Tuesday, August 28, 2007

We Have a Cunning Plan....

Following the SNP’s unveiling of a white paper on holding a referendum on independence, apparently the "unionist" parties in Scotland are now teaming up and attempting a *fightback*.

This fightback will consist of the Lib-Dems, the Tories and Labour looking for wide-ranging new powers for the Scottish parliament including "control over tax".

So, let's read that again; the fightback against the separatists and their dream of Scottish independence will consist of "unionists" gaining yet further devolution of important powers away from the UK parliament at Westminster?

I really think I’m missing something here.

5 comments:

Michael Shilliday said...

Scotland puzzles me, as the parties there don't seem to understand PR elections. The unionist parties don;t need to conspire to any fightback, they have a massive majority!

Why the SNP were allowed to take power is just beyond me, a real travesty of electoral politics.

O'Neill said...

Michael,

It's a very strange strategy from the three parties and one that plays directly into the SNP's hands.

It's a minority govt which will have to fight tooth and nail for every controversial measure it wants to push through; Salmond has realised this and instead is relying on a PR offensive which puts the unionist parties on the backfoot in the media.

Much better tactic for the unionists just to sit back and watch for the right opportunities to make life as difficult as poss for the govt.

Michael Shilliday said...

Or better to take power themselves like the electorate voted for?

O'Neill said...

Or better to take power themselves like the electorate voted for?

The problem with that scenario, which would have to involve a coalition is the arrogance of the Scottish labour Party.

Their various MPs, MSAs and councillors regarded large parts of the country as their own personal fiefdoms for too long(leading to the phrase McTammany Hall)- they really can't countenance sharing power.

Michael Shilliday said...

Fianna Fail syndrome. They'll grow out of it.