The leaders of the Scottish Conservatives, Labour Party and Liberal Democrats held a photocall today to mark their joint support for more devolution in the UK.

Following the photocall on Calton Hill, Ruth Davidson, Johann Lamont and Willie Rennie released a joint statement on support for further devolution in the UK.

Below is the text of the statement:

“Power lies with the Scottish people and we believe it is for the Scottish people to decide how we are governed.

“We believe that the pooling and sharing of resources across the United Kingdom is to Scotland's benefit in a partnership of four nations in which distinct national identities can flourish and be celebrated.

“We believe that Scotland and the United Kingdom have been strengthened since the advent of devolution.

“We support a strong Scottish Parliament in a strong United Kingdom and we support the further strengthening of the Parliament's powers.

“The three parties delivered more powers for Holyrood through the Calman Commission which resulted in the Scotland Act 2012.

“We now pledge to further strengthen the powers of the Scottish Parliament, in particular in the areas of fiscal responsibility and social security.

“We believe that Scotland should have a stronger Scottish Parliament while retaining full representation for Scotland at Westminster.

“Our common agenda can bring people together from all of Scotland, from civic society and every community.

“The Scottish Labour Party, the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have each produced our own visions of the new powers which the Scottish Parliament needs.

“We shall put those visions before the Scottish people at the next general election and all three parties guarantee to start delivering more powers for the Scottish Parliament as swiftly as possible in 2015.

“Our common endeavour will deliver a stronger Scottish Parliament in a stronger United Kingdom.”

Ends

James Mildred

Press Officer (RmM2.01)

Scottish Conservatives