Scotland's Economy

GMK on Scotland Tonight: “Smith Commission missed the vow by a mile”

Screen Shot 2014-12-03 at 09.21.27Northern Ireland is set to have corporation tax devolved but that power will be denied to Scotland.  

On Scotland Tonight (Dec 2nd 2014) Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp the founder of Business for Scotland argues the case with detail and clarity whilst his opponent shouts “you lost, get over it and you are not getting it”.  

We are debating new powers and the failure of the Smith Commission to include the devolution of several job creating powers and yet the unionists are still fighting the referendum. Time for them to move on, time for them to live up to the promises made on devolution to Scotland.

You can watch the interview below or download from YouTube here

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About the author

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp

Gordon MacIntyre-Kemp is the Founder and Chief Executive of Business for Scotland. Before becoming CEO of Business for Scotland Gordon ran a business strategy and social media, sales & marketing consultancy.

With a degree in business, marketing and economics, Gordon has worked as an economic development planning professional, and in marketing roles specialising in pricing modelling and promotional evaluation for global companies (including P&G).

Gordon benefits (not suffers) from dyslexia, and is a proponent of the emerging New Economics School. Gordon contributes articles to Business for Scotland, The National and Believe in Scotland.

8 Comments

  • Shouting and pointing the finger, like Peter did here, is often the default when put on the spot to defend something they know is not true. Peter knows that Smith has let down Scotland badly, but as he is not a politician, has not learned to lie, hence the shouting. On the other hand Gordon provides a clear argument to show that the powers proposed will not benefit scotland. I am not surprised by the outcome of the commission and doubt if any of the new powers will be implemented with the exception of vat which is meaningless anyway. Roll on May 2015.

  • Why did Peter Hughes get to start the debate AND got the last word? Is this not bias? This was the sort of bias that was reported before.

    If you are second to speak you are on the back foot but benefit from the last word?

    As for 55% voted for unionism get over it …. eh?

    No 55% voted for remaining in the union BUT WITH SUBSTANTIAL NEW POWERS?

    71% wanted full taxation devolved!! So Hughes is the man not listening to the people.

    Did the STUC not say this falls far short of the vow?

    A typical unionist! Arrogant, aggressive and in your face!

    People need to wake up, FAST!!!

  • I found the nastiness of No advocates inexplicable given their “victory”, however, I think I understand it now. If you apply Eric Berne’s Transactional Analysis to the conversation you can see that Peter is acting in a parental mode, where as Gordon is in Adult. Peter is totally phased by Gordon’s continuing rationality and failure to adopt a Childish response, hence his bullying and hectoring tone.

    I particularly liked Peter’s attempt to build his stature up by referring to his understanding what levers are, whereas Gordon was using his experience in order to illustrate his point.

    • Good analysis Willie I am often surprised by how many of my opponents move to child mode – maybe its my fault:-)

    • Peter may understand what levers are, but he clearly has no understanding of what they can do, particularily if used correctly.

    • As Gordon said Willie, your analysis was spot on there! And one sees it all the time now from all the unionist commentators.It’s as if they were given a script to use on every occasion possible, it’s pathetic really!

  • They are just so desperate to shout “move on” at every opportunity, the fear that we can keep the pot boiling is palpable. Once more we have been sold a pup !

  • From all of the pro-unionist parties, in Parliament and in TV debates like this, there is an overwhelming desire to move on from what was promised V what was delivered as a means of deflecting focus on their failure to grasp the possibility of the country we could be and that most people want it to be – even without independence. They, particularly the SLP, have sold the Scottish people’s expectations down the river for self seeking party political gamesmanship controlled from Westminster. That particularly labour can’t see the damage they are doing themselves in the eyes of the electorate is astounding. To see Labour MSP’s stand there with Lib-Dem MSP’s and hear them spew out “Home Rule” and “The vow” {whatever the hell that was} has been delivered stretches credibility into infinity.

    It’s no consolation but the sooner these elections come, the better as far as I’m concerned.

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