Typical bias by the Britman against SNP over Police numbers

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1794842007

This headline would tend to suggest that the SNP are CUTTING spending on the police and removing police men from the beat. In actual fact the SNP are INCREASING spending and are planning to recruit 500 extra officers at a cost of £54M.

It is perhaps predictable that the press would try and stab the SNP in the back over this as polls show that 'Law 'N' Order' is one of the most emotive issues around. However the fact is the SNP are spending more than Labour on the police and if they can't yet deliver the 1,000 extra police they wanted to that is because Labour in London have cut back on the parliament's funds in real terms.

Colin McKerracher, Grampian Chief Constable and president of Acpos, has said the association welcomes the announcement of the 150 extra officers.

WILLIAMSON TO LAUNCH BELLA CALEDONIA

Kev Williamson has sent out the following info re the launch of the new magazine he is publishing 'Bella Caledonia':

An event coming up this Saturday, 27th of October in Edinburgh

Time: 7.30 Location: Out of the Blue Drill Hall (former TA drill hall)

30-38 Dalmeny Street (just off Leith Walk) Edinburgh Map here: http://tinyurl.com/2xf3vu

This an event to celebrate and discuss the launch of Bella Caledonia, a brand new paper for the emergent Scotland. The newspaper is pro-independence, republican, internationalist, and anti-authoritarian. The first edition has a flagship article by Andy Wightman ("Who Owns Scotland") on ownership and control of The Balmoral Estates. It will prove The Queen does not own Balmoral Estates - and explain who does - and why we have been misled on official documents and websites about this.

These facts have never been published before and are central to the argument about land reform and taking control of all Scottish lands back into the hands of Scots.

Alasdair Gray has re-designed Bella Caledonia (a character illustrated in his novel Poor Things) and provided the artwork to create the masthead for the newspaper. Radical historian James D Young is interviewed.

There will also be a libertarian left analysis of the Veneuelan revolution 1999-2006 included in the magazine.

Rejecting the centralism and authoritarianism of the old Marxist left, promoting movements rather than parties, Bella Caledonia intends to join the dots from the political processes in Scotland, to the stateless nations of Europe, to the revolutionary Bolivarian processes at work in Latin/South America, and throughout the anti-globalisation movement.

The newspaper - which is not associated or linked to any political party or organisation - will be handed out free to all Scots who want one. First edition available on the night. 5000 print run. The discussion panel will include editors Mike Small (who helped set up IndyMedia Scotland) and Kevin Williamson (founded Rebel Inc), as well as one of Scotland's foremost radical historians, James D. Young.

(Note: Lesley Riddoch - who has contributed a piece to the newspaper about women in the Outer Hebrides and the renaming back of the Western Isles to its original Celtic name of the Hebrides - but has had to pull out of the discussion.)

---

Mike Small has written a number of excellent articles for the Guardian recently and Indy Media Scotland (which is also edited by Gus Abraham of the 1820 blog) is the most effective local Scottish news website around. - JM

Archie Stirling's Uncle wasn't as clean as he pretends

Scots' generosity of spirit stretched by MacKenzie's laughable criticisms

Following Kelvin MacKenzie's outburst on Question Time (your report, 13 October), the research assistant to Christine Grahame MSP has, presumably with approval, made complaints to the Tayside and Metropolitan police forces under Section 155 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994.

This neatly sums up the complete uselessness of some of our MSPs and their assistants. Where's their confidence in the Scottish people? Are we so feeble that we have to go running to nanny every time anyone says anything unpleasant? Are we Scots - the greatest inventors in the world - so over-sensitive that we can't choose to either ignore or laugh at something so obviously puerile and untrue?

What MacKenzie - a talented ex-tabloid editor, journalist and broadcaster - apparently said, was that the Scots were not entrepreneurial and that they relied on the clever English for handouts. That, of course, is to paraphrase because MacKenzie was bent on milking the situation for just such a reaction as he has got. Now the office of one of our less thoughtful MSPs has decided, instead of ignoring and laughing at something so clearly untrue, to take action. The truth is that the Scots are one of the most entrepreneurial and talented races on Earth - or at least used to be - but may have occasionally been accused of being a bit dour in the humour department by those who were not subtle enough to understand "dry".

