Suggestions that Westminster might take
"revenge" on Scotland in the event of a No vote in the referendum are
very real, according to one of the leading architects of devolution.
Canon Kenyon Wright, who chaired the Scottish Constitutional
Convention which laid the groundwork to set up the Scottish Parliament in 1999,
has urged people to vote Yes.
The canon said independence is "the only way left open,
to give Scotland power over her own affairs that is both complete and
secure", describing promises of further powers from the unionist parties
as looking "suspiciously like a rather desperate bribe".
Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have all
put forward their own proposals for further devolution in the event of a No
vote.
Yes campaigners have questioned whether these will be
delivered, and have claimed Scotland's budget could be cut in future years.
The retired Episcopalian clergyman said: " I believe
the suggestions of revenge against the Scots emanating from Westminster are
very real if there was a No vote on September 18.
"There will undoubtedly be cuts to the Barnett Formula,
affecting the NHS in Scotland, social security, and that benefits will suffer -
we've already had (Chancellor) George Osborne and his 'bedroom tax' - and I
envisage devolution being undermined despite promises of more powers. Not that
I believe that the devolved parliament will be abolished, but its powers will
be diminished.
"Like many, I argued for a second question offering a
middle way - which I saw not as devolution but as 'constitutionally secure
autonomy within a reformed UK'. That door was slammed shut - but not by
Scotland.
"Devolution is no longer enough; it's incomplete and
even 'max' leaves key areas unguaranteed. So Messrs Cameron, Miliband and Clegg
cannot be surprised if I now see independence as the only way left open, to
give Scotland power over her own affairs that is both complete and secure.
Their way offers neither."
He added: "The latest 'offer' of more powers from the
unionist parties looks suspiciously like a rather desperate bribe - but it is
not an answer to Scotland's needs."
The canon was speaking as he signed the independence
declaration at Yes Scotland's headquarters in Glasgow, and ahead of an
appearance in Edinburgh tomorrow.
He will be part of a panel at the launch of a new book, A
Constitution For The Common Good by Dr Elliot Bulmer.
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Any of our Borders based readers recognise them?
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Just a thought: What are you going to do down there in the south if the No side wins? There will be No Borders (which is the Sunday name of Nob Orders, that well known, grassroots millionaire Tory club). You'll have to go and live in the islands with John. Good luck with that!
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| So... in an independent Scotland, Labour would be killed? How so Labour. Can't stand on your own two feet? Too wee? Too poor? Too stupid? |
Canon Kenyan Wright is a wise man he like many other know that if Scotland votes no, a heavy price ill have to be paid, of course we know this Boris Johnson let it slip the other day just what the Tory mantra really is. A no doesn't mean the status quo, not even close.
ReplyDeleteThe poor sick and disabled will be the first to feel the heavy hand of Westminster, as we watch £100 billion pounds pumped into the renewing of Trident, billion more for aircraft for Westminster's aircraft carriers, god it will be like watching a train wreck in slow motion, with Scotland acting as the train.
I think Henry McLeish is saying much the same thing.
DeleteNo one trusts these unionists. Not even unionists.
Those voting No should be listening to this and be utterly ashamed of themselves.
DeleteFoodbanks & Welfare Reform
Hear hear.
DeleteI think Henry McLeish has just moved even closer to stepping over the line and openly saying he is backing YES. Come on Henry you can do it. Look at how far you have come compared to how far you have to go, inches man, come on you know you want to do it. Just DO IT! :-)
DeleteThey reckoned that at some stage he would come out for yes.
DeleteI wonder. Hope he does.
Canon Kenyon Wright is spot when he warns that there will be retribution from Westminster if Scotland votes NO.
ReplyDeleteI would lay odds that these are just some of the things that Scotland will get if it votes NO:-
* David Cameron or Boris Johnston for UK PM and Nigel Farage for deputy PM of the UK and another 5 or more years of a Tory government at Westminster.
* at least 10 more years of UK austerity measures agreed by all Westminster parties whilst more foodbanks are opened.
* Scotland torn out of the EU by the combined anti-EU Tory/UKIP MP's voting majority at Westminster causing massive unemployment in Scotland.
* Barnett formula abolished by Westminster causing £10.2 billion a year to be cut from the Scottish Government's £30bn annual budget.
* The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) is signed by Westminster and all UK state services such as Scotland's NHS are opened to private competition from American multinationals.
