Michael Moore (UK politician)
Encyclopedia
Michael Kevin Moore is a British
Liberal Democrat
politician, currently the Secretary of State for Scotland
in the UK coalition government, and the Member of Parliament
(MP) for the constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
.
Born in Northern Ireland
, but largely raised in Scotland, he qualified as a chartered accountant
and worked as a researcher to the prominent Liberal Democrat politician, David Steel
. At the 1997 General Election
, Moore succeeded Steel as the Liberal Democrat MP for the Scottish Borders
constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
(Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk from 2005). He joined the Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
in 2005, and held many portfolios, including Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Northern Ireland & Scotland (joint).
Following the 2010 General Election, and the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, the cabinet post of Scottish Secretary
was given to the Liberal Democrats, initially Danny Alexander
. However following the resignation of Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws
a month later, Alexander took his role, and Moore was appointed the Scottish Secretary on May 29, 2010. Since entering office, Moore has overseen the implementation of the Scotland Bill (2011), which grants further devolution to Scotland.
, Northern Ireland
where his father was serving as a chaplain in the British Army
. He moved with his family to Wishaw
, Scotland in 1970 and then to the Scottish Borders
in 1981. He was educated at Strathallan School
, Jedburgh Grammar School
and Edinburgh University, where he studied politics and modern history.
On leaving university he worked for a year as a researcher for Lib Dem MP Archy Kirkwood before joining the Edinburgh
office of accountants Coopers & Lybrand. He qualified as a Scottish
Chartered Accountant
, going on to be a manager in the office's corporate finance
practice.
succeeding David Steel
following his retirement with a majority of 1,489. In 2001 he retained his seat increasing his majority to 5,157. In 2005 following boundary changes Moore contested the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
and won with a majority of 5,901, he defended the seat in 2010 once again retaining this time with a slightly decreased majority of 5,675.
he served as the party's Scottish spokesman on the economy and a member of the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee before taking up the position of Transport Spokesman. In November 2001 he was made Deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesman under Charles Kennedy
followed by the position of Defence spokesman. Under the leadership of Sir Menzies Campbell he looked after Foreign Affairs and under Nick Clegg
took the title of Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. In 2002 he was elected to the internal position of Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and re-elected to the role in 2007. Moore resigned from that position on 20 September 2010 citing the pressures of an increased workload following his elevation to Secretary of State for Scotland
following the 2010 General Election.
on 29 May 2010, a move which followed the promotion of fellow Scottish MP Danny Alexander
to Chief Secretary to the Treasury
.
, he appeared on the BBC
's Question Time
programme, where he was challenged by an audience member who felt concerned that he would be made homeless by the government's new housing policies. In response Moore said "the horrible truth is that across the country everyone is going to have to make a contribution to getting the country right" before going on to explain that measures taken in the emergency budget were there to help the lowest paid. The audience member challenged Mr. Moore on the response and told him to "get a grip". In the same programme, he said that fellow Cabinet member Michael Gove
had made a major mistake in his announcement about the scrapping of the school rebuilding programme but said that the Education Secretary
had apologised with "grace" for it. In September 2010 when compiling their list of the 50 most influential Liberal Democrats Moore was named by the Daily Telegraph as the 13th most influential. Describing him within the context of the role he occupied as a "safe pair of hands in a job where the definition of success is being able to keep out of trouble"
in cabinet discussions to retain funding for two aircraft carriers which would be constructed in yards around Britain, including in Glasgow
and Rosyth
in Scotland. The project, costing £5.2 billion was thought to be under threat following the spending review which many believed could result in a 20% cut in the Ministry of Defence
budget. He also provided backing for the upkeep of RAF bases in Kinloss
and Lossiemouth
which it was estimated were worth 6000 jobs to the Moray
economy after campaigners had feared that the bases may be closed as a result of the budget cuts. On visiting the bases Moore said "What I am determined to do is ensure we make the best possible case for the bases." but added that he could make "no guarantees" about the future of the bases. On 9 October 2009 it was announced that Moore had been appointed to the Governments Public Expenditure Committee or 'Star Chamber
' following the settlement of his own departmental budget. He joined other cabinet ministers on the committee who had also agreed their own budgets and would help deliberate over the budgets of departments prior to the spending review announcement.
