Kemi Badenoch considers stripping powers from Scottish Parliament

Senior figures within Kemi Badenoch’s shadow cabinet have begun drawing up plans to review the Scotland Act and potentially strip powers away from Holyrood, signaling a significant shift in Conservative constitutional strategy.

The policy deliberations, reported by The National Scot, indicate that a future Conservative administration could seek to reassert Westminster control over certain policy areas to ensure better governance across the UK. A source close to the Conservative leadership told the press that the party would review the Scotland Act and consider withdrawing powers where necessary, according to reporting highlighted by the Spectator.

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Devolution critics have pointed to long-standing divergences in policy outcomes between Westminster and the devolved administrations. Proponents of trimming Holyrood's authority argue that areas such as education have suffered under extended periods of single-party administration, citing international educational studies showing lower relative performance among pupils compared to their English counterparts. Furthermore, tensions over infrastructure have brought the constitutional settlement into sharp relief, notably regarding energy projects and planning regulations.

Shadow energy secretary Andrew Bowie argued that energy remains a reserved power of the sovereign parliament and stated that the party would legislate to bypass devolved planning restrictions if necessary to secure new nuclear power generation in Scotland. This stance has drawn sharp counter-criticism from other political quarters.

Scottish Labour MP and Energy Minister Michael Shanks criticized the proposals, noting that overriding devolution was an approach the Conservatives avoided during their prior time in government.

"Ripping the Scotland Act up to force through nuclear isn’t the right approach. This is why the Tories never did it for 14 years either,"

Michael Shanks, Scottish Labour MP and Energy Minister, via The National Scot

Internal dissent has also surfaced within Conservative ranks. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton stated publicly that she had not been consulted on the developing proposals, describing herself as lower down the pecking order and confirming that the ideas do not currently constitute official Scottish Conservative policy.

The broader debate over the structure of the UK's governance intersects with separate discussions on local empowerment south of the border, where regional structural changes and mayoral election schedules have faced adjustments. As political parties position themselves ahead of future electoral cycles, questions regarding the balance of power between Westminster, devolved parliaments, and local authorities remain central to domestic politics.

What to Watch Next

• Further policy clarifications from the Conservative frontbench regarding the scope of the proposed Scotland Act review.
• Potential debates in Parliament concerning reserved versus devolved competencies in energy and planning infrastructure.
• Responses from the devolved administrations in Edinburgh and Cardiff regarding ongoing funding and legislative frameworks.

For more developments on national governance and policy changes, visit our dedicated Politics coverage.