Scottish devolution ‘a process and not a religion’ says Badenoch

The Conservatives have “no plans” to take away powers from the Scottish Parliament, Kemi Badenoch has said.

However, pressed on whether she could rule out stripping Holyrood of powers in the future, the Tory leader said it was “not a yes or no question” and that devolution “is a process” and “not a religion”.

It was previously reported that Ms Badenoch would order a review of devolution and consider withdrawing powers from Scottish ministers if she wins the next general election.

Speaking during a visit to Edinburgh, though, the leader of the opposition said there was “no review planned” and that it was not party policy, although she later added that “maybe we need a review” and that it was “something we wanted our MSPs to be looking at”.

John Swinney, the First Minister, has not ruled out legal action if there is an attempt to curb power.

Asked if she wanted to take powers away from Holyrood, Ms Badenoch told the Press Association: “What we are talking about right now is how to make the people of Scotland richer and better.

“We don’t have any plans to take powers away. What we do have plans for are how to make people’s lives richer.”

The Conservative leader said if a government led by her believed the Scottish government was “doing bad things for the people of Scotland, then we will use existing powers to intervene”.

She said: “I’ve been very clear, as I did when we intervened with Section 35, when the Scottish Parliament wanted to put men in women’s safe spaces with their self-ID policy.”

Ms Badenoch suggested the Tories were more concerned about the Scottish Government acting beyond its powers, than taking existing powers away.

The then Tory government issued, for the first time, a Section 35 order in 2013 to revoke the passing of the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, with a court later ruling Holyrood did not have the power to pass it.

Ms Badenoch said she did not want the Scottish Government using devolved powers that impact reserved areas, pointing to the SNP’s effective ban on nuclear energy.

While energy is reserved, Scottish ministers have effectively banned nuclear power north of the border due to their powers over planning applications.

“That is completely wrong,” Ms Badenoch said.

Pressed on whether she would take existing powers away from Scotland, Ms Badenoch insisted it was “not a yes or no question”, adding: “I’m not falling into that trap.”

She said: “What is important for people to understand, is that where the Scottish Government is doing things that are bad for the people of Scotland, we will intervene, something which I did do when I was in government using the Section 35 powers.

“I think it’s very important that people know that someone out there will fight for them if they are being impacted by terrible policies.”

Earlier in the week, the First Minister told PA he would use “every opportunity” to protect the powers of the Scottish Parliament.

Reports that Ms Badenoch would consider revoking powers raised the ire of some in Scotland, with the Scottish Tories distancing themselves from the plan.

Mr Swinney said: “Obviously, I would use every opportunity I could have to challenge a prevailing threat to the Scottish Parliament,” he said.

“But the best way to insulate the Scottish Parliament from any threat from a Conservative government is to vote SNP and secure independence.”

The First Minister added: “What I do is I lead the efforts to protect and enhance Scottish self-government.

“It’s what I’ve always done throughout my political life. I have acted to deliver Scottish self-government where necessary to protect it and at all times to enhance it.”

He added: “If I can secure more powers for the Scottish Parliament… I will pursue that because I think it’s so important that we take every opportunity to strengthen Scottish self-government.

“Because I believe fundamentally that the people of this country are best-placed to decide the future of our country. They will take the best decisions about Scotland.

“So, I will essentially act to protect and enhance the Scottish Parliament in that situation.”

Speaking to reporters later, Ms Badenoch insisted no review was planned and that it was not party policy, but said “certain problems” required “intervention”.

Asked how she would solve a problem, she added: “This is why we said, maybe, we need a review and it’s something that we wanted our MSPs to be looking at.

“Devolution is a process. It’s not a religion which we should worship. This is a process. If a process isn’t working, how can you improve the process rather than just say the process is there, there’s nothing we can do. We are about solutions.”