SNP:
SCOTS SUBSIDISE REST OF UK BY BILLIONS OF POUNDS A YEAR
SCOTLAND subsidises the rest of the UK by billions
of pounds each year, a report produced by the Scottish Government claims.
SNP ministers – who are expected to unveil their independence referendum
bill next week to coincide with Burns Night – have produced a paper
which proves that
Scotland is not economically dependent on the UK government.
The study is a rebuttal of one produced by the
Scotland Office over Christmas that argued that, even with 100 per cent of
the UK's oil revenue, Scotland would have run up a spending deficit of
£3.5 billion in 2008-9. It describes the UK
government department as "anti-Scottish", deliberately doing the country
down to undermine arguments for Home Rule. The attack comes just a week
after First Minister Alex Salmond called for the Scotland Office to be
scrapped.
The UK government report noted that Scotland had
been in deficit for all but the first nine years of the period from 1981
to 2009, and had run up spending debt of £23.5bn. This did not include the
£37bn paid by the Treasury to bail out Scotland's banks, with the
cumulative total of just over £60bn accounting for almost two years' worth
of the Scottish Government's annual expenditure.
However, the Scottish Government described this
report as "flawed" and argued that even with 100 per cent of oil revenues
the UK made a loss in nine years between 1981 and 2009 compared with
Scotland's six. It also said that Scotland's £23.5bn worth of borrowing
was just under half its population share of the cumulative UK debt in that
period of £672.5bn, which would have been £56.5bn. It repeated an argument
from last year's Government Expenditure and Revenue Scotland (Gers) report
that in 2007-8, some £2.3bn more tax was raised north of the Border than
spent.
Finance secretary John Swinney also demanded that
the UK government produced its calculations to justify its claims. Prime
Minister Gordon Brown has been challenged repeatedly by Nationalists over
government claims about Scotland's budget.
A spokesman for Mr Swinney yesterday said: "The
Scotland Office would be better known as the anti-Scotland Office, given
that its sole purpose these days appears to be to pump out dodgy figures
to do Scotland down.
"However, even accepting their methodology, the
figures show that Scotland has consistently outperformed the rest of the
UK… It is Britain that is bust, not Scotland and these figures prove it."
FORMER IRISH TAOISEACH BERTIE AHERN
BACKS SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
A FORMER Irish prime minister said Scotland can
achieve "huge success" if voters opted for independence, it was disclosed
today. Bertie Ahern, who resigned as Taoiseach last year, outlined his
opinion in a letter to First Minister Alex Salmond.
Scotland's economy was "robust" and able to compete
in a globalised world as an integral part of the European Union, he wrote.
The letter was written following media reports that Mr Ahern thought the
economic impact of independence may be too large to win support.
Mr Ahern wrote: "It took time and commitment over
many years to build-up the Irish state into a model of economic success.
That achievement vindicated the vision of the patriots of our past and the
credit for it lies with the capacity and capabilities of the Irish people.
"I have no doubt that the Scottish people have the
same ingenuity and commitment to achieve huge success should they decide
to go down the route of full independence.
"That however is a matter for the Scottish people to
ultimately decide and, as an Irish politician, I think it is best for me
to not immerse myself in another country's national debate."
A spokesman for the First Minister said: "Bertie
Ahern's letter is extremely welcome. He talks about Scotland's
opportunities for success should we choose independence, and quite
properly says that it is an issue for the people of Scotland to decide."
MORE LIES OVER OIL FROM
BRITGOV - NORTH SEA OIL GAVE SCOTLAND 'MASSIVE' BUDGET SURPLUSES SAY GOVERNMENT
RECORDS HIDDEN IN 1975
North Sea oil gave Scotland 'massive' budget surplus, say Government
records
An independent Scotland would have enjoyed “massive”
budget surpluses thanks to North Sea oil while England’s economy
languished, civil servants calculated.
Records from 1975, just released, show Government
officials admitted that the discovery of oil had transformed the economic
case for separation. They calculated that Scots’ average income would
increase by up to 30 per cent per head and it could be “credibly argued”
that repealing the Act of Union was to Scotland’s advantage.
England would have faced “difficult years” of
adjustment following the break-up, complete with higher taxes and
unemployment. The official thinking was
disclosed in Government records made public at the National Archives of
Scotland in Edinburgh. In the mid-1970s the North Sea oil industry was in
its infancy and Scotland’s first referendum in devolution, proposed by the
Labour government of James Callaghan, was four years away.
The newly-released documents show that 11 civil
servants met on April 17, 1975, including Dr Gavin McCrone, who a year
earlier had written a paper on oil and independence. “An independent
Scotland could now expect to have massive surpluses both on its budget and
on its balance of payment, and with the proper husbanding of resources
this situation could last for a very long time into the future,” his
report said. “Thus for the first time since the Act of Union was passed,
it can now be credibly argued that Scotland's economic advantage lies in
its repeal.”
For England, loss of most of the UK's oil revenues
would mean several “difficult” years of adjustment, complete with low
growth, high unemployment and higher taxes. A final draft, dated June
1975, admitted that a “popular view” was Scotland’s economic problems
would disappear and it would become the “Kuwait of the western world.”
This paper concluded that a separate Scotland would
enjoy 25 or 30 per cent more wealth per head than England during the
1980s, but cast doubts on whether oil extracted in waters east of Shetland
could be claimed by the Scots.
A senior special adviser to Alex Salmond, the First
Minister, said successive Labour and Tory governments had hidden the truth
about the case for independence in the 1970s. He said more than half of
the revenues from the North Sea had yet to be realised, and Scotland could
still benefit by establishing an oil fund now.
Nick Clegg at the annual Lib Dem conference in
Bournemouth
Scottish independence referendum: Lib
Dem leader Clegg says vote would be 'wrong'
LIBERAL Democrat leader Nick Clegg has insisted
holding a referendum on independence for Scotland would be wrong. Mr Clegg
claimed having such a vote was "obviously an obsession" for Alex Salmond,
the SNP leader and Scottish First Minister.
But the Lib Dem leader insisted the majority of his
party agreed with him and Scottish leader Tavish Scott that such a poll
should not take place. Mr Clegg spoke out after the Liberal Democrat
conference in Bournemouth heard calls for the party to allow a referendum
on Scottish independence to take place in order to argue the case for the
Union.
Kevin Lang, the party's prospective parliamentary
candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith, said a referendum could "settle
the issue which I fear is haunting Scottish politics".
But Mr Clegg argued that the majority of Scots
wanted extra powers for Holyrood – as recommended by the Calman Commission
which examined devolution – rather than independence from the rest of the
UK.
The Liberal Democrat leader told BBC Radio
Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Politics is about priorities
and we know from opinion polls, we know from the debate about the Calman
Commission, that the vast majority of the Scottish people want to have
further devolution to Scotland, which is what we advocate, further powers
over money, over a range of policies. That's what they want.
