THERE should be a Commons debate on "The Vow" and other broken promises, an SNP MP has said.
The party called on ministers to discuss how Scots had been let down until now to ensure that they will not be “misled” in the event of a second independence referendum.
Prior to the September 2014 vote, the LibDem, Tory and Labour party leaders made a joint promise to deliver more powers to Scotland if the No campaign won.
Despite some further powers being made available to Holyrood in the years following the referendum, many independence supporters argue that the promise has not been properly kept.
The man behind "The Vow" front page of the Daily Record now supports Scottish independence, and works for the SNP.
Claims from the Better Together campaign that a No vote would lead to cheaper energy bills and protect the UK's EU membership have also been proven wrong.
Speaking in the House, SNP Commons leader Deidre Brock highlighted the Supreme Court case on an independence referendum.
Brock said: “I note that back in June 2014 before the last independence referendum the Scotland Office issued a research and analysis sheet on Scots’ personal finances which said ‘as part of the UK our savings are protected by UK-wide institutions and the costs of the essentials you spend money on like energy and mortgage bills are kept lower and more stable than they would otherwise be’.
“Just how far removed that is from where we find ourselves today would be funny if it wasn’t so frightening for our constituents.
“Can we have debate finally, examining the promises, the vows if you like, made to the Scottish people at the time of the last referendum that have so badly let them down to ensure they won’t be misled again before the next one?”
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt backed the call for the debate, telling MPs it could include discussion of the “enormous package on energy pricing” the Government had brought forward.
She added: “We could also discuss the SNP’s record on drugs, on health, on education, even perhaps bin collection, and, finally, the SNP’s total lack of self-awareness about their own tragic record.”
Also during the exchanges with Mordaunt on Thursday, Labour asked the Government if they have simply “given up” on “standards in public life”.
Mordaunt told MPs they would consider a motion relating to the Committee on Standards’ reports into the code of conduct and its recommendation related to appeals on Tuesday, October 18.
Shadow Commons leader Thangam Debbonaire said she was pleased about the motion but argued it is “half-baked”, adding: “It appears they are only planning to bring in the bits on appeals … why? Could she perhaps tell us which of the other recommendations to raise standards for MPs she doesn’t like?
“Is it the one about banning MPs from doing paid consultancy work, and we know the reputational damage that’s been caused to Parliament on that recently. Is it the one about increasing transparency of members’ interests? Or are they just planning to solve these matters all together? Have they simply given up on standards in public life?”
Mordaunt replied: “The motion next week is focusing on appeals, but I will also update the House about other measures. It’s not that we’re not doing them, it’s just that there’s a particular … we particularly want to press ahead with the appeals issue.”