On 19 October 2010 David Cameron
announced the results of the governments review of defence spending
just one day before the announcement of the spending review. The review contained disappointing news for RAF Kinloss
as it was announced that government orders for Nimrod MRA4 surveillance aircraft would be cancelled. The cancellation of the project meant that the base would need to close with the future of RAF Lossiemouth
also becoming uncertain with Micheal Moore saying that the decision on its future still needed to be decided. Just a day later on 20 October 2010, the chancellor George Osbourne announced the governments comprehensive spending review (CSR). For Scotland this meant a budget cut of 4.6% or £1.3bn in cash terms. Moore claimed that Scotland had been given a "fair deal in tough times" although this was attacked by opponents in the SNP and Labour parties. He added that "spending on frontline public services will be reduced by less than in England, Wales or Northern Ireland" and said "if we don’t address that £155bn deficit now, Scots will end up paying longer and more".
he added that Scottish students choosing to study north of the border would be unaffected by the vote and Scottish students would continue to pay no fees at all.
and people like Julian Lewis
hate us with a passion and I can't say it's unreciprocated."
to receive new tax and borrowing powers. The proposals, outlined in the Scotland Bill
were based on the recommendations of the Calman Commission which looked at how to improve devolution in Scotland. The bill provided the Scottish Parliament with borrowing powers for the first time as well as providing opportunity for Holyrood to set a 'Scottish Income Tax' rate each year from 2015. Should the proposals go through, the Scottish Parliament would be responsible for raising approximately 35% of the revenue it spends with the remainder being funded by the United Kingdom block grant
. In addition to tax and borrowing, the Scotland Bill announced measures to transfer areas such as setting the drink drive limit and national speed limits in Scotland. Speaking about the bill Moore said "This Bill is the culmination of work by three Scottish political parties, numerous impartial experts, two successive UK Governments and the two Parliaments in London and Edinburgh." He said that future Scottish Governments would have more accountability for the financial decisions they make and said that the bill addressed a number of "major issues and takes the settlement forward in a powerful and positive way."
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United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrats
The Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
politician, currently the Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
in the UK coalition government, and the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for the constituency of Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the south of Scotland within the Scottish Borders council area...
.
Born in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, but largely raised in Scotland, he qualified as a chartered accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
and worked as a researcher to the prominent Liberal Democrat politician, David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
. At the 1997 General Election
United Kingdom general election, 1997
The United Kingdom general election, 1997 was held on 1 May 1997, more than five years after the previous election on 9 April 1992, to elect 659 members to the British House of Commons. The Labour Party ended its 18 years in opposition under the leadership of Tony Blair, and won the general...
, Moore succeeded Steel as the Liberal Democrat MP for the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
constituency of Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983...
(Berwickshire, Roxburgh & Selkirk from 2005). He joined the Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
Liberal Democrat Frontbench Team
The Liberal Democrats are the third-largest political party in the United Kingdom. While in opposition, the Liberal Democrat leader appointed a team of Members of Parliament and Peers to speak for the party on different issues. Their areas of responsibility broadly corresponded to those of...
in 2005, and held many portfolios, including Defence, Foreign Affairs, International Development and Northern Ireland & Scotland (joint).
Following the 2010 General Election, and the formation of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, the cabinet post of Scottish Secretary
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
was given to the Liberal Democrats, initially Danny Alexander
Danny Alexander
Daniel Grian Alexander is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency since 2005....
. However following the resignation of Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Laws
David Laws
David Anthony Laws is a British politician. He is Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Yeovil and former Chief Secretary to the Treasury....
a month later, Alexander took his role, and Moore was appointed the Scottish Secretary on May 29, 2010. Since entering office, Moore has overseen the implementation of the Scotland Bill (2011), which grants further devolution to Scotland.
Background
Moore was born in DundonaldDundonald
Dundonald is a large settlement in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies east of Belfast and is often deemed to be a suburb of the city. It includes the large housing estate of Ballybeen, and many new housing estates have emerged in the past ten years....
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
where his father was serving as a chaplain in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
. He moved with his family to Wishaw
Wishaw
Wishaw is a large town and former burgh in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is on the edge of the Clyde Valley, 15 miles south-east of Glasgow....