This reaction to Kelvin MacKenzie is truly sad. With crime rates rising, police time at a premium and most police stations unmanned where is our sense of proportion? Apart from anything else, the comments made MacKenzie look stupid and bigoted - we should leave it at that.

ARCHIE STIRLING
Craigarnhall
Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire

--------------

Archie Stirling's party despite being given blanket coverage by a compliant media received an extremely low vote. This was deserved becaused it termed itself 'Scottish voice' while ignoring almost everyone in Scotland's views!

His letter tries to suggest that the SNP should be blamed for a 'nanny state' attitude because of the actions of one of their researchers, who isn't even a member of the party! "This neatly sums up the complete uselessness of some of our MSPs and their assistants."

Does it really? I don't think so, it shows that in fact our MSP's are employing people with brains who know the law of the land.

Individual political activists can take action without necessarily being asked to do so by any political party. This doesn't neatly tie in with Mr Stirling's top down 'Big Daddy knows best' type of politics however.

Stirling's 'big idea' seemed to be at the last election that he was intrinsically 'better' than all the other candidates for MSP. Presumably due to his money, his snobbery and his 'status' as the nephew of the founder of the SAS.

In fact his uncle was also involved in a coup to bring down the democratically elected Wilson Labour Government! To use this 'pedigree' was ridiculous and his right of centre unionist politics fell on deservedly deaf ears in Scotland.

More Tories? Why? The ones we have just now are bad enough.

GOOD RIDDENCE TO POMPOUS IRRELEVANT BRIT MING

Steve Bell summed up Ming's political future with this cartoon.

In a media obsessed age any personal faults are magnified. Ming might have been clever but he came across as pompous and his love for the Britain that he represented at the Olympics was out of place in modern Scotland.

His leadership has led the Scottish Lib Dems into the political wilderness with their undemocratic disdain for a referendum on Scottish independence, while at the same time demanding one on the EU. (the Tories are hypocrites in this area as well).

Dynamic politicians have charisma and earn respect no matter what their age is. Age might have been the excuse to get rid of him but the reality was that Campbell wasn't an effective leader of his party. Also, his own attempts to draw attention away from his age - claiming recently that he had 'married a young turk himself' were cringeworthy.

Since Labour have moved to the right and the Tories have moved to the left (marginally) both are attempting to occupy the voter friendly, politically muddled ''centre ground'.

In this situation the Lib Dems become irrelevant because they can't seriously compete with the 'big two'. In Scotland the SNP are a much more logical alternative to Labour and the Tories.

This leads to the question, what is the point of the Lib Dems? The answer is not a lot and they would be as well to throw their lot in entirely with the Labour party who they kept afloat in Scotland for many years. Those genuine home rulers who would balk at Labour's unionism (there doesn't seem to be a lot of them left given the non-reaction to the blocking of an indy referendum) could then move over to the much more relevant SNP.

SNP ARE RIGHT TO BACK SCOTS FARMERS

The SNP did the right thing. Scottish farmers were promised compensation and then cynically denied it. If Labour had still been in power then this would have been swept under the carpet.
Instead the SNP tried to talk to the UK Government about it but when they refused to listen they made the only possible choice and backed our farmers interests and demanded that the Goverment pay the planed compensation.

The Scotsman has become used to a supine boot licking Labour Executive which meekly follows orders whether they are in Scotlands national interest or not. We now have a Scottish Government which is prepared to fight our corner, that is a fact to be welcomed by all who have ambition for our country.

BROWN BOTTLES ELECTION AND SHOWS HIS TRUE COLOURS

Mediawatch have it absolutely right.

'Wha' will fill a cowart's grave?'

'Wha sae base as be a slave?'

'Let him turn and flee!'

Sums up Gordon Brown. The man who writes voluminous books about courage and heroism saw a couple of positive opinion polls for 'call me Dave' Cameron's Tories and ran like a big fat scared rabbit!

