There was always going to be a stooshie. If the Scottish Government was able to hit out at the Smith Commission, agreed to by its own Deputy First Minister, there was no way it would fail to find fault with the UK Government’s adaptation of the proposals.
Except this time the coalition left the door open, just a crack right enough, but enough for it to be quickly kicked down.
As is often the case, both sides are right to an extent. In proper, grown up politics there will not be any “veto” on Scottish Government welfare policy. It would be pointless aggro, unless the proposals were bonkers crazy of the type not actually worthy of anyone we’d vote into office.
Yet the draft clauses are not, as Alistair Carmichael claimed, exactly symmetrical. Both sides have to consult the other but the Secretary of State for Scotland is the only one with the power to “give his or her agreement” about when a policy can happen.
Like I said, it’s an opening just big enough to make some political gain from if you’re fast enough off the mark.
David Cameron’s chat about these plans being the “right resting place” is also interesting. No one can guarantee anything as being forever despite the number of times “settled will of the Scottish people” has been trotted out.
But with a General Election looming, the question is: will anyone crumble on this issue to secure support from the SNP?