, Scotland in 1970 and then to the Scottish Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
in 1981. He was educated at Strathallan School
Strathallan School
Strathallan School is an independent boarding and day school in Scotland for boys and girls aged 9–18. The school has a campus at Forgandenny, a few miles south of Perth. It typically takes 50 minutes to travel to the school from Edinburgh and 1:15 hours from Glasgow.The school has 99 full time...
, Jedburgh Grammar School
Jedburgh Grammar School
Jedburgh Grammar School is a state secondary school in Jedburgh, Scotland, with around 440 pupils, 40 teaching staff, and 15 non-teaching staff.-Architecture:...
and Edinburgh University, where he studied politics and modern history.
On leaving university he worked for a year as a researcher for Lib Dem MP Archy Kirkwood before joining the Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
office of accountants Coopers & Lybrand. He qualified as a Scottish
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland
The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland is the Scottish professional body of Chartered Accountants . It is a regulator, educator and influencer.ICAS act as a thought leader and voice of the professional business community...
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountant
Chartered Accountants were the first accountants to form a professional body, initially established in Britain in 1854. The Edinburgh Society of Accountants , the Glasgow Institute of Accountants and Actuaries and the Aberdeen Society of Accountants were each granted a royal charter almost from...
, going on to be a manager in the office's corporate finance
Corporate finance
Corporate finance is the area of finance dealing with monetary decisions that business enterprises make and the tools and analysis used to make these decisions. The primary goal of corporate finance is to maximize shareholder value while managing the firm's financial risks...
practice.
Member of Parliament
Moore was elected to the Westminster parliament during the 1997 General Election as the MP for Tweeddale, Ettrick and LauderdaleTweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale (UK Parliament constituency)
Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1983...
succeeding David Steel
David Steel
David Martin Scott Steel, Baron Steel of Aikwood, KT, KBE, PC is a British Liberal Democrat politician who served as the Leader of the Liberal Party from 1976 until its merger with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the Liberal Democrats...
following his retirement with a majority of 1,489. In 2001 he retained his seat increasing his majority to 5,157. In 2005 following boundary changes Moore contested the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in the south of Scotland within the Scottish Borders council area...
and won with a majority of 5,901, he defended the seat in 2010 once again retaining this time with a slightly decreased majority of 5,675.
Liberal Democrat Frontbench
After his election to ParliamentBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
he served as the party's Scottish spokesman on the economy and a member of the House of Commons Scottish Affairs Select Committee before taking up the position of Transport Spokesman. In November 2001 he was made Deputy Foreign Affairs Spokesman under Charles Kennedy
Charles Kennedy
Charles Peter Kennedy is a British Liberal Democrat politician, who led the Liberal Democrats from 9 August 1999 until 7 January 2006 and is currently a Member of Parliament for the Ross, Skye and Lochaber constituency....
followed by the position of Defence spokesman. Under the leadership of Sir Menzies Campbell he looked after Foreign Affairs and under Nick Clegg
Nick Clegg
Nicholas William Peter "Nick" Clegg is a British Liberal Democrat politician who is currently the Deputy Prime Minister, Lord President of the Council and Minister for Constitutional and Political Reform in the coalition government of which David Cameron is the Prime Minister...
took the title of Shadow Secretary of State for International Development. In 2002 he was elected to the internal position of Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and re-elected to the role in 2007. Moore resigned from that position on 20 September 2010 citing the pressures of an increased workload following his elevation to Secretary of State for Scotland
Secretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
following the 2010 General Election.
Secretary of State for Scotland
Following the 2010 general election and the coalition government formed between the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats, Moore was appointed Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
on 29 May 2010, a move which followed the promotion of fellow Scottish MP Danny Alexander
Danny Alexander
Daniel Grian Alexander is a British Liberal Democrat politician who has been Chief Secretary to the Treasury since 2010. He has been the Member of Parliament for the Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey constituency since 2005....
to Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury is the third most senior ministerial position in HM Treasury, after the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer . In recent years, the office holder has usually been given a junior position in the British Cabinet...
.
