BRITAIN’S communists said yesterday that the Scottish referendum results show why Britain must become a progressive, democratic federation.

Many Scots voted against independence on the promise of more devolved powers for the Scottish Parliament, the Communist Party said.

It added that the substantial minority of electors who voted for full independence reflected the even more widespread hostility that exists towards corrupt, capitalist, Establishment politics with its careerist politicians and remote institutions.

CP general secretary Rob Griffiths said: “Redeeming the pledges given to the people of Scotland towards the end of the campaign must mean urgent steps to enhance the powers and resources of the Edinburgh Parliament.

“Similar policies should be implemented for the Welsh assembly in Cardiff.

“Both bodies must be able to protect and develop the economic, social and cultural interests of their peoples, including the capacity to intervene decisively in the economy, to exercise popular sovereignty over monopoly and market forces.”

Communists backed calls for English MPs to constitute an English parliament.

Further democratic changes should include abolition of the House of Lords and the return of powers from the European Union, the party added.

But Mr Griffiths said: “While all these institutional changes would strengthen the democratic and progressive trends in political life, their full potential will only be realised through mass popular campaigning across Britain led by a united labour movement.

“Now we need to step up the challenge to big business domination on every front — economically, socially, culturally and politically.”

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