"But do we really need in Scotland at a time when
the economy is in many places in tatters, when many, many families are
struggling, do we need to indulge in Alex Salmond's pet project of an
independence referendum, when the vast majority of the Scottish people we
know already don't want that."
Mr Clegg added that in previous elections Scottish
voters had had the chance to vote for "a single issue party which only
believes in independence which is the SNP". And he said: "A majority of
them didn't".
Responding to the calls from within his party for an
independence referendum, Mr Clegg said: "Tavish Scott and myself we don't
run a sect, we run a political party with different views.
"But the majority of us in the party believe it
would be wrong at this time, where a lot of Scottish families are facing
real difficulties, really struggling, struggling to make ends meet, it
would be the wrong thing for Alex Salmond then to consume a huge amount of
time and energy on an independence referendum, when we know what people
want is what for instance the Calman Commission recommended, which is more
power to Scotland but within the union of the United Kingdom."
Mr Salmond yesterday defended his plans for a
referendum on independence, which the Nationalists hope to hold later next
year. The Scottish First Minister said: "We're not proposing to have a
referendum now, we're proposing it next year when we believe the economy
will be moving out of recession, and we also believe that the arguments
for having economic powers are actually being made by the situation we are
in at the present moment."
SALMOND
CALLS ON SCOTS TO SHOW OPTIMISM AS YEAR OF HOMECOMING BEGINS
Alex Salmond has used his new-year message
to appeal to Scots to show a “spirit of optimism” that would
help to pull the country through the difficult economic times
ahead in 2009. The First Minister, in a clear reference to the
SNP’s core policy of independence, also expressed the hope that
the same optimistic spirit would lead to Scotland “taking its
rightful place in the world” as well as boost the Homecoming
2009 initiative by encouraging expatriate Scots to return.
Mr Salmond said that the Homecoming – with its
300-plus events across the country – would help Scotland turn a threatened
tourism downturn into a visitor boom.
Mr Salmond’s message was recorded at the National
Library of Scotland in Edinburgh, which is hosting the Paths of Robert
Burns exhibition until February, before it is taken on tour to venues
throughout Scotland for the rest of 2009.
While the Homecoming initiative has been sparked by
next month’s 250th anniversary of the birth of Burns, Scotland’s national
poet, it has mushroomed into an all-Scotland promotion of all things
Scottish and aimed at expatriate Scots.
Mr Salmond, speaking as he viewed the original
manuscript of Auld Lang Syne in the National Library, said that the song
was a masterpiece that was sung by hundreds of millions of people around
the world to welcome each and every new year.
He added: “For many people, 2009 will be an enormous
challenge, with the full impact of the economic downturn starting to bite.
At times like this, therefore, it is even more important that we pull
together as a nation. The economic storm clouds are gathering. But I know
that we will weather this storm – and emerge even stronger, and well
placed to prosper.We need to ensure Scotland
becomes a more successful country, mitigating the downturn and leading the
recovery.
“Homecoming is a chance for Scotland’s international
family, and all who feel an affinity for our nation, to come back and
reconnect with our heritage while also learning what being a citizen in
Scotland in the 21st century actually means. I believe there is a spirit
of optimism abroad that will pull us through the hard times, that will see
Scotland take her rightful place in the world.”
A British business organisation
(CBI) attempted to attack Salmond for remaining committed to a fairer
taxation system as they claimed it might discourage investment, they also
supported the British Governments position on nuclear power stations.
BRITISH DIPLOMAT
ATTACKED SCOTLAND'S FOOTBALL TEAM AS 'OUT OF DEPTH PROVINCIALS'
After its momentarily
glorious but otherwise poor display in the 1978 World Cup finals, the
Scottish football team quickly grew accustomed to public condemnations
from fans and pundits alike for their early exit from the tournament in
Argentina. Until now, the fact that the critical chorus was joined by a
senior British diplomat in Buenos Aires has remained unknown.
A blistering dispatch which condemned manager Ally
MacLeod's side as "provincials" who lacked the professionalism to prosper
on the world stage was cabled to the Foreign Office in London by Hugh
Carless, the British charge d'affaires in the Argentine capital.
The Scottish team, the only home nation to qualify
for the finals, had flown out of Glasgow airport buoyed by expectations
that they would win the trophy or, in the words of the manager, at least
win a medal. But after defeat in their opening match to Peru and a draw
against Iran, the only glory came with a remarkable 3-2 win over the
eventual runner-up, Holland. The Scottish team returned empty-handed after
being eliminated at the first hurdle.
In a telegram, Mr Carless felt moved to turn to
diplomatic punditry: "In retrospect, it would seem that the poor Scottish
performance was due to complacency and lack of professionalism on the part
of all concerned with Scottish football. They seemed provincials out of
their depth in international waters."
SALMOND
REJECTS SUB PRIME MINISTER'S ATTACKS ON SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
Addressing the 2008 SNP
conference Scottish First Minister and SNP Leader Alex Salmond
MSP said the SNP led Scottish
Government was working to protect households across Scotland.
Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish
National party, has sought to pin responsibility for the
economic downturn on the UK government, accusing Gordon Brown of
authoring an “age of irresponsibility” in financial policy and
labelling him a “sub-prime minister”.
Scotland’s first minister was trying to address
concerns that the financial crisis – and particularly the plight of
Scotland’s biggest banks - has weakened the case for independence. There
are fears that the part-nationalisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland and
the proposed rescue takeover by Lloyds TSB of HBOS – which includes Bank
of Scotland – will lead to thousands of redundancies. Last week the
Scottish Chambers of Commerce found business confidence was at its lowest
level for 10 years.
Addressing the SNP’s annual conference in Perth, Mr
Salmond asked: “Who broke down the barriers in the financial sector? Who
presided over the inflation of asset values? Who allowed the spivs and
speculators of the £40 trillion derivatives market – the financial weapons
of mass destruction - to be totally unregulated? It may have had something
to do with the occupant of 10 and 11 Downing Street over the last 11 long
years.”
Mr Salmond also called for the
end of the proposed takeover of HBOS, which could lead to the
government having a 40 per cent stake in the enlarged group. He said that
four weeks ago “it was the only game in town as it was either merger or
threatened oblivion and I have not and will not make any criticisms of
Lloyds TSB.”
But the first minister said the situation had
changed with the proposed government £37bn recapitalisation of RBS, HBOS
and Lloyds TSB, and it was now important to establish that this bail-out
would be in the interests of jobs and decision-making in Scotland. Mr
Salmond said that if the future of HBOS had been secured, then the public
should not end up paying for the merger with Lloyds TSB, paying for lost
jobs and then paying for the restriction of competition.
