I’m guessing though very few of you, whether Nationalist or Unionist, will be assessing it in quite the same way as Gordon Brown has done:
"Their analysis of Scotland's place in the UK is serious and weighty. I agree that the way forward for Scotland is stronger devolution within a stronger Union – 21st century devolution for a 21st century Union delivering interdependence rather than independence."
Hands up who thinks Brown’s definition of "stronger devolution" will lead to a "stronger Union"?
Although perhaps there is a hidden subtext after all:
He described the finance proposals as "imaginative and bold", as well as "realistic" in terms of implementation.
Generally "imaginative" and "bold" when employed in a political context are synonyms for "impractical" and "foolhardy", rarely "realistic".
The imaginative and bold Mr Brown then goes on:
"Scottish people want Scotland to preserve its distinctiveness while still being part of the wider UK,"
If you really believe that, then you’ve got nothing to fear from granting the SNP their referendum, but at a time and on a "battlefield" of your choosing. The creation of this new "21st Century devolution" is as good as a time as any to ask for the real opinion of the Scottish people.
4 comments:
Well, it's not bad.
The proposed taxation power is actually quite clever - forces the Scottish Parliament to make a positive decision about tax levels, even if they're leaving them the same as before.
I appreciate the desire for a referendum in principle, but the changes are fairly minor and do we need to faff around with referenda right now, when there is other stuff to do?
i agree - if thse proposals are imaginative and bold surely they need to endorsed by the scootish people in who were rember spcifically asked, in a seperate second question, to endorse much less radical tax raising powers?
amd whilst at it ask them if them want to remain in the union at all?
oooooo Smee, that's perilously clsoe to supporting a referendum, have you informed Am2 about your 'treachery'
A change in tax raising powers of some 20% is relatively significant compared to the referendum question on the 3p tax powers.
A referendum is required.
Salmonds skillful response demonstrates the now obvious differences between the nationalist heavyweights(no pun intended on wee Alec) and the unionist poodles. Gordon Brown is a complete fantasist, is he so removed from Scotland that he can spout this nonsense? Is Douglas Alexander not telling him as it is? Has he not seen the Euro election results? C'mon, just how pathetic is this unionist response to Scotland finally waking up and asserting herself?
This Calman's report is so shite, it really is. What a pathetic use of tax payers money for so little result. Sure we will take the extra few wee tit-bits, it all helps, but to call it(Calman) radical is akin to believing that the Lib-Dem's actually stand for something.
Best comments on this mornings radio Scotland show came from independent MSP Margo MacDonald(an incredible wummin) and two English folk. One of whom correctly states that Scots are in the process of waking up from Westminster imposed ignorance, an ignorance that I believe many of us were happy to accept for too long. No matter the genie is out of the bottle, and crap like the Calman report will not stop it.
Anyone with even a passing interest in Scottish politics recognises the momentum that the call for independence has now. Will we get the referendum that most of us want though, for or agin? that reall is the only question worth asking.
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