Home

Jeremy Purvis answers BBC web viewers' questions

2013-02-16T15:24:56Z

Click the link below to watch Glenn Campbell's interview of Jeremy Purvis.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21448429

"The leader of the campaign to win new powers for the Scottish Parliament has said he is "enthusiastic" that the pro-union parties will be able to agree on which new responsibilities could be devolved to Holyrood.

Ahead of the Scottish independence referendum in 2014, Jeremy Purvis of the Devo Plus group, urged parties to say what would happen regarding Holyrood powers, if the public voted "no".

Voters will be asked a straight yes/no question on independence, come the 2014 referendum.

The Scottish government budget is currently funded by the UK Treasury and many financial powers are reserved, leading some to argue that Scotland is not properly accountable for the money it spends.

Devo Plus has proposed that Holyrood, as part of the UK, could raise most of its own money by 2020 and has urged Labour, the Tories and Liberal Democrats to agree proposals before the referendum and include them in their manifestoes for the 2015 UK election.

Speaking in the latest of a series of BBC webcasts on Scotland's future, Mr Purvis said the three parties had all been considering options to strengthen devolution.

The former Liberal Democrat MSP, who has also spoken in support of the Better Together campaign to keep the Union, said: "As a member of a devo plus group, a cross-party group, working with other parties, I'm also enthusiastic that the work that they are doing bodes very well for the future."

A New Union shows a blueprint for agreement

2012-11-21T15:02:00Z

In a major report published today, the Devo Plus group’s A New Union shows how agreement can be reached on the best way forward for Scotland.

It shows in practical detail how the Scottish Parliament’s increased powers can be delivered before 2020 and how a permanent, stable and sustainable relationship between Scotland the rest of the UK can be secured after the 2014 referendum.

Alex Fergusson MSP, Tavish Scott MSP and Duncan McNeil MSP and Jeremy Purvis published the report with chairman of Reform Scotland, Ben Thomson.

A New Union shows:

how Devo Plus can be delivered during the lifetime of the next UK Parliament;
what the permanent long term settlement will be for Scotland within the UK; and
how political agreement should be brought about in advance of the referendum vote.

The report includes specific recommendations for the delivery of the long term constitutional relationship for generations to come. They include:

the Westminster Parliament permanently vesting the power to legislate for non reserved matters in Scotland to the Scottish Parliament;
the Scottish Parliament established permanently to that it can only be dissolved if it so agrees;
the authority of the Scottish Parliament to raise the majority of its expenditure recognised in statute; and
means of adjustment to the agreement, and resolutions of dispute recognised in statute.

Devo Plus gives the tools to the Scottish Parliament to deliver better public services, improved social outcomes and a stronger platform for Scotland while recognising the advantage of a strong relationship with the rest of the UK.

Importantly A New Union also shows how agreement can be reached among parties and others.

Download the latest Devo Plus report, A New Union, in full here.

The case for Devo Plus is now even more relevant

2012-10-16T09:19:58Z

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/blog/2012/oct/15/salmond-cameron-scottish-independence-referendum-live?intcmp=239#block-507c0a1d58f91d7bbadac5eb“As all the parties now agree, the time for discussing process is over and the issue now is to address substance. This makes the case for Devo Plus even more relevant.

“Since our launch in February, Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have indicated their openness to further powers, so it now appears that the real question in 2014 will be a straight question between independence and a form of Devo Plus.

“For the result of the referendum to be decisive, those that do not support independence can now come together with Devo Plus for a long-term solution that provides a clear choice in the referendum and settles this for a generation.

“This means making this clear ahead of the vote and obtaining a consensus that is capable of delivery after the referendum.”

Devo Plus release second report, Improving Social Outcomes in Scotland

2012-09-26T13:17:28Z

The Devo Plus group has published its second report focusing on how we deliver improved social outcomes in Scotland. You can download the report here (PDF format) or by clicking the image of the report.

Poll shows clear support for Devo Plus

2012-06-21T07:11:42Z

A new poll, carried out by Ipsos MORI on behalf of Reform Scotland, has shown that Devo Plus is the most popular way forward for Scotland’s constitutional future, easily outpolling both the status quo and independence.

The poll also showed that two-thirds would like to see the Unionist parties campaign for more powers for the Scottish Parliament as an alternative to independence. Further, it showed that twice as many people believe most of the money spent by the Scottish Parliament should be raised by the Scottish Government rather than the Westminster Government – the core message of the Devolution Plus proposal.

In response to the poll information Jeremy Purvis, Leader of the Devo Plus Group, commented:

“This is the first substantive test of opinion in Scotland on the Devo Plus proposals and shows very clearly the desire of the Scottish people to improve on the status quo, but rejecting independence. The very clear support for Devo Plus as the best way forward for Scotland should be listened to. The evidence is also clear that the vast majority of people would like the parties that do not support independence to work together to progress the case for Devo Plus. Devo Plus is not a tactic to defeat independence, rather it is a carefully considered way forward for a stronger Scotland within the UK - this Ipsos Mori poll now shows it is the way forward most preferred by the people of Scotland also.

Ipsos MORI polled 1003 people between 7 and 14 June 2012. Full results/tables will be available on Ipsos MORI’s website.

Thinking about Scotland’s constitutional future, which of the following statements most closely matches your views on this issue?
Scotland should remain part of the UK with the same devolved powers it has at present	29 %
Scotland should remain part of the UK with the increased powers outlined in the Devo Plus proposal	41 %
Scotland should become a fully independent country, separate from the rest of the UK	27 %
Some other view	4 %

As you may know, most of the money spent by the Scottish Parliament currently comes from the Westminster Government. Who do you think should be responsible for raising most of the money the Scottish Parliament spends?
The Scottish Government	61 %
The Westminster Government	29 %
Don’t know	10 %

To what extent do you agree or disagree that those who want to stay in the UK should campaign for more powers for the Scottish Parliament within the UK as an alternative to independence?
Strongly agree	29 %
Tend to agree	37 %
Neither agree nor disagree	13 %
Tend to disagree	9 %
Strongly disagree	8 %
Don’t know	4 %
Agree (Net)	66 %
Disagree (Net)	17 %

-

2012-05-14T09:13:01Z

The Devo Plus Group was established in February 2012 to present the case for strengthening the Scottish Parliament within the UK and improving accountability to the Scottish People.

Devo Plus will strengthen the Scottish Parliament by providing it with more powers, increase accountability to the Scottish people and secure a long term sustainable relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

-

2012-05-14T09:12:27Z

A Stronger Scotland within the UK is the first report of the Devo Plus Group. Focusing on devolving greater tax and financial powers to the Scottish Parliament, it is a major contribution to the debate on Scotland's future.

You can read the full report on PDF format by clicking the document image.

If you would like to read the sumamry of proposals only, click on the image below to download.

-

2012-03-30T13:42:36Z

Work is underway on presenting proposals for better social outcomes in Scotland with Devo Plus. We are also consulting on our work for proposals for a New Union within the UK; considering reforms to the way the UK Government works in relation to Scotland. Please keep coming back to our website for updates, or get in touch with any of your thoughts.