The Smith Commission should have considered creating a new body to manage talks between the UK Treasury and Scottish Government, it has been claimed.
Leading entrepreneur Sir Tom Hunter, who founded a website offering impartial information in the run-up to the independence referendum, said negotiations “undoubtedly fuel consistent sniping that Scotland is not getting enough of its share”.
He added: “One thing Robert Smith may have missed was establishing an independent entity to manage that negotiation.”
The man behind the “scotlandseptember18.com” website made the remarks as a new study examining what powers have been delivered was unveiled.
Professor David Bell from Stirling University, who Sir Tom commissioned to conduct the review, concluded some of the devolution outlined in the Smith Commission have been secured, while others haven’t.
He said the Smith recommendations will be delivered in relation to tax powers with the passage of the Scotland Bill, which will hand over control of a further £17.4billion of spending, to be deducted from the Barnett Formula.
But he found the legislation falls short on two counts when it comes to welfare powers.
Sir Tom, chairman of The Hunter Foundation, described the situation as a “beggar’s muddle”.
He added: “For me personally its time to move on, move forward and use the powers we have. The population decided, politicians are democratically elected and should and must respect the decision of the voters.
“We are all ambitious for Scotland and its time for us to come together.”