If the referendum result tells us anything, it’s that most people living in Scotland want a big change in how we are governed so that we can can seriously address poverty and inequality. This means that further devolution has to be more than just tinkering at the edges. As Lord Smith started his work with […]
Posts under ‘Nationalism/Unionism’
Cameron rats on early devolution & is nakedly partisan to secure Tory interest
Sep 21st, 2014 by Michael Meacher.So much for ‘The Vow’ agreed by all three party leaders just a week ago in the spirit of the union together. It is rapidly unravelling in a welter of uncertainty over what the ‘extensive new powers’ for Scotland will be, the timetable for their delivery, and above all by their being linked to party […]
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The view from a Scotland full of flags, few of them red
Sep 20th, 2014 by Katy Clark.It has been an emotional few weeks in Scotland. Many of those on the No side are now hugely relieved after Friday morning’s result as, although you would not know it from the media, lots of ordinary people had been incredibly worried about the massive ramifications of a potential Yes vote. This was a forever […]
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Labour faces a titanic struggle to regain the confidence of the Scottish working class
Sep 19th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.In gracefully accepting the verdict of the Scottish people “at this stage“, Alex Salmond made clear his expectation that the three unionist parties honour their pledges to the Scottish people in rapid course. “Let us not dwell on distance we’ve fallen short; let us dwell on distance we’ve travelled.” The turnout at 86% demonstrates how engaged and […]
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Devolution or Independence: We must not neglect the North East
Sep 18th, 2014 by Grahame Morris.In the early hours of Friday morning we will learn whether Scotland has voted in favour of Independence. The arguments have been well rehearsed from the uncertainty of Independence, and the stability offered by the Union, to the economic and democratic freedom offered by Independence. As a supporter of the Union, and the Better Together […]
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Yea or Nay, Scots won’t get real independence
Sep 13th, 2014 by Michael Meacher.If the Yes vote wins next Thursday (which I personally doubt), the immediate result – apart from the SNP euphoria – will be tough and hard bargaining between the Bank of England, Whitehall and the EU as to how the new powers are to be carved out. The spirit of liberality about quasi-home rule sprinkled […]
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Westminster in headless chicken mode over independence referendum
Sep 11th, 2014 by Diane Abbott.The Scottish referendum has electrified Westminster this week. Everyone is in a state of scarcely suppressed hysteria at the prospect of the Scots voting for independence next Thursday. In some ways it is surprising that everyone is so surprised. It is true that the No campaign has long enjoyed a healthy lead. But SNP Members […]
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Politics before and after the referendum
Sep 8th, 2014 by Phil Burton-Cartledge.Some sense impressions about the Scottish referendum and its consequences… If no wins on the 18th, it will be of the slimmest of margins and in spite of the politics of Better Together. The two debates between Salmond and Darling illustrated Better Together‘s problem perfectly. The first round went to Darling. He does technical detail […]
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“The Scottish referendum isn’t primarily about Scotland: it’s about London”
Sep 8th, 2014 by Michael Meacher.This is a shrewd observation by Prof. Danny Dorling, especially in the later stages of the referendum as Salmond repeatedly pinpoints the sheer dominance and ultra-wealth of London as a prime reason why Scots should vote for independence. It sucks the lifeblood out of the rest of the country, and so far from the rebalancing […]
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Yes or no, Labour should offer a new federal vision of Britain, north & south of the border
Sep 6th, 2014 by Jon Lansman.The only thing about the vote on Scottish independence on which we can be pretty sure is that it will be close. I’d certainly prefer a no vote although I’m no more a unionist than a nationalist. I just question the very possibility of independence for Scotland in a sterling currency zone within the European union, […]
