Later that day, Jackie Baillie MSP for Dumbarton and the Vale said: “Any politician not electrified by the possibilities that these new powers present for us, because they do, they give the opportunity to change the lives of the most vulnerable people in our country, needs to ask themselves if they are in the right job”, in exchanges with Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s questions The First Minister, who described the recommendations as a “dangerous half-way house”, responded to Ms Baillie, saying: “What would have electrified me and this parliament would have been job making powers.” The findings on new powers set-out by the commission, which was set up in the wake of the independence referendum, include: • The power to set income tax rates and bands on earned income and retention of all income tax raised in Scotland.

• Powers to create new benefits in devolved areas and make discretionary payments in any area of welfare.

• 16 and 17-year-olds to be allowed to vote in Scottish Government elections.

• Air passenger duty to be full devolved.

• Share of VAT.

Holyrood could also get the power to make decisions in relation to onshore oil and gas extraction, which could give it control over fracking licensing. Offshore extraction will remain under Westminster control.

All five parties with seats in the Scottish Parliament were involved in the commission and the recommendations set-out will now be taken forward with a draft Scotland Bill at Westminster scheduled to be published in January.

Jackie Baillie said that the Unionist parties had kept their promise, saying: “It might not be comfortable for them [the SNP] to hear this but the vow made to the people of Scotland has been delivered, before St Andrew’s Day, ahead of schedule.” However, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon responded: “These powers now have to be delivered. If some of the sabre rattling we’re hearing on English votes for English laws is anything to go by that might not be as straightforward as you think.” Commenting on the words of STUC general secretary Grahame Smith who described the commission’s recommendations as “underwhelming”, the First Minister went on to add: “How has it [the Labour Party], managed to find itself on the same side as the Tories and the wrong side of the STUC. What has gone wrong with Labour?”