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Scotland in the UK
Scotland in the EU
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Full fiscal autonomy, sometimes referred to as devolution max[1], devo-max,[2] fiscal federalism,[3] independence lite,[4] or independence-minus,[5] has come to be used to describe a situation where instead of receiving a block grant from the UK Exchequer as at present, the Scottish Parliament would receive all taxation levied in Scotland and would then make payment to the UK government to cover Scotland's share of the cost of providing UK services. Scottish fiscal autonomy, stopping short of full political independence, is usually promoted by advocates of a federal or confederal constitution for the United Kingdom.
Broadly speaking, a greater percentage of those who support further moves towards Scottish independence support a move to greater fiscal autonomy while a greater percentage of those who wish to retain the Union between Scotland and the rest of the UK would be opposed. As early as July 2001, former Conservative Party chancellor Kenneth Clarke, said he believed fiscal autonomy would be "disastrous for the Scottish economy". [6] On the other hand, Robert Crawford, the former head of Scottish Enterprise, said in February 2004 that the Scottish economy "could be improved" by fiscal autonomy. [7]
David Cameron, the present leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister, had previously made it clear that he would not stand in the way of handing full taxation powers to the Scottish Parliament if the idea was supported by the Scottish Conservative Party, although they ultimately listen to his direction.[8]
The 2011 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey core finding was that while 32% of respondents supported Scottish independence,[9] 43% supported greater autonomy within the UK. 29% of respondents supported Devo Max, while only 21% supported the status quo.[10]
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The election of a majority Scottish National Party Government in May 2011, committed to holding an independence referendum, has also brought the possibility that Fiscal Autonomy could be an extra option in the vote.[11] Some senior Labour Party figures have also suggested that they would support devo max, including Malcolm Chisholm MSP, [12] Mark Lazarowicz MP,[13] and former First Minister Henry McLeish.[14]
A public opinion poll carried out at the end of October 2011 for the BBC Politics Show indicated that devo-max was the most popular option with Scottish voters: 33% backed devo-max, 28% supported independence and 29% backed no further constitutional change.[15]
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