Early Question Time appearance
Shortly after becoming Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
, he appeared on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
programme, where he was challenged by an audience member who felt concerned that he would be made homeless by the government's new housing policies. In response Moore said "the horrible truth is that across the country everyone is going to have to make a contribution to getting the country right" before going on to explain that measures taken in the emergency budget were there to help the lowest paid. The audience member challenged Mr. Moore on the response and told him to "get a grip". In the same programme, he said that fellow Cabinet member Michael Gove
Michael Gove
Michael Andrew Gove, MP is a British politician, who currently serves as the Secretary of State for Education and as the Conservative Party Member of Parliament for the Surrey Heath constituency. He is also a published author and former journalist.Born in Edinburgh, Gove was raised in Aberdeen...
had made a major mistake in his announcement about the scrapping of the school rebuilding programme but said that the Education Secretary
Education Secretary
Education Secretary may refer to:* Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Scotland* Secretary for Education * Secretary of Public Education, Mexico* Secretary of State for Education, United Kingdom...
had apologised with "grace" for it. In September 2010 when compiling their list of the 50 most influential Liberal Democrats Moore was named by the Daily Telegraph as the 13th most influential. Describing him within the context of the role he occupied as a "safe pair of hands in a job where the definition of success is being able to keep out of trouble"
2010 Spending Review
As part of the British Government's Comprehensive Spending Review due to be announced on 20 October 2010 Moore lent his support to Defence Secretary Liam FoxLiam Fox
Liam Fox MP is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, and former Secretary of State for Defence....
in cabinet discussions to retain funding for two aircraft carriers which would be constructed in yards around Britain, including in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and Rosyth
Rosyth
Rosyth is a town located on the Firth of Forth, three miles south of the centre of Dunfermline. According to an estimate taken in 2008, the town has a population of 12,790....
in Scotland. The project, costing £5.2 billion was thought to be under threat following the spending review which many believed could result in a 20% cut in the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
budget. He also provided backing for the upkeep of RAF bases in Kinloss
Kinloss
Kinloss is a village in Moray, Scotland. It is located near the shore of Findhorn Bay, around 3 miles from Findhorn and 2.5 miles from Forres. RAF Kinloss is located northeast of the village, and is transitioning to an Army barracks.The Cistercian Kinloss Abbey was created in 1150 by King David...
and Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth
Lossiemouth is a town in Moray, Scotland. Originally the port belonging to Elgin, it became an important fishing town. Although there has been over a 1,000 years of settlement in the area, the present day town was formed over the past 250 years and consists of four separate communities that...
which it was estimated were worth 6000 jobs to the Moray
Moray
Moray is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland.- History :...
economy after campaigners had feared that the bases may be closed as a result of the budget cuts. On visiting the bases Moore said "What I am determined to do is ensure we make the best possible case for the bases." but added that he could make "no guarantees" about the future of the bases. On 9 October 2009 it was announced that Moore had been appointed to the Governments Public Expenditure Committee or 'Star Chamber
Star Chamber
The Star Chamber was an English court of law that sat at the royal Palace of Westminster until 1641. It was made up of Privy Counsellors, as well as common-law judges and supplemented the activities of the common-law and equity courts in both civil and criminal matters...
' following the settlement of his own departmental budget. He joined other cabinet ministers on the committee who had also agreed their own budgets and would help deliberate over the budgets of departments prior to the spending review announcement.
On 19 October 2010 David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
announced the results of the governments review of defence spending
Strategic Defence and Security Review
The Strategic Defence and Security Review was announced by the newly formed Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government of the United Kingdom in May 2010, and published on 19 October 2010...
just one day before the announcement of the spending review. The review contained disappointing news for RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss
RAF Kinloss is a Royal Air Force station near Kinloss, on the Moray Firth in the north of Scotland. It opened on 1 April 1939 and served as an RAF training establishment during the Second World War. After the war it was handed over to Coastal Command to watch over Russian ships and submarines in...
as it was announced that government orders for Nimrod MRA4 surveillance aircraft would be cancelled. The cancellation of the project meant that the base would need to close with the future of RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth
RAF Lossiemouth is a Royal Air Force station to the west of the town of Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland. It is one of the RAF's biggest bases and is currently Britain's main base for Tornado GR4s. From 2013 the Northern QRA force of Typhoon F2 will relocate to Lossiemouth following the closure of...
also becoming uncertain with Micheal Moore saying that the decision on its future still needed to be decided. Just a day later on 20 October 2010, the chancellor George Osbourne announced the governments comprehensive spending review (CSR). For Scotland this meant a budget cut of 4.6% or £1.3bn in cash terms. Moore claimed that Scotland had been given a "fair deal in tough times" although this was attacked by opponents in the SNP and Labour parties. He added that "spending on frontline public services will be reduced by less than in England, Wales or Northern Ireland" and said "if we don’t address that £155bn deficit now, Scots will end up paying longer and more".
