Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale has announced her plans for the People’s Constitutional Convention after the policy was adopted at conference on Friday.
SCOTTISH LABOUR leader has announced that Gordon Brown, the former New Labour chancellor of the exchequer, will join a submit to take forward the party’s policy on more federalism across the UK.
Kezia Dugdale has told the Scottish Labour party conference that the former prime minister will join representatives from the UK party, Wales and the English regions to set out how they will develop plans for People’s Constitutional Convention.
Dugdale wants to push ahead with plans for more federal Britain after the policy was adopted by the Scottish Labour party conference in Perth yesterday (Friday 24 February).
With the UK leaving the European Union, Dugdale would like to see more powers devolved to Scotland once they are returned from Brussels.
“With the social chapter ceasing to apply in the UK, this is the right time to look at protections at work and the minimum wage and ask if power over those should sit in Holyrood.” Kezia Dugdale
Dugdale told the conference: “I will be guided by where I think the rights and protections for working people will be best guaranteed.
“So, with the social chapter ceasing to apply in the UK, this is the right time to look at protections at work and the minimum wage and ask if power over those should sit in Holyrood. And I believe it should.
“The same is true of power over immigration. As we leave the single market, we will need to design a new immigration system for the UK. It needs to better serve Scotland’s needs and consider the views of business and of people across the country. We need to make sure we have a fair system.”
Dugdale also told the conference that she would never support Scotland being an independent country.
“So if this country faces another referendum at any point in the future, I will work tirelessly to make sure that our side of the argument is successful again.” Kezia Dugdale
According to Dugdale, who conceded that her party still bears scars from the last referendum on Scottish independence, her party would never support another referendum bill in the Scottish Parliament.
Dugdale said: “So if this country faces another referendum at any point in the future, I will work tirelessly to make sure that our side of the argument is successful again.
“To ensure that we show that our values of solidarity and co-operation can win out.
“And to protect the jobs and opportunities of everyone who lives and works in Scotland.”
“If you share our values if you believe our country is already divided enough, and if you believe the First Minister should shelve her plans for a second independence referendum, then join with us.” Kezia Dugdale
“That is why today I am announcing the launch of together stronger.scot and asking everyone who shares Labour’s vision, of a strong Scotland inside a reformed UK, to sign up.
“If you share our values if you believe our country is already divided enough, and if you believe the First Minister should shelve her plans for a second independence referendum, then join with us.”
Meanwhile, Kezia Dugdale calls for a top up of child benefit to tackle child poverty across Scotland.
In her keynote speech to the Scottish Labour party conference, Dugdale has set out plans to increase Child Benefit by an extra £240 per year by 2021 by using the new welfare powers that are coming to the Scottish Parliament.
“[On Child Benefit] Our plan would mean help for the majority of families across Scotland and would mean 18,000 fewer children living in poverty in the first year, and up to 30,000 once these changes are fully implemented.” Kezia Dugdale
Dugdale said: “Our plan would mean help for the majority of families across Scotland and would mean 18,000 fewer children living in poverty in the first year, and up to 30,000 once these changes are fully implemented.
“It would mean starting to reverse the fall in the value of child benefit that families have seen over the past five years.
“And it would send a strong message, that Scotland will not allow hard working families to bear the brunt of Brexit.”
This is in response from a number of charities that include Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Poverty Alliance and the Church of Scotland that have called on Child Benefit to tackle child poverty.
Based on a calculation from CPAG, the Child Benefit top-up proposal could lift 18,000 out of child poverty in its first year alone. The child benefit for the first year alone is currently £1,076 per year, but under Scottish Labour plans, child benefit would increase to £1,316 per year by 2021.
Picture courtesy of David Thomson
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