SCOTLAND’S new Labour MP dodged a vote on bringing in a bill to give the Scottish Government powers over employment law.
Michael Shanks, who was elected as the MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West earlier this month, joined his Labour colleagues in abstaining on the Commons vote on Tuesday.
David Linden, the SNP’s social justice spokesperson, attempted to bring forward a bill which would devolve employment law to the Scottish Parliament.
He was defeated by 33 votes against to 22 in favour. It is understood the party did not expect the bill to pass and wanted to force the issue to “expose” Labour’s position on devolution through a vote.
No Labour MPs took part in the vote and the motion was defeated by Conservative MPs, the Reclaim Party’s Andrew Bridgen and Scott Benton, who remains suspended from the Tories over a lobbying row despite being cleared by an investigation.
It comes after shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said he was opposed to further devolution, which appeared to put him at odds with Anas Sarwar who has expressed support for the idea in the recent past.
Speaking after the vote, Linden said independence was the "only way" to give Scotland powers over employment law and called Labour a "roadblock" to further devolution.
He said: “It's now crystal clear that independence is the only way for Scotland to secure vital powers over employment law, so we can protect workers' rights and build a fairer future.
"The SNP is the only major party that wants Scotland to have control over employment powers, which would enable Scotland to introduce a real living wage and boost the rights of millions of workers across Scotland.
"In contrast, the Labour Party is a roadblock to devolution - working hand-in-glove with the Tories to block the Scottish Parliament from having these vital powers.
"They would rather leave Scotland under Westminster control, and at the mercy of Tory attacks on workers' rights, than give Scotland's national parliament powers.
"Independent countries that are like Scotland have much better workers' rights and pay than the UK. The question now is why not Scotland?
"By focusing on the principles of equality, opportunity and community an independent Scotland can build a fair and growing economy."
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), has previously called for Scotland to be given the powers to set its own employment rules to “outlaw, once and for all, the use of zero hours contracts, giving workers security, certainty and workplace rights from day one of their employment”.
Scottish Labour was approached for comment.
