Annabel Goldie MSP, Scottish Conservative and Unionist* Party leader, said:
"When will Labour learn to put the national interest before narrow party interest. Labour is all at sea with minority government, it has no compass and no hand at the helm."
A very long "Hmmmmm....." is all I’m going to say to that.
(Almost all; *not any more she ain’t.)
11 comments:
So regular deals with the SNP are A-Ok with Conservatives but making arrangements with the DUP is anathema. I shall join you in your hmmmm.
Isn't her nation Scotland?
You seem to be getting a bit carried away and definitely confused with this Irish and British malarky. So much so that you seem to forget that people of that country should act in it's best interests.
Oh and don't think the Tories haven't got a strategy, I reckon they may well be on the up without the London strings.
Fair Deal,
"Hmmmmm" in this particular case is not a contented "Hmmmmm", I would have thought that was pretty obvious.
No deals with the DUP, no deals with the SNP in the perfect world. But Cameron, in his wisdom, appears to be giving a fair bit of leeway to the Scottish Conservative leadership to follow their own policies in their "own" "parliament" and as an an arch-devolutionist I'd guess you'd support him in that kind of line;)?
But from what I've heard, what
the leadership and what the rank and file think on this kind of collaberation widely differs.
On a kind of a connected matter, you wouldn't have a transcript of Winterton's speech last week would you? There's a couple of things which don't connect.
Isn't her nation Scotland?
Probably best to ask her, hard to know where her priorities lie at the minute.
""Hmmmmm" in this particular case is not a contented "Hmmmmm"
I am afraid you misinterpreted my remark. It was intended as a general comment not about your particular viewpoint. I realise you views are more ideological than the visceral. Apologies for my lack of clarity. Neither is my Hmmm contented.
"No deals with the DUP, no deals with the SNP in the perfect world."
We don't live in a perfect world.
"But Cameron, in his wisdom, appears to be giving a fair bit of leeway to the Scottish Conservative leadership to follow their own policies in their "own" "parliament" and as an an arch-devolutionist I'd guess you'd support him in that kind of line;)?"
I am not a devolutionist. I am a federalist. I do not like Blair's reforms they are an incoherent mess.
I also believe in common cause with fellow parties when it makes political sense. The inability of the three Unionist parties not to create a functioning minority government was the failure in this case. Comparable deals could have been reached so Annabel Goldie could still advance the policy agenda she claims she does but without these arrangements with the SNP.
O'Neill
"you wouldn't have a transcript of Winterton's speech last week would you?"
Sorry I don't.
I am not a devolutionist. I am a federalist. I do not like Blair's reforms they are an incoherent mess.
Apologies. A truly federal system would mean an English parliament, would yopu be happy with that?
O'Neill
"Cameron, in his wisdom, appears to be giving a fair bit of leeway to the Scottish Conservative leadership to follow their own policies"
Then why the different policy in NI were Cameron is insisting on particular things? Why the difference?
"A truly federal system would mean an English parliament, would yopu be happy with that?"
I can live with a fully unitary system or a federal system (as both provide a basis of equal citizenship) but a constitutional mess that seems to combine the flaws of both is unacceptable.
England does not need to be restricted to one in a federal system.
My conservative and cultural tendencies push me away from a high degree of centralisation in the state so I prefer federalism. Neither is it an idea alien to our political history (read John Kendle's book).
It would also do wonders for our national parliament to get some focus. The appaling lack of oversight of EU law would be tackled and important national issues/institutions (e.g. our armed forces) would get decent attention etc.
Then why the different policy in NI were Cameron is insisting on particular things? Why the difference
There seems to be a fair bit of autonomy there too (eg the grammar schools), but I guess you're alluding to the refusal to carry out electoral pacts- I'm not sure what else he's insisting on. This refusal althought it was announced by Patterson, I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that it had its roots in local Torydom. A quick glance at their site and speeches indicates that, even prior to last summer there is a real distate, for the communal brand of Unionism on offer from the DUP. Cameron or London will have been glad to tag along with them on this one.
I can live with a fully unitary system or a federal system (as both provide a basis of equal citizenship) but a constitutional mess that seems to combine the flaws of both is unacceptable.
I agree with the latter part of your statement, my preference though would be for the unitary state with certain ammendments to what existed pre 98. Federalism works fine as a government system in those nations with no separatist forces (eg Germany and the US), not so well in others (eg Spain).
England does not need to be restricted to one in a federal system.
I can't work that out, is that a yes or a no?
" I'm not sure what else he's insisting on"
I understand he insists on every seat.
"Federalism works fine as a government system in those nations with no separatist forces (eg Germany and the US), not so well in others (eg Spain)."
Neither unitarism or federalism is a silver bullet in the face of separatism. Also for all the boat rocking no part of Spain or Canada has actually left. The reaction to Thatcher in Scotland in the 1980's demonstrates how unitarism can create problems too.
"I can't work that out, is that a yes or a no?"
It isn't a yes or no answer. It means one is possible but not an inevitability of a federal system. Personally think the administrative units England is divided into provide a reasonable basis.
I understand he insists on every seat.
But the point (regarding the autonomy of the local a party) is if he's imposing that on the local Conservatives against their will, from what I've read or heard I don't think he is.
Re how federalism is working in Spain, interestingly enough the discontent is now mainly from the biggest part which doesn't have its own parliament/assembly, Castillia (sp?)- I written a couple of posts on the subject of language/employment/education discrimination in both Basque and catalonia being practised against the increasing number of those who speak Spanish as their mother tongue. The potential parallels are there if you attempt to set up a federal system without including the same powers for England.
Post a Comment