Tuition fees
Speaking at the time Moore accepted that the issue of tuition fees was a "very difficult issue" for his party and said that his party 'wished' that they had entered government with a budget that would have allowed the abolition of fees. He added "but we are part of a coalition government, grappling with a record peacetime deficit inherited from Labour." Moore claimed that without the changes, universities would be "starved of the money they need to provide quality education". Because the issue of university funding is an area devolved to the Scottish parliamentScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
he added that Scottish students choosing to study north of the border would be unaffected by the vote and Scottish students would continue to pay no fees at all.
Daily Telegraph secret recording
On 22 December, the Daily Telegraph published a recording of Michael Moore obtained by two journalists posing as constituents during one of his weekly constituency surgeries. The audio recording, obtained 24 hours after the vote in the House of Commons heard Moore express unease over the policy saying "Tuition fees ... [are] the biggest, ugliest, most horrific thing in all of this". Speaking of the pledge he signed he expressed remorse saying "I signed a pledge that promised not to do this. I've just done the worst crime a politician can commit, the reason most folk distrust us as a breed. I've had to break a pledge and very, very publicly." He continued that the vote on tuition fees was "deeply damaging to my party, to me individually and lots of others" but said "what we've all had to weigh up is the greater sense of what the Coalition is about." The journalists also recorded Moore speaking about the relationship between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats within the coalition. Moore expressed some unease between the two parties saying "Are you watching what they are doing and what they are saying on the back benches of the Conservative Party? They are spitting blood." Naming some Conservative backbenchers allegedly uneasy with the coalition he said "They are mostly marginalised. David DavisDavid Davis (British politician)
David Michael Davis is a British Conservative Party politician who is the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Haltemprice and Howden...
and people like Julian Lewis
Julian Lewis
Dr. Julian Murray Lewis is a British Conservative Party politician, who has been the Member of Parliament for New Forest East in Hampshire since the 1997 general election.-Education:Born on 26 September 1951 in Swansea, Dr...
hate us with a passion and I can't say it's unreciprocated."
Scotland Bill
On 30 November 2010 Moore announced plans for the Scottish ParliamentScottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament...
to receive new tax and borrowing powers. The proposals, outlined in the Scotland Bill
Scotland Bill 2011
The Scotland Bill is a bill proposed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition UK Government, with broad support from the opposition Labour Party, setting out amendments to the Scotland Act 1998, with the aim of devolving further powers to Scotland....
were based on the recommendations of the Calman Commission which looked at how to improve devolution in Scotland. The bill provided the Scottish Parliament with borrowing powers for the first time as well as providing opportunity for Holyrood to set a 'Scottish Income Tax' rate each year from 2015. Should the proposals go through, the Scottish Parliament would be responsible for raising approximately 35% of the revenue it spends with the remainder being funded by the United Kingdom block grant
Block grant
In a fiscal federal form of government, a block grant is a large sum of money granted by the national government to a regional government with only general provisions as to the way it is to be spent...
. In addition to tax and borrowing, the Scotland Bill announced measures to transfer areas such as setting the drink drive limit and national speed limits in Scotland. Speaking about the bill Moore said "This Bill is the culmination of work by three Scottish political parties, numerous impartial experts, two successive UK Governments and the two Parliaments in London and Edinburgh." He said that future Scottish Governments would have more accountability for the financial decisions they make and said that the bill addressed a number of "major issues and takes the settlement forward in a powerful and positive way."
External links
- Michael Moore MP official constituency site
- Profile at Liberal Democrats
- Profile at Scottish Liberal Democrats
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