THE organisation representing Scotland's charities has said it will try to halt the new Scotland Bill to allow for wider consultation.
Martin Sime, the chief executive to the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, described the legislation, unveiled on Thursday, as "another devolution fudge which will be of no help to the people of Scotland".
The legislation will give Holyrood control over a £2.5 billion welfare budget and a range of benefits, in addition to extensive tax and borrowing powers.
But Mr Sime said it created a "halfway house on welfare" that would damage the support on offer to people.
He added: "The interests of our poorest communities should come first but they have been excluded from this conversation, so SCVO recommends that both Governments should pause and listen before ploughing ahead with another piece of legislation which will turn out to be unfit for purpose.
"Devolution should not be just a political football.
"SCVO will work with its members and with wider civil society to put a stop to this parliamentary circus until there has been genuine engagement with citizens about how their needs can best be met."
He called on Scottish Secretary David Mundell to listen to views of people "with first-hand experience of the welfare system".
xref Magnus column
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