Bruce backs cross-party devolution Commission

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 16th Jan 2008

Aberdeenshire MP Malcolm Bruce MP has given his full backing to the latest multi-party talks to create a Constitutional Commission for Scotland which will assess the process that is devolution.

Mr Bruce who played a key role in the original 1992 Constitutional Convention whilst he was leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats said:

"This initiative which brings together parliamentarians in Westminster and Holyrood to discuss Scotland's future is the proper way forward.

"The Scottish National Party walked out of first convention and has declined to participate in this process so far. This is a worrying indication that they are not interested in what Scotland wants but only on what they think they can impose."

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

The full statement from the multi-party talks on a Constitutional Commission is as follows:

The leaders of the Labour, Liberal Democrat and Conservative parties in the Scottish Parliament and the Secretary of State for Scotland and the respective shadow Secretaries of State for Scotland held a positive and productive meeting at Westminster today to take forward proposals for a constitutional commission.

This followed an earlier meeting in Edinburgh in November when the principles of a cross party approach to support devolution and strengthen Scotland's place in the United Kingdom were discussed.

Following the initial meeting, in December a clear majority in the Scottish Parliament voted for the establishment of a constitutional commission. The nationalist conversation set up by the minority SNP administration has no such mandate from the Scottish Parliament.

All present at today's meeting reiterated that the purpose of the commission would be to support and develop devolution in the context of Scotland's place as an integral part of the United Kingdom. This is in accordance with mainstream opinion in Scotland, where the clear majority of people support devolution, value the United Kingdom and reject independence.

There were discussions on the terms of reference, membership and the arrangements for how the commission would undertake its work.

There will be a further meeting in the near future in Edinburgh to take matters forward.

Rt Hon Des Browne MP            Wendy Alexander MSP

David Mundell MP                    Annabel Goldie MSP

Alistair Carmichael MP           Nicol Stephen MSP