He said: “Until these questions are satisfactorily
answered then there must be no merger. The Bank of Scotland has been
around for 300 years. It is hard-wired into the social and economic fabric
of Scotland. It does not deserve to be just cast aside as a consequence of
the age of responsibility.”
John Swinney, the SNP finance secretary, had earlier
told a packed fringe meeting: “We’ve got to be absolutely robust, on the
front foot, over the failure of the UK government to deliver long-term
economic stability.”
The SNP party leader also predicted that victory
over Labour in the forthcoming by-election at Glenrothes would force the
economic measures Scotland needed “to get out of the Downing Street
downturn.”
In a message to delegates, Mr Salmond said that by
winning the Glasgow East by-election in July with a swing of 22 per cent
against Labour, the SNP had turned the tide in Scottish politics – and
predicted that winning in Glenrothes would put the party well on the way
to reach its target of 20 seats at the next Westminster election – up from
its current level of seven.
“The next two years will be the most important in
the history of the party,” he said. “Our efforts must now be focused on
winning the independence referendum in 2010.”
Mr Swinney said: “On the brink of recession, with
rising unemployment, rising inflation, failed financial regulation, the
banking system in crisis and future generations burdened by credit card
interest rates on PFI projects, Labour’s financial credibility stands
today in tatters.”
NATIONALISTS 'ARC OF
INSOLVENCY' GOALS ATTACKED
Jim Murphy - launched extraordinary attack on
Norway, Ireland and Iceland and claimed Scotland was financially incapable
of independence
Newly promoted Scottish
Secretary Jim Murphy has attacked the SNP over
the economic woes facing the smaller of independent states previously
hailed as the "arc of prosperity" by Alex Salmond. Mr Murphy said Iceland,
Ireland and Norway have now been branded the "arc of insolvency" after
recent problems.
They had been heavily cited by the Nationalists in
opposition as examples that a small, independent Scotland could follow.
"Look at this arc of prosperity, what some commentators are now calling
the arc of insolvency: Iceland, Ireland and Norway," Mr Murphy told a
newspaper yesterday.
"Iceland as a country is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Ireland is officially in recession. Ireland and Norway are trying to
borrow from the US and Russia. "That's not Scotland's destiny. Scotland
isn't Iceland and it shouldn't be Iceland and as long as I'm doing this
job, I don't want Scotland to be Iceland."
The Eastwood MP said that in the current economic
turmoil, Scotland is better off within the union. "Most Scottish families
know that we're better off and stronger within the fifth biggest economy
in the world," he said.
"With a Scottish Prime Minister and a Scottish
Chancellor (and) the way in which Scotland has been able to exert an
influence inside the UK and the global economy, nobody really believes
that an independent Scotland would have the influence at this period of
unprecedented turmoil that Scotland currently has in the UK."
'Totally misplaced' attack on
small nations
But Mr Salmond said later that Ireland, Iceland and
Norway are not struggling because of their size.
He told BBC Scotland's Politics Show that countries "large and small" are
affected.
"Norway's latest forecast in the last few days for
growth next year is just under 2%," he said. "There's nobody - nobody -
who thinks growth in the UK or Scotland is going to be 2%.
"Norway is doing extremely well in extremely
difficult economic circumstances across the world. Would that we were in
the Norwegian position, not two years ago, but right now."
He added that despite Ireland's problems it was able
to take action "ahead of the game" to stabilise the banking sector and
reassure depositors. "This idea that the current
economic circumstances is an argument against small countries is, I think,
totally misplaced."
WHITEWASH
AS ALEXANDER ESCAPES BAN DESPITE BREAKING THE LAW
Ms Alexander described the result as "a victory for the
law, for natural justice and for common sense".
Unionists in the
Scottish parliament have combined to let Wendy Alexander escape
all punishment for breaking the law. Alexander who had been
found guilty of accepting an illegal donation from a donor in
Jersey during her leadership campaign.
The Scottish Parliament's Standards Committee had
recommended Ms Alexander be barred from Holyrood for a day after it
decided she broke the rules by failing to register donations to her
leadership campaign within the required 30 days.
MSPs rejected that by 49 votes to 70, with two
abstentions.Afterwards Ms Alexander described
the result as "a victory for the law, for natural justice and for common
sense".
Ms Alexander resigned as Labour's Holyrood leader in June – two days after
the Standards Committee had recommended the ban and
she said today: "Some will question why I resigned.
"I said in June I was not prepared to allow this matter to dominate over
the summer. No-one can doubt it would have done so had I remained Labour
leader in Scotland.I judged that not to be in
the interests of either the Labour Party or the country."
Ms Alexander went on: "I regret that this issue has distracted parliament,
the media and the people from the real issues that deserve to dominate our
public life.It is not only my own personal
integrity which has been trashed by political opponents – it is the
integrity of the Scottish Parliament itself which has been threatened by
the relentless pursuit of politically inspired complaints, personal
invective and an absence of all sense of proportion."
She added: "If today's vote does something to restrain such behaviour it
will be a service to Scottish public life. I trust parliament will ensure
that happens."Ms Alexander said: "I said at the
time of my resignation that my pursuers had sought the prize of political
victory with little thought of the standing of parliament, and that wiser
heads would prevail.The decision was a victory
for the law, for natural justice and for common sense."
"In the interest of all members I hope the Parliamentary authorities will
now act to ensure that this can never happen again. That is in Scotland's
interest."
After today's vote Duncan McNeil, chairman of the Labour group at Holyrood,
said: "Parliament has rightly rejected a flawed and partisan report. And
it has rejected the way in which the committee has been politicised by the
SNP."
He said a review of procedures was now needed to ensure in future they
were not "susceptible to the manipulation we have seen in this case".
Mr McNeil added: "Parliament's decision is a warning to the SNP.Scotland does not want repeated investigations, malicious
complaints and continuous mud-slinging."
And Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said: "The decision by the
parliament does call into question the conduct of the Standards Committee
in reaching its decision back in June.I think
it would be timeous to reflect on the role of the committee, because what
is imperative is that the way in which the committee conducts itself is
self-evident of the highest standards of probity and objectivity."
She called for the business managers of the political parties to discuss
the matter with Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson.
What incredible hypocrisy.
SNPWIN STUNNING BY-ELECTION VICTORY IN GLASGOW EAST
John Mason at Westminster after winning on of
Labour's 'safest' seats
The Scottish National Party have
wona stunning by-election victory in
Glasgow East, one of Labour's safest seats, by 365 votes. The SNP
overturned a Labour majority of 13,507 to win with a swing of 22.54%.
The SNP polled 11,277 votes in the contest, while
the Tories came third with 1,639 and the Lib Dems, with 915 votes, came
fourth. SNP candidate John Mason said the victory was "off the Richter
scale", while Labour expressed disappointment.
Voter turnout was 42.25%, down on the 48% figure at
the last election, with 26,219 votes cast.
