Sturgeon: We Want Even More Powers For Scotland

David Cameron has said he is "happy" to look at SNP proposals for devolution powers for Scotland beyond those put forward by the Smith commission.

The Prime Minister has been visiting Scotland for showdown talks with the Scottish First Minister just a week after his stunning Tory election victory and the SNP's landslide north of the border.

And speaking to Sky News following the meeting, Mr Cameron told Sky News: "I'm always happy to look at proposals that other people make, but let's be clear, the Smith commission report was a report made here in Scotland by the Scottish parties, for the Scottish people.

"I promised to implement it in full and there will be a Scotland bill in the first Queen's Speech. It gives massive tax and spending powers to the Scottish Parliament.

"So if Scotland wants to take a different path, for instance, raise more taxes and spend more money, it will be able to."

Ms Sturgeon described the talks as "businesslike" but "positive".

"It's no secret that David Cameron and I are a world apart politically, but we've got jobs to do," she said.

"We've got to try to find ways of working together and we will do that.

"Two things were agreed. Firstly, a commitment from the Prime Minister that the legislation they will introduce to Westminster to implement the proposals of the Smith commission will implement those proposals in full.

"We will work with them to make sure that happens.

"Secondly, we will put forward proposals for devolution further than the Smith commission proposals. The Prime Minister has said they will consider those proposals."

Asked if the new powers she sought would include corporation tax or further welfare, she said: "There are priority powers we wanted to see devolved so we are talking about business taxes, employment legislation, the minimum wage and more powers over welfare.

"These are not powers that are randomly put forward by us. These are the key levers you need to grow the economy faster."

She also dismissed any suggestion the pair may have indulged in joint celebrations following their respective election successes.

"Exclusively for Sky News, I can reveal there was no high-fiving," she said.

"We will disagree passionately on issues but we also have a duty to work together to deliver for the people we serve, so our relationship will be constructive, businesslike and focus on getting things done.

"But I will still campaign against Conservative governments because I don't think they are good for Scotland or indeed for that matter the rest of the UK."

Although the Prime Minister and Scotland's First Minister spoke briefly at last weekend's VE Day ceremonies in London, the talks represent their first official face-to-face meeting since the election.

It comes after bitter clashes in the election campaign, in which the SNP leader spoke of "locking Mr Cameron out of Downing Street" and he claimed she would be pulling Ed Miliband's strings.

The Conservatives' outright victory suggests voters in England were heavily swayed by attacks on the SNP's left-wing agenda, but the nationalists' anti-austerity message destroyed Labour in Scotland.

The two leaders had been expected to clash on economic policy, the EU, Trident (BSE: TRIDENT.BO - news) nuclear weapons, the SNP's demands for more power over tax and spending in Scotland and the prospects for a second referendum on independence.

Mr Cameron has pledged that UK Government will press ahead with new devolution powers for Scotland and that legislation will be announced in the Queen's Speech later this month.

He says it is important that both of Scotland's governments work together to deliver for the people of Scotland and the whole of the UK as part of the Conservatives' One Nation agenda.

Speaking before the meeting, he said: "I am here today to underline my commitment to our United Kingdom and Scotland's important place within it.

"That means remaining true to the promise we made to implement the all-party Smith agreement to make Scotland one of the most accountable and powerful devolved parliaments in the world.

"It also means recognising those things which unite us in these islands: the achievements we have made together, the institutions we have built together, our great social history, the common economic challenges we face today, and the strength which comes from pulling together for the common good in the future. This is our One Nation agenda in action."