Ian Swanson - Waiting for Calman

Not long to wait now until we hear what Sir Kenneth Calman and his colleagues have to say about the future of devolution.
His commission, set up earlier this year with the backing of Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories, is publishing its interim report at 10am.
On the radio this morning, Sir Kenneth acknowledged the report was not making any specific recommendations about more powers for Holyrood. But he said it was a “very substantial” report and would set out “priorities and where we need to go next”.
No doubt there will be warm words of support from the politicians who helped set up the commission.
But the parties still need to decide exactly where they stand on the issue of more powers, especially tax powers. The Lib Dems are strongly in favour of further devolution to Holyrood. But since Wendy Alexander’s departure it is not so clear whether Labour is still as enthusiastic. And the Tories remain divided.
Whatever Sir Kenneth might come up with when presents his final report next year, it is the parties’ positions which will be crucial in deciding what happens.