The result was declared at Glasgow's Tollcross
Leisure Centre in the early hours of Friday, after a recount was requested
by Labour, which won 10,912 votes in the contest. Mr Mason said the
victory had sent a message to Downing Street.
GLASGOW EAST RESULT
22.54% swing from Lab to SNP
Turnout: 26,174 [41.2%]
Defeated Labour candidate Margaret Curran said she
did not regret standing in the by-election, but added: "I regret that I
did not win this for Labour tonight. "I do believe the Labour Party has to
listen and has to hear the message from the people of Glasgow East."
'Epic win'
Mr Mason said: "Three weeks ago the SNP predicted a
political earthquake. "This SNP victory is not just a political
earthquake, it is off the Richter scale."It is
an epic win and the tremors will be felt all the way to Downing Street."
BBC Scotland's political editor, Brian Taylor, said
it was an appalling result for Labour in a constituency it had held in
various guises virtually since the party came into existence.
He said: "Will it add to the pressure on Gordon
Brown? Of course. Frankly, though, I don't expect him to stand down any
time soon.He already knew he faced a tough
fight. It will, however, increase the trepidation around him."
Nine candidates stood in the by-election, sparked by
the resignation of Labour's David Marshall on health grounds.
Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond
said of the result: "I don't think we will see an immediate exit for
Gordon Brown from Downing Street. I think it is more likely he will change
policy rather than change himself."
WENDY
ALEXANDER QUITS - NEW HEADACHES FOR UK LEADER GORDON BROWN
"It wisnae me - it's aw' the SNP's
fault" commented Ms Alexander.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown received a
fresh blow to his leadership Saturday after the head of his
Labour Party in Scotland, Wendy Alexander, resigned in a row
over donations. Alexander, who was suspended from the Scottish
parliament Thursday for a day for failing to declare donations
to her leadership campaign last year, said the issue had become
a "distraction" from serious politics in Scotland.
The move came the day after Labour was pushed into
fifth place in a by-election in Henley, behind fringe parties like the
far-right British National Party, on the first anniversary of Brown taking
over as premier from Tony Blair. A string of recent opinion polls suggest
that Labour faces defeat at the next general election, which must take
place by mid-2010.
The latest telephone poll by ComRes in Saturday's
Independent newspaper gave the main opposition Conservatives, led by David
Cameron, 46 percent of voters' support compared with 25 percent for
Labour. The poll surveyed a sampling of 1,007 people and was conducted
this week. Lord Michael Levy, Labour's fundraiser under Blair, said Friday
the party should "seriously consider" getting rid of Brown, while
backbench lawmaker Ronnie Campbell reportedly branded the leader "a
loser".
There are more by-election worries ahead after
Labour lawmaker David Marshall announced Saturday he was quitting the
House of Commons because of ill-health, which will force a poll in
Glasgow, Scotland. And Scottish Labour now faces a leadership contest in
the coming months which leaves it in flux as it battles the
pro-independence policies of the Scottish National Party (SNP) which is in
power in Edinburgh.
Alexander is the sister of one of Brown's closest
allies, International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander. She took
over as Labour's leader in Scotland last year, soon after the SNP led by
Alex Salmond took power in the devolved Scottish government on a platform
of full independence from England.
Last month, Wendy Alexander broke with Brown's
position on how to tackle the nationalist threat by urging a referendum on
the issue before 2010. The SNP wants a referendum in the second half of
that year. Brown, a Scot who is strongly opposed to Scottish independence,
has long rejected the idea of a popular vote on the issue. He pointedly
refused to support Alexander's call in public and was reportedly furious
with her in private.
Following her resignation announcement after just
nine months in office, the prime minister praised Alexander's "commitment
to devolution" and said she would be "greatly missed". But Salmond's
deputy as first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said Alexander's departure
highlighted wider problems within Labour.
"Decay from within is characteristic of the decline
of the New Labour project, and Wendy Alexander's resignation is a symptom
of this wider malaise," she said.
MCCONNELL URGED TO
QUIT HOLYROOD - BY ELECTION LOOMS FOR LABOUR
Scotland's former first minister has been urged to
quit as an MSP in order to take up his new diplomatic job. MPs said it
would be "unsatisfactory" for Jack McConnell to stay at Holyrood while
preparing to become British High Commissioner to Malawi.
Mr McConnell said the arrangements were a matter for
the Foreign Office. He quit as Scottish Labour's
leader after the SNP's election win last May.
The Commons foreign affairs committee urged the Foreign Office to resolve
the situation "swiftly" by announcing a start date for the new job within
the first half of next year - meaning Mr McConnell would have to stand
down as an MSP, triggering a by-election.
But he has so far shown no sign of quitting
Motherwell and Wishaw - where his majority at the last Holyrood election
was cut to 5,938 with a 6.9% swing from Labour to the SNP.
DOT-SCO CAMPAIGN
SUCCEEDS - SNP GOVERNMENT TO GET NEW SCOTTISH DOMAIN NAME
SNP ministers are to press ahead with plans to ditch
the “.uk” at the end of internet addresses for the Scottish Government and
replace it with “.sco”.
Details of the switchover are set to be finalised by
the end of the year and to go ahead in 2009
after internet regulators agreed to a shake-up of web-naming rules.
The web address will change from www.scotland.gov.uk
to www.scotland.gov.sco.
This has been a long standing
political campaign and the Scottish
Independence Guide congratulates it on its imminent success.
BASQUE REFERENDUM
BILL APPROVED
The Basque Government has voted in favour of a
referendum bill introduced by Basque President Juan José Ibarretxe last
month.
A majority of just one was enough to give the
President the power to hold the first part of a referendum on 25th October
2008. The referendumwill ask two questions, the
first of which will ask if people are in favour of a "negotiated solution'
to the ETA 'conflict' if thearmed group end its violence. The second
question, which will be put to a second referendum asks if all Basque
political parties shouldwork toward an
agreement on what it calls the Basques 'right to decide their future'.
The Bill was passed by 34 votes to 33, with 7
abstentions and one non attendance. The one vote deciding vote came from
the Basque CommunistParty (Euskal
Herrialdeetako Alderdi Komunista - EHAK). The EHAK decided last week to
give their limited support to the bill, despite havingbeen given the cold shoulder by Ibarretxe earlier on in the year
when their party was looking at a possible ban by the Spanish state.
However, the referendum bill has not been without
its critics. Inside the Basque socialist/nationalist movement the bill has
been criticized, among other things, for not going far enough, being too
complicated and only applying to the three out of the historical seven
provinces the Basque Country - Biscay, Alava, and Gipuzkoa. Labourd, Lower
Navarre,Soule (in the state of France) and
Navarre (now an autonomous region in the state of Spain), will not be
included in the referendum vote.
