturgeon, Jim Murphy, and Ruth Davidson, as well as experts from University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, and University of St Andrews.

Report and Recommendations

The Smith Commission published its report on November 27, 2014, which included a range of recommendations for further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament, including the devolution of income tax, VAT, and other taxes, as well as powers over welfare and employment law. The report also recommended the devolution of powers over energy and environment policy, and the creation of a Scottish fiscal framework. The commission's recommendations were influenced by the Fiscal Commission Working Group, which had been established by the Scottish Government to examine the fiscal implications of devolution, and the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which had provided analysis on the potential impact of devolution on the Scottish economy. The report was welcomed by Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband, as well as by Scottish politicians such as Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson, who had been involved in the Scottish Conservative Party and Scottish Labour.

Implementation and Impact

The Smith Commission's report and recommendations were implemented through the Scotland Act 2016, which devolved a range of powers to the Scottish Parliament, including powers over income tax, VAT, and other taxes, as well as powers over welfare and employment law. The act also established a Scottish fiscal framework and devolved powers over energy and environment policy. The implementation of the Smith Commission's recommendations has had a significant impact on the Scottish economy and politics, with the Scottish Government gaining more control over taxation and spending. The commission's work has also influenced the development of devolution in other parts of the United Kingdom, such as Wales and Northern Ireland, with the Silk Commission and the Strathclyde Review making recommendations for further devolution in Wales and England. The Smith Commission's legacy continues to shape the United Kingdom's constitutional landscape, with ongoing debates about federalism, devolution, and the future of the Union, involving key figures like Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, and Ian Blackford.

Category:Scottish politics