Another New Group. How Many Do The Unionists Need?

The Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party is to have its annual conference in Troon next Friday and Saturday. Is the town prepared for an influx of fearless, gray-haired Tory women who regularly make 'their' conference an annual outing?

Without these groupies I think Gerald Warner, in a scathing attack on the Tories, could be correct when he says the conference will be held 'allegedly in the concert hall, more likely in the adjoining telephone kiosk'.

Where I do disagree with him is about Murdo Fraser's attempt to resuscitate his party because Murdo at least showed he had given some serious though to its future.

At the conference Ruth Davidson (the leader of SCUP pictured), intends to launch a new group aimed at keeping Scotland in the Union.  She says the Conservative Friends of the Union (CFU) would be organised on a local government basis and anyone who shares its support for Scotland remaining part of the UK can sign up for their local CFU group, which will be launched over the summer.

What political party launches anything during the summer?  Not one which can be taken seriously.  I live in an area which used to be predominately Tory and I'll be watching closely for any evidence of a local group here.

How many more 'fight these dreadful supporters of independence' groups do Scots need?  Labour has already announced their group as have the Libdems. One of the unionists' favourite reasons for Scotland staying in the Union is "stronger together, weaker apart". If they believed that they could be a serious opposition in the campaign, but politicians never practice what they preach, so there's little chance of the anti-independence side making a marked impact.

Oh, in case anyone has planned to attend the Tory conference, the speakers at the Rally for the Union, which is to be chaired by the party's former leader Annabel Goldie, will include Ms Davidson, Secretary of State for Wales Cheryl Gillan MP and Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who is the co-chair of the UK Conservative Party.  Surely that group of lovelies must tempt someone.

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Nice And Easy Does It Alex

The SNP conference takes place in Inverness this week and Alex Salmond is looking rather pleased with himself.  No wonder.  He had a very good week last week with the main unionist parties tripping over themselves in their futile attempts to gain some recognition with the Scottish electorate.  Unfortunately, the more they try the more the voters see through their dismal tactics and realise the SNP government is doing a reasonable job.

Whilst I disagree with the proposals to increase the unit cost of alcohol, the excessive amount of windfarms which are being built and destroying some of our most spectacular scenery and the knee-jerk reaction of unnecessary legislation against sectarianism, I consider that the SNP government is working for Scotland and its future.

The Herald carried a rather amusing article in which it stated that coalition ministers are planning a series of high-profile visits to Scotland to campaign against independence with the message that Alex Salmond risks 'trashing' the Scottish economy by delaying a vote on separation from the UK.  Westminster politicians never learn do they?  The majority of Scots are not interested in token visits and we've heard the negativity for years so they're threats will fall on deaf ears.

Alex Salmond is sure to dismiss calls for an early referendum on independence and will stick to his plan of asking the people during the second half of this parliamentary cycle, as set out in the SNP's manifesto for last May's election. If the ComRes pollfor the Independent on Sunday is an accurate reflection of support for independence, Mr Salmond's 'nice and easy does it' method is proving to be a winner.

The use of perjorative language by the unionist parties does little for their cause - or should I say their lost cause - because Scotland's membership of the Union is no longer appropriate for the 21st century.

We need to be able to make our own decisions and make our own mistakes, protect our own culture and ensure our children are educated to the highest quality possible so as they can confidently take their place in adult society.

It may take a few decades for us to shape a country which can combine ambition with fairness, but it will happen as long as our politicians do it the Alex Salmond way - 'nice and easy'.

Update:  There has been some discussion in the comments about whether the proposal for an independence referendum was in the SNP's election manifesto.  It was and it's here, but I apologise for misleading readers by also stating the manifesto declared the referendum would be in the second half of the Parliament.  That was not contained within the document.  My information was taken from the MSM who are not always accurate.  However, it is well documented that the SNP campaigned on a referendum being held in the second half of the Parliament.  Before the 5th of May even the unionist papers carried it as a leader and the Labour party became quite upset about it.

Time to stop nitpicking and start discussing the detail of what is needed and what is wanted for an independent Scotland.

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Scotland's Tax Raising/Lowering Powers

The Unionists are having a ball here in Scotland accusing the SNP government of  'lapsing' the tax raising powers which were included in the 1999 devolution referendum.

I've been accused of staying silent on the matter, although I received an apology because the title of my post didn't refer to it. It's not the first time I've been pilloried by Scottish bloggers who don't take the trouble to read through my posts but prefer to read the title and, perhaps, the first paragraph but I do appreciate this one had the courtesy to apologise.

This is unionist electioneering at its best,  accusing the nationalist government for 'betraying' the Scottish people.  What utter nonsense and they know it.

Had the Scottish people have been informed that the cost of having 3p varying tax raising powers would have stretched into millions then I'm sure they would have decided against it.  For the referendum most thought that a Yes Yes vote would ensure that we secured our own Parliament.  That's what was most important and the second question regarding tax raising powers was more or less irrelevant.  To ensnare any Scottish government into a £12 million down payment for this political absurd idea in 1999, followed by £50,000 per year until 2007 when the contract terminated is an atrocity on behalf of those who designed the Scotland Act.

The tax raising powers haven't lapsed.  The legislation is enshrined in the Scotland Act 1998 Part V and therefore still available until Parliament vote for it to be deleted.  Therefore the SNP government have not 'given away' any powers, they have decided not to pay the UK treasury for something which we all know will never be used.

Should the SNP government have informed Parliament of their decision?  It would appear they wrote to the UK government in the summer asking the reasons why the HMRC were requesting £7 million to keep the legislation alive and they've had no response.

John Swinney is to face the Finance Committee tomorrow.  My thought is that he won't be signing a cheque made out to HMRC for £7 million just to keep a system alive, when the UK government intend to introduce new legislation within a matter of weeks, but I have no doubt he will show the Unionists and the Greens are purely electioneering and he won't be apologising for not informing Parliament either as the issue is still ongoing with the Westminster parliament.  That's politics.

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How To Be A Unionist in 2010

Thanks to Joan McAlpine

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Some Thoughts on the Calman Commission Report

I've yet to finish ploughing through the details of the Calman Commission report, although I have formed an opinion of sorts, but I thought it would be helpful to some readers if I listed a few blogs and articles in the media which have posts relevant to the report.

Lallands Peat Worrier

BBC

More from the BBC

Calum Cashley

Blether with Brian

Moridura

Wardog

late addition Power and its Minions

I am sure there will be more contributions in the next few days.

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