The bill has also been heavily criticised by Basque
socialist party (PSE-EE) and the Spanish controlled
Popular Party (PP). The PSE-EE has said repeatedlythat if the bill was passed by the Basque Government, they would
seek a court order to prevent the referendum going ahead on the argumentthat the bill is unconstitutional. Ibarretxe has said in the past
that he wants a future Basque country 'freely associated' with Spain,with its own separate legal system and European Union
representation.
In 2005 the Spanish Foreign Policy Minister said
that this could not happen under an EU Constitution – perhaps one of the
reasons why theSpanish Government are still so
eager to push forward the Lisbon Treaty, despite the Irish NO vote.
LONDON CALLING!
CONFUSION NOW REIGNS OVER WHETHER LABOUR WILL SUPPORT 2010
REFERENDUM
Gordon Brown, Labour
Prime Minister appears to have stamped on Wendy Alexander's
calls for a referendum. Alexander said categorically that Labour
would not vote down a referendum on independence however
suddenly they're not so sure.
Up till recently it seemed that
the Scottish branches of Labour, Tories and Lib Dems didn't either because all refused to countenance a referendum on independence and yet this is the only point of genuine conflict.
Scottish Labour (if there is such a beast) in the shape of Wendy Alexander seemed to have changed their tune for a brief moment but they have rapidly returned to form.
The only way to guarantee as much power as the parliament requires is by voting for independence. Those who oppose that
choice don't support the sovereign right of the Scottish people to decide their own destiny and as such don't deserve one vote in Scotland.
LABOUR IN
SHOCK AS WENDY ALEXANDER SUPPORTS INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Perhaps the most interesting
development in Scottish politics since the SNP's win at the last Scottish
elections, Wendy Alexander has left her whole party open mouthed as she
declared at the weekend that she now favoured giving the Scottish people a
choice on independence and that the SNP should 'Bring it On'.
This of course flatly contradicts
everything Labour have said recently though MS Alexander did
hint something of the sort in September last year. Nicol Stephen's
Liberal Democrats will be sick as the proverbial parrot. After all, this
was the only reason they
rejected a
coalition with the SNP and yet now their old pals having involved them
in a commission which specifically rules out independence, are now saying
that not only is independence an option but they are quite happy to put it
to a vote.
Wendy appears to believe that she
can win a referendum if it is held early before the SNP have finished
their national conversation. She is right to be worried about the
conversation as the SNP are now moving swiftly in on Labour territory, the
latest body to discuss the conversation, the Church of Scotland, after
Alex Salmond got a rousing reception from the STUC conference and after
that body actually subsequently backed a referendum on independence.
However I can't see Wendy's
strategy as likely to work. The SNP are not going to adjust their
timetable to suit her. Her erstwhile friends in the British Unionist
Movement, the Tories and Liberal Democrats are bound to feel betrayed
after she has left them out on a limb as the only parties now opposing the
concept of Scottish popular sovereignty. How can her commission justify
excluding independence when she now says the people must consider it and
vote for or against it? In these circumstances I can't see them voting for
a snap vote.
If Wendy decided to ask the
precise question the Scottish Government wants answered then she could
find her bluff called. The SNP have the cash to fight a campaign and they
have never been better prepared. They are riding extremely high in the
polls, though of course they believe they can go even higher once they
reach even further into civil society. Still they might be tempted.
However I think they will want to
hold a referendum at the most opportune time and they can easily say that
their conversation with the people is not over, a democratic and entirely
sensible stance. Given Wendy's new stance she cannot now seriously oppose
the referendum bill in 2010.
This means that the papers can
now no longer claim that there is no realistic chance of a referendum in
this parliament. Now it could happen at any time as the numbers are now
there to get a vote through. Is this a desperate ploy by Wendy? The
Scotsman reports: One Labour MP asked if Ms Alexander "was off her
head", adding: "What is she thinking?"
A source close to Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister said: "We have no plans
to initiate a referendum. If the Labour Party in Scotland wants to take a
position, that's a matter for them" which indicates
that Wendy didn't clear her plans with her main ally first, and therefore
there will be no help from Westminster to have a rigged '79 style
referendum.
Normal powers versus the usual
scaremongering from Labour? Independence versus dependence? Whenever the
referendum is held I believe the logical case for independence will win.
BBC LEAVES SCOTS
'POORLY INFORMED'
Scottish television audiences are poorly informed
and have a skewed perspective on events in their own country because of a
failure by the national BBC news programmes to provide coverage of events
outside England.
The verdict, a key finding of a major report
commissioned by the BBC Trust, is said to have senior BBC figures "quaking
in their boots".
The study, entitled "Accuracy and impartiality in
coverage of the four nations", was produced by Professor Anthony King from
Essex University. King's brief was to find out how well informed viewers
are about the operations of the UK's several devolved administrations.
Senior academics found that a lack of Scottish,
Welsh or Northern Irish stories in the UK network news left audiences with
a skewed perspective on events in their own countries.
SNP MP Pete Wishart MP said the report confirms that
Scottish people are 'poorly served by BBC news'.
“BBC news and current affairs services are
increasingly irrelevant and at times misleading," hew said.
“The BBC have failed to keep pace with Scotland’s
evolving political and cultural life and are failing to properly reflect
the everyday experience of ordinary Scots. Professor King’s report finds a
lack of Scottish stories leaving a “skewed” perspective of events in
Scotland and this now has to be addressed.
“We need an urgent review of how the BBC delivers
Scottish news and current affairs programming.
“Securing our news through a London metropolitan
prism is simply not working for Scotland. We need to look at the whole
issue of national, UK and international news being delivered through a
Scottish produced 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock news service.
“This is not about being parochial, it’s about
having relevant news services, and right now were getting a second class
service.”
ISLE OF MAN CELEBRATES THE
CELTIC NATIONS
Click the above picture to buy Stamps from
the Isle of Man Government.
INDEPENDENCE NOW
WINNING - SUPPORT AT 41% FOR INDY 40% FOR UNION
Scottish independence has taken a dramatic
lead in a new opinion poll on Scotland's constitutional future. An
exclusive TNS System Three poll has found that 41% of Scots want the SNP
government to negotiate an independence settlement, compared to 40% who
are opposed to breaking up the UK.
First minister Alex Salmond said the result showed Scots were now ready
to vote for a separate Scottish state in a referendum. The Scottish
government last year laid out its plans in a white paper for a referendum
on independence.
TNS System Three has since conducted a tracker poll based on the SNP
administration's favoured referendum question, namely whether "The
Scottish government should negotiate a settlement with the government of
the United Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state".
The latest findings, which were gathered between March 26 and April 4,
show that 41% of the 977 respondents agreed that the Scottish government
should negotiate an independence settlement. This contrasts with 40% of
people who did not agree with the SNP's number one priority, while 19%
said they did not know how they would vote in a referendum.