* privatisation of Scotland's NHS and Water due to a combination of TTIP and aforementioned Barnett cuts.
* end of free personal care for the elderly and free prescriptions for all due to Barnett cuts.
* Student fees re-introduced and brought into line with England costing £9,000 per annum due to Barnett cuts.
* unlimited increases in Council Tax every year to compensate for central grant funding shortfall due to Barnett cuts.
* Westminster reneges on promise of "more powers" after NO vote and instead immediately legislates to make all Holyrood spending decisions subject to veto by Westminster before taking back most of Holyroods powers.
* Trident nuclear weapon system replaced on the Clyde costing £100 billion and shipbuilding ceases in Scotland as all naval shipbuilding and repair is transferred to new facilities at Portsmouth.
* more unnecessary foreign wars for Scots service personnel to be killed in.
The people of Scotland can make certain these things never happen by voting YES on 18 September.
I can't really criticise any of that, M, although I think that we won;t lose a third of the spending, unless the government loses its responsibility for things.
DeleteBut if there is a no vote and a convincing one, this will be the time for the Tories who never wanted devolution (possibly because they didn't want the ECHR which demanded it), or maybe because they believe that THEY know best, to take back powers.
They can;t take back powers granted after a referendum. Well, they probably can. The powers are on load as pour friend qwee Willie Rennie has pointed out to us.
The House of Lords, or those of them who were awake and alive at the time, removed our powers over fracking so that Osborne could let his daddy in law's company frack the hell out of Loch Lomond and under my house if they want.
Presumably if my house disappears into a big hole, while the grasping bastard gets his shale gas from under it, Lord whatever his name is will not be required to provide me with any accommodation. After all, I don;t vote Tory.
I can see powers disappearing. And I agree that we will lose a lot of money, NHS will have to be sold off and kids will have to pay for university courses. Possibly even secondary education. by the time these evil thieves have finished.
It's not unlikely at that point that a lot of decent people will leave for better places in the EU, but yes, they had better hurry up and apply for nationality, because i don't doubt for a minute that England will vote to leave the EU.
None of it sounds much fun.
I've got mates in England who are hoping that we get independence so that they can come and live here if things get too bad.
A FORMER Aberdeen Labour Party Secretary has urged other Labour supporters to vote Yes.
DeleteAllan Waite, 44, said he had become disillusioned with Scottish Labour, which he said had moved away from its core values.
Mr Waite, of Cults, said voting for independence would lead to a stronger Labour party that would re-connect with voters.
He said: “Nothing would please me more than for the real Labour party to be in power in an independent Scotland in 2016.
“Right now, Scottish Labour is totally dictated to by Westminster and, although I’m sure Johann Lamont has a heart of gold, there is not an independent thought in her head.
“I’m a traditional Labour voter, not wildly left-wing, and all I want is my party back.”
A Better Together spokesman said: “Everybody is entitled to their own view, but the majority of Scots are saying No Thanks to separation.”
If Henry has turned then that is why this is happening.
ReplyDeleteLOL yes, sorry Adrian, I meant the names weren't quite so Tory. Lavinia struck me as being awfully "county"!!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, they are all involved, and they have allowed themselves to be used in a fraud.
Ho hum... the upper crust...
Anyone notice how that Aberdeenshire Tory has questions from wholesome couples without surnames? The whole caper of answering a question from Ethel Glurt - Edinburgh reminds me of how my friends and I used to write wholesome letters to the Sunday Post for a laugh, like asking where the Queen Mother bought her tea cosies or how to crochet tartan doilies. Nice to see the Tories reliving and reviving fun customs of the 1970s.
ReplyDeleteJeez, the team old Spud took on his 100 streets has aged a bit. Sill a few weeks with Jim would do that to you.
ReplyDeleteI mean seriously, who would go to see an inspiring speaker like Lamont trying to sell you last month's milk.
did you bleach the blue out of the union flag in their header or did they?
ReplyDeleteFOR CHRISTS SAKE VOTE YES, WE ARE SICK AND TIRED OF HEARING YOUR CONSTANT FUCKING BELLYACHING AND ALL THE REST OF THE TIRESOME CARPING ,GO AND TAKE YOUR 43 LABOUR MPs YOUR TOXIC BANKS AND ALL THE DRUNKEN SCOTCH PISSHEADS AROUND VICTORIA STATION!
ReplyDelete