Is Labour’s rift on greater tax powers for Scotland opening up again?

Last month we reported that many Scottish Labour MPs were planning on staying away from the party’s annual conference in Perth in three weeks time. Several MPs contacted LabourList in the wake of that report to confirm that they would be finding other places to be and reasons not to attend. The reason for the quiet boycott is that there’s a rift opening up in the Scottish Labour Party over proposals to hand greater tax raising powers to Scotland.

Today that rift has been opened up again, as Douglas Alexander – Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary and Election Chair – is giving a speech in Glasgow that’s widely been interpreted as backing the proposed plans for further devolution of taxation. The Guardian reports Alexander saying:

“Whether it is considering taxation, employment and skills policy or indeed the responsibilities of the Crown Estates, or the running of elections, I would encourage my colleagues in the devolution commission to range widely and act boldly.”

The Guardian also suggests that Jim Murphy (often considered an Alexander ally as they worked together on David Miliband’s campaign) is amongst those opposed to such a change in powers. Indeed Ken Macintosh – who Murphy backed for the Scottish leadership – has described the proposals as “independence by default”.

Expect these rows to rumble on until, through and after Scottish Labour’s conference in Perth…