TNS's first poll on the SNP government's question, in August, revealed
that 50% of Scots were opposed to independence, compared to 35% of
respondents who were in favour. The polling firm's next snapshot of
opinion, in November, revealed the gap had narrowed to four points, with
opposition at 44% and support at 40%. Support for a negotiated
independence settlement has risen by 6% since August, while opposition to
separation has dropped by 10% over the same period. The number of "don't
knows" has increased by 4% in eight months.
The results are broadly in line with polling data published last week
by Scottish Opinion, which found that 41% of respondents approved of
independence, with 43% disapproving. The lead for independence will fuel
calls by the Nationalist administration for MSPs to back a constitutional
referendum. Salmond has made a poll in 2010 the key plank of his
administration.
The referendum policy recently received a boost after entrepreneur Sir
Tom Hunter called for a plebiscite on independence. The increased support
for independence comes on the eve of Salmond taking his government's
"national conversation" to Brussels later this month.The seminar will see the First Minister try to persuade a European
audience of the benefits of Scotland being a full member state of the EU.
First minister Alex Salmond said: "The poll is further and dramatic
evidence that as the SNP delivers good government in the devolved areas,
so support for Scotland to be governed equally well in all areas with
independence is surging.
And the poll clearly indicates that Westminster attempts to bully
Scotland and the Scottish government are also boosting support for
equality for Scotland, and a parliament with full powers. "People want a
government that will speak up for Scotland - not shut up for London. It is
a tremendous boost for the SNP in the run up to our conference next week -
it will have our opponents choking on their cornflakes."
Labour MSP Jackie Baillie said: "There is no doubt that the vast
majority of Scots don't want an end to the Union, and the SNP are well
aware of that. Scots want to walk tall in the Union, not walk out."
The convener of the Independence Convention, Elaine C Smith, said:
"This poll is welcome, but the support for independence is something we
have known about for some time. The Scottish people must now have their
right to speak in a referendum."
TNS managing director Chris Eynon said: "This represents a very
dramatic turnaround over the period of eight months since August 2007. The
poll suggests that, based on the SNP's performance in power since the May
election, public confidence in the ability of Scotland to run its own
affairs as an independent state has increased."
The polling data also comes as new figures appear to show that 500,000
households in Scotland will be adversely affected by tax changes in the UK
government's 2007 budget. Prime minister Gordon Brown has been criticised
for abolishing the 10 pence rate of tax, which had been introduced to
benefit low income-workers.
According to figures produced by the Scottish government, 680,000
households north of the border will experience a decrease in income, while
500,000 will witness a fall in their net income.
SSP
LEADER CALLS FOR INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
The Scottish Socialist Party conference has
called for a referendum on Scottish independence.
Party leader Colin Fox's speech was the highlight of the party's
annual conference in Glasgow. Mr Fox said the current worldwide financial
instability showed that the free market could not provide "never-ending
economic prosperity."
The SSP's pro-independence stance was also
re-affirmed by Mr Fox, who called for an early referendum on the issue. He
said: "We fully support an early referendum on independence and will work
flat out for a Yes vote.
"We believe working people will be economically,
socially, culturally and politically better off if able to determine our
own future and make our own decisions here in Scotland."
The party lost all four of its MSPs at last year's
Holyrood election in a campaign beset by squabbling with rival socialist
party Solidarity, led by former SSP leader Tommy Sheridan.
BILLIONAIRE TOM
HUNTER CALLS FOR 'INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM NOW'
Scotland's richest man has called for an immediate
referendum on independence. Billionaire tycoon and philanthropist Sir Tom
Hunter said a vote was needed to allow the nation to move on - either as
an independent country or as part of the UK.
He accused Scotland's political parties of
"posturing, positioning and pontificating" over attempts to reform the
constitution. Sir Tom Hunter said: "It is my firm belief that the Scottish
people deserve the right to vote unequivocally on one key issue. Other
issues follow, but there is only one vote: do you want Scotland to be
independent or not? Yes or no?"
He added: "We need a majority of Scots to say 'yes'
or 'no' to independence, end of story...a referendum is compelling because
Scots want an answer to our future now so that we can invest in it,
whatever we choose, for our collective future over the long term."
Sir Tom Hunter, who declined to back either option,
said it is Scotland's right as a nation, to "determine our destiny".
His intervention came after Labour, the Liberal
Democrats and the Conservatives announced they planned to support an
independent commission to examine more powers for Holyrood, but without
full independence.Sir Tom Hunter also
criticised a suggestion by First Minister Alex Salmond that a referendum
might be held under the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system.
Under the system, voters list their preferences in
order. The tycoon says that such a system - which he describes as "Simon
Cowell's X Factor voting system" - could not be used to determine
Scotland's future.
The SNP wants a referendum in 2010 on whether
Scotland should become independent, but at present lacks majority support
to get this through Holyrood.
SCOTTISH LABOUR MPS,
MSP AND MEP CALL FOR A REFERENDUM ON SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
SNP Constitutional Affairs Spokesman Pete Wishart MP
has challenged Wendy Alexander and Gordon Brown to come clean and accept a
referendum on Scottish Independence after three Scottish MPs publicly
backed holding a referendum. Mr Wishart led a
debate at Westminster on Scotland’s
constitutional future.
MPs John Robertson, Michael Connarty and David
Hamilton all endorsed a referendum on Scottish Independence, alongside
Elaine Smith MSP. Speaking from Westminster Mr Wishart said: “Labour MPs
are making an April fool out of Wendy Alexander. Wendy Alexander and
Gordon Brown are being backed into a corner by their own MPs.It is clear from the comments of these senior MPs that there is a
desire within the Labour party for a referendum.
It’s no wonder no one wanted to talk about the constitution at Labour
conference. John Robertson introduced Wendy Alexander at conference, now
he is going behind her back to ask for a referendum."
“Labour’s position is crumbling. It must be up to
the Scottish people to decide their constitutional future. Wendy Alexander
once said there would be a referendum in 2010. The SNP have offered Labour
and their Commission the chance to put it’s proposals for Scotland’s
future before the people in that referendum.
Before the revolt from her backbenches and London colleagues grows any
larger Wendy Alexander should come clean and back a referendum. My debate
in Westminster tomorrow will be an opportunity for Labour MPs to set the
record straight on where they stand on this crucial issue.”
Labour comments in
quotes:
John Robertson MP: “We should go for it now, get
this out of the way and then focus on the issues that matter.”
Michael Connarty MP: “we should not be afraid of a
referendum, the independence option should have been put to the people at
the time of the devolution referendum to make it clear it was a
settlement.
David Hamilton MP: “We should have a referendum
sooner rather than later”
Elaine Smith MSP: “We should trust the Scottish
people”
Wendy Alexander was reported in the Observer on 9th
September 2007 saying: "There will be a referendum in 2010."
