Then today, in the Herald newspaper David Cairns firmly ruled out any suggestion that taxation powers might be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. This follows the same person previously ruling out devolution of broadcasting and Des Browne stating that control over their own elections was just not on for the Parliament either.
As I wrote back in January with so many powers being ruled out for devolution before the commission has even met, it is increasingly clear that there is little point to it.
What has particularly irked me has been the way that Cairns has dismissed demands for constitutional change as the preserve of the "McChattering classes". Firstly, the idea that demand for constitutional change is confined to just a section of the population is a nonsense. The drive for change comes from the Scottish people as a whole.
The way he appended the "Mc" to the terminology shows Cairns as the epitome of self loathing Scot. It illustrates what a London centric politician he is. Of course what you won't hear from Cairns is the level of self interest he has in this whole debate. He is presently a Minister in the Scottish Office.
Already it is clear that the Scottish Office is a fairly toothless entity. Devolve more powers to Scotland and people will really begin to ask what its point is and then Cairns might just be out of a job.
However, Scotland cannot just sit still because of the career interests of a few Scottish Labour politicians.
We have to have the appropriate powers here in Scotland to make the changes needed here in Scotland. That for me will always necessitate independence.
But then I am just part of the "McChattering Classes", aren't I?
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