Brown says Labour must end ‘disrespect for devolution’ in 2026

The SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown has written to the Prime Minister saying Labour must end its “disrespect for devolution” in 2026.

The MSP said Labour had broken its promises on devolution, raising a number of issues with Sir Keir Starmer including the allocation of funding for the fishing industry.

Mr Brown also said the changes to inheritance tax for family farms disproportionately affected Scotland.

He further said that the UK Government had used the Internal Market Act to bypass Holyrood through the Pride in Place programme, which provides funding to communities.

The Scottish Secretary has said the SNP are “manufacturing constitutional grievances” and failing to improve public services.

Mr Brown said: “Before coming to power Labour talked a good game on devolution, but their actions since then have shown otherwise.

“Whether it’s cutting funding for fishing, their National Insurance hikes, or maintaining Boris Johnson’s hated Internal Market Act, the idea that Labour is ‘the party of devolution’ is now totally laughable.

“Even some of their own in the Welsh Senedd had the courage to call it out just before Christmas – it’s a shame their colleagues in the Scottish Parliament can’t do the same.

“2026 needs to be the year Labour drop their disrespect for devolution – but the only way we can protect Scotland’s Parliament for good is with independence.”

Responding to his comments, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “This Labour Government has delivered to the Scottish Parliament the largest budget settlement in the history of devolution, yet under this failing SNP-led Scottish Government our local services continue to struggle.

“Instead of manufacturing constitutional grievances, SNP politicians like Keith Brown should be answering the question being asked by so many Scots as the new year begins: ‘Where’s the money gone John?’

“Scotland deserves better than SNP politicians seemingly more interested in trying to blame others for their failures than getting on with the job of improving Scottish public services.”