Former Labour Minister Brian Wilson said: (STV,
Politics Now, 27th March) "To be honest I would rather have a referendum
than this sort of incremental nonsense of fiddling about with powers."
Labour MEP David Martin said: (STV, Politics Now,
27th March) "I said we should call Alex Salmond's bluff, have a referendum
– yes or no on independence – a short sharp debate and get it out of the
way."
SCOTS AUTHOR IAIN
BANKS THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
In a recent interview with the
Edinburgh Evening News Iain Banks (who writes Science Fiction as Iain
M. Banks) declared his support for Scottish independence. Banks
originally nailed his colours to the mast when
he became a signatory to the Declaration of Calton Hill which calls for
independence and republicanism.
"I voted for the SNP in the past because they were slightly more left-wing
than Labour, but then Ted Heath had more left-wing policies than New
Labour," he explained. "I have been pleasantly
surprised at how well they have done. If that leads to Scotland being more
progressive, that's a good thing as well."
In his youth he considered himself British – now, having witnessed the
progressive destruction of nationalised industries and Thatcherism, he's
less red, white and blue. The Prime Minister next door might want a
British pledge but Banks dismisses the notion as "cretinous" and
"bananas".
"I'm at a stage of thinking we have to leave England to its fate," he
adds. "If it wants to leave the EU, then let it stew in its own past
imperial dreamland. Scotland can be a great small country in Europe. We
can make a success of it and be a more humane society than this privatised
and selfishness orientated country."
CONSEU - SCOTLAND
REPRESENTED ON INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE
LET THE PEOPLE DECIDE
- STARS TURN OUT FOR BURNS NIGHT PARTY AS INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM PETITION
LAUNCHED
Scotland has the potential to become one of the most
successful economic nations in the world, a report by an independent think
tank claims. But the Reform Scotland report warned that to achieve that
goal, Scotland would need to double its growth rate.
Over the last 30 years the annual average growth
rate has been 1.8% - but the report stated that for Scotland to become one
of the most successful nations would require a rate of 3.5%, which would
also have to be sustained over a period of 10 to 12 years.
Reform Scotland, a right-of-centre research body,
said that with the right framework for growth in place – based on lower
taxes, smaller government and more financial control – the country could
become an international leader, increasing prosperity and raising living
standards for Scots.
However, reaching that goal will require an average
growth rate of 3.5 per cent over a period of ten to 12 years, according to
research carried out by Reform Scotland. Over the past 30 years,
Scotland's annual average growth rate was 1.8 per cent.
In its report, Powers for Growth, the think-tank
makes four broad recommendations to improve Scotland's economic
performance:
• A lower overall tax burden
• A more limited government
• Greater fiscal autonomy
• Better statistical information.
Ben Thomson, chairman of Reform Scotland, said: "The
report shows that lowering the overall tax burden and reducing the size of
government have a positive impact on economic growth. We would therefore
urge all political parties to adopt policies which would deliver these
outcomes and bring benefits to the Scottish economy."
MSPS
VOTE NO TO NEW NUCLEAR POWER STATIONS
The Scottish Parliament has
voted to block any new nuclear power stations north of the Border.
MSPs voted by 63 to 58 to reject nuclear power, exactly a week
after Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, committed the UK government to a
new generation of such stations.The Holyrood
vote was hailed by SNP ministers as signalling a clean, bright future for
Scottish energy.
Jim Mather, the energy minister, said: "This vote transforms the terms of
the energy debate in Scotland – we now have a parliament and government
able and willing to take forward Scotland's clean, green energy future.
Scotland's energy future is bright."
An alliance of the SNP, the Liberal Democrats and
the Greens was enough to see the policy through, with the Tories and
Labour voting to retain nuclear energy.
The vote will give the Scottish Government solid
parliamentary backing for its opposition to nuclear power stations and
will mean Scotland and England pursuing completely different paths in
electricity generation for the foreseeable future.
Energy policy is reserved to Westminster, but Holyrood has control over
planning policy, so can veto any applications for new nuclear plants.
Mr Salmond has made it clear he will do just that, an approach that is
likely to dissuade energy companies from coming forward with applications.
Former SNP leader Billy Wolfe who was spied on by
British secret agents.
FILES REVEAL MASSIVE
SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS BY MI5 AGAINST SNP
The SNP was spied on by
British secret service agents, previously classified Government files seen
by Scotland on Sunday have finally proved. Claims of surveillance of
nationalist politicians by intelligence officers have circulated for
years, but the new papers provide the first incontrovertible evidence that
the state spied on the SNP in the 1950s. Agents from MI5 and Special
Branch infiltrated the party as part of a campaign to undermine support
for Scottish independence, the papers show.
The files, which have been opened and placed in the
UK National Archives in Kew, show that throughout the 1950s Special Branch
officers posed as nationalist supporters and attended party meetings and
rallies. The dossiers contain first-hand accounts from numerous unnamed
agents of party meetings, and also include names of SNP members and
sympathisers. They also provided transcripts of speeches and give
particular attention to members they believed were on the more radical and
militant wing of the party.
The dozens of documents also contain the remarkable
claim that Dr Robert McIntyre, the then SNP leader, wanted Scotland to
pull out of the UK and apply to be the 49th state of the USA.A number of present-day MSPs, including former SNP leadership
contender Alex Neil, claim MI5 still monitors pro-independence politicians
and may even have stepped up surveillance since the Nationalists won power
in May.
Alex Neil, deputy convener of Holyrood's European
and External Relations Committee, said: "It does not surprise me in the
least to have it confirmed that the UK Government has used dirty tricks
against the SNP in the past. I would certainly not discount the idea that
the British state is still acting to undermine the SNP, especially given
the substantial progress it has made recently.
We need to get clear assurances from Westminster that nothing is being
done to undermine the democratic wishes of the Scottish people."
A spokesman for the Home Office, which deals with UK
intelligence services, said: "We neither confirm nor deny operational
matters."
More information
The settiing was Hyde Park
in the centre of London. The speaker was a young and charismatic
politician who had broken the mould.The crowd
was mainly made up of his supporters who gathered to hear his views on
self-rule, daring raids on the establishment and possible alliance with a
foreign power.
Except for one. He was the "spook" from MI5 and he
duly delivered his report on the enemy within - the Scottish National
Party - to his political masters in Whitehall. Scotland on Sunday can
reveal today for the first time the official papers that prove that MI5
and Special Branch spied on the SNP during the 1950s because of fears over
independence.
According to the documents lodged at the National
Archives in Kew, government agents routinely attended party meetings to
compile lists of SNP members and where they lived, focusing on the more
militant individuals. They also provided detailed transcripts of speeches.
The files show that in April, 1951, a government
agent attended the party gathering in Hyde Park to keep a close eye on
party leader Robert McIntyre, who had made history by becoming the first
SNP MP after winning a by-election in Motherwell six years earlier.
A detailed report on his remarks and conduct states:
"Dr McIntyre said the party was a constitutional one, but as such it had
been ignored by the English. It was only when unconstitutional methods,
such as the removal of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey [in
1950], were used that this country become aware of Scotland's wish for
self-rule.
"He thought that Scotland would in fact be better
off as the 49th state of the United States, both from an economic and
defence aspect." This revelation is at odds with the SNP's stance as a
predominantly left-of-centre party, which remained suspicious of the US
brand of unfettered free-market capitalism. The files include detailed
reports of a meeting held by the London branch of the SNP in Conway Hall,
Holborn, on May 31, 1954.
It states: "Attached is a list of the present
paid-up members of the Scottish National Party, a list of members from
1953 and a list of names and addresses taken from a 'contact book', which
includes the names of people who have expressed their sympathy with the
Party at meetings and rallies."
Another Special Branch member filed a report on an
SNP rally that took place in Trafalgar Square on April 19, 1953. It lists
those who attended, including McIntyre, who died in 1998, and states: "All
of the speeches were moderate in tone and no references were made to
Coronation, but, as I have detailed, two of the speakers did briefly
comment on the title of HM the Queen."
The files record that SNP members eventually became
suspicious of government infiltration and proposed that all new members be
vouched for by a regular member. The Special Branch agent recorded: "This
was on the grounds that a Mr Douglas, who was well versed in politics and
spoke well, was regarded as a police spy."
SNP elder statesman said they were "shocked" their
suspicions had finally been confirmed.
William Wolfe, who joined the SNP in the late 1950s
and led the party between 1969 and 1979, said: "We always suspected that
the party was being infiltrated by government agents, but it is still
shocking to have that suspicion finally confirmed.
"I remember one individual in particular who claimed
he had spent many years in America before joining the party.
"Something about him just didn't add up and we all
suspected he was some sort of government informer. A lot of us used to
joke about having moles in our midst, but it now appears that it was no
laughing matter."
Wolfe added: "It is quite, quite wrong for a
legitimate and democratic party to be put under surveillance in this way.
I have absolutely no doubt that the UK Government will have several files
on me, but I have nothing to hide."
Wolfe, 83, insists he was put under surveillance by
M15 as late as the 1970s after he received a bizarre telex from the
Ugandan dictator Idi Amin offering support for Scottish independence.
"It was a very strange incident, but I had it
confirmed from the police that it led to my phone being tapped."
Security experts said the Home Office would have
considered the SNP a legitimate target for surveillance.
Terrorism expert Paul Wilkinson, professor of
international relations at St Andrews University, said: "This was the era
when the taking of the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey had become
a huge national issue. I'm sure there was concern in Westminster and
Whitehall that there was a more militant wing within supporters of
Scottish independence which posed a threat of illegal actions and it is
the job of MI5 to monitor potential dangers of that kind."
SNP PUBLISH SCOTTISH
INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM WHITE PAPER
Party launches 'national
conversation' with the public on independence
The SNP have launched a three
year campaign to appeal to the Scottish public directly on independence.
The scheme was unveiled as part of the First
Minister's launch of his "nationalconversation"
on Scotland's future, a process he hopes will involve as many people as
possible. Opposition politicians warned they would not take part in the
"conversation" until Mr Salmond dropped his plans for independence.
But the First Minister declared: "Today is the
moment when, as First Minister, I ask every Scot to pause and reflect not
on the kind of country we are, but on the kind of country we could be, we
should be.
"And today is the start of the most wide-ranging,
inclusive, imaginative and direct effort from any Scottish government to
engage with every person in this country, and furth of Scotland, who has a
view on the future of our nation."
He admitted the process had so far cost £40,000, a
bill that will only rise if his plans for roadshows and exhibitions come
to fruition.
Pat Watters, the president of local-government body
COSLA, criticised the use of taxpayers' money. "I see little relevance in
this exercise for local government and the people we deliver valuable
services to. Like me, I am sure they would much rather see money being
spent on services," he said.
But Mr Salmond defended the move, saying: "I think
determining a nation's future, the price of democracy, is well worth the
cost."
With a majority of MSPs implacably opposed to
independence, Mr Salmond's strategy is to appeal over their heads directly
to the people, inviting them to get involved and influence the process.
He said: "The days of top-down government,
government delivered from on high to an unsuspecting and compliant
population, are over. This debate, one focused on the question of the next
stage of self-government, demands the attention of every Scot."
Mr Salmond published a glossy 48-page document
called "Choosing Scotland's Future, A National Conversation" which set out
the possible options: the status quo, more powers for the parliament or
complete independence.
Members of the public were invited to contribute to
the debate, either by writing to the Scottish Executive, registering their
views online or taking part in one of the roadshows, meetings and events -
sponsored by the Executive - that will take place around the country over
the next four years.
• Anyone interested in
finding out what really is at the core of the white paper on Scotland's
future has to go right to the back of the 48-page brochure.There, in annex B, on pages 44 to 48, is the bill which would
authorise a referendum on Scottish independence.
The Referendum (Scotland) Bill is quite a striking
document. Set out in legalese and parliamentary language, it specifies all
the usual provisions for British plebiscites, from the roll for
the returning officers to the hours of polling.
But then, right in the middle, is the proposed
ballot paper. Under the request: "Put a cross (X) in the appropriate box,"
there are then two statements. The first is: "I AGREE that the Scottish
Government should negotiate a settlement with the Government of the United
Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state."
The second is: "I DO NOT AGREE that the Scottish
Government should negotiate a settlement with the Government of the United
Kingdom so that Scotland becomes an independent state."
CHAPTER ONE
The first five-page chapter sets out the role and
responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament, explaining how the devolution
settlement has changed over the past eight years with the addition of new
powers. These have been largely non-controversial, with Westminster
handing over control of railway infrastructure, fireworks, food safety and
the operation of power stations.
CHAPTER TWO
The second nine-page chapter deals with extending
Scottish devolution, explaining which powers are still held by Westminster
(national security, foreign affairs, monetary policy, broadcasting and
benefits among others) and how Scotland could change.
Under sub-heads stating "A Stronger Scotland", "A
Fairer Scotland", "A Greener Scotland", it sets out what the Executive
claims would be the benefits of taking control.
CHAPTER THREE
The white paper then goes on to deal with the
question of independence, setting out how Scotland would change and what
benefits would flow from that.
CHAPTER FOUR
The fourth chapter concentrates
on the UK constitution as a whole, explaining how the constitution has
changed.
CHAPTER FIVE
Deals with legislation and
referendums, providing the alternatives for Scotland: the status quo, more
powers for the parliament or full independence, and how these could be
achieved.
CHAPTER SIX
The final chapter sums up the ideas behind the
national conversation and explains how members of the public can
contribute.