Brown feels 'we need some time to get to know him' yet we already know him! We know his fake bluster about Britishness and his new dodgy accent are designed to cover up his Scottishness. We know his new found love for the England team and his love for Gazza's goals are either a fabrication or an act of treason against his home country, we know he was up to his neck in the 'New Labour' project and is just as responsible ultimately for the Iraq debacle as Tony Blair.

Brown bottled it when he had the chance to defeat Blair for the leadership, he sat in the sidelines moaned and griped to journos but kept schtum while Blair sold the Labour party's soul. Now he has a chance against just as light weight a contender, against a simpering boy from the home counties and he can't even face up to him.

This individual is not fit to be British Prime Minister, he's hardly fit to be a Scottish MP, he has sold out everything and he is now sitting on borrowed time, a lame duck PM, fearful to go to the electorate because he knows he'll get humped. Good riddance Brown, you've muffed your chance and you won't get another.

LET SCOTLAND DECIDE

Isn't it ironic that the first genuinely Scottish Prime Minister we have had in some time sounds more like a 'Little Englander' than any of his predecessors? Gordon Brown has adopted the language of the far right, threatening deportations and shouting for "British jobs for British Workers". He has even embraced Margaret Thatcher's legacy and is now being given warm praise by people like Norman Tebbit.

The question is what priority does Scotland have in Brown's vision of Britain? The obvious answer is not much. Ever since James VI and I moved his court to England in 1603 we have been ruled by people who may be nominally completely Scottish but whose first thought has been to their new adopted home in England's green and pleasant land.

Who speaks for Scotland in London at the moment? Certainly not Des Browne our 'Scottish Secretary' who doesn't even listen to Wendy Alexander. It seems to be nobody at all, apart from the small current SNP Group in Parliament. If a General Election is called the Scottish people may well decide that to increase that group would be a very smart option.

As for David Cameron's Conservatives their call to 'Let the People Decide' on Europe is fair enough but it is also somewhat hypocritical when they and their fellow unionist parties are blocking a referendum on independence in Scotland. Why not let Scotland decide?

I believe that increasingly the UK parliament will be seen for what it is, an unnecessary obstacle in the path of Scotland's people which is preventing us from moving towards the type of free and social democratic state most Scots would prefer.

BOOM! MacWhirter shoots down Brown and Labour

Excellent piece from Ian MacWhirter in the Sunday Herald:

Getting the blues from Brown’s conference spin

IT'S THE eyes that are the give-away. In the sci-fi comedy Men In Black, you could tell the aliens who had stolen the bodies of Earthlings because their eyes always behaved in inhuman ways. Well, the Brownite young Turks have similar oracular ataxia: think of the thousand-yard stare of Ed Balls; the manic gleam in the eyes David Miliband; or Douglas Alexander's cross-eyed glaze, which makes the development secretary look as if he is too exhausted to see straight.

Everyone has praised Gordon Brown's conference for its unity, cleverness and presentation. How he has shafted the Tories by stealing their clothes. But there was something alien about this Labour conference, a strange look in its eyes. They behaved a little like The Stepford Wives, or some religious sect. Come to think of it, the last time I saw someone looking like David Miliband they were trying to sell me a copy of The Watchtower...

There were 81 references to "B-word" [British] in Brown's speech. He was using techniques of repetition drawn from American advertising, but it sounded neurotic, insincere, protesting too much. Then there was the ham-fisted celebration of John Smeaton, have-a-go hero of Glasgow airport. It was all so clunkingly, transparently manipulative. As Brown got up to speak, the colour of the conference stage backdrop changed from red to Tory blue to make sure TV viewers got the message.

Read full article here:

http://www.sundayherald.com/oped/opinion/display.var.1724139.0.0.php

GORDON BROWN'S LATEST FAN - NORMAN TEBBIT!

Labour's traditional supporters will surely love this, not! Not only has Brown grasped Mrs Thatcher to his buxom, now he is embraced by the grotesque Norman Tebbit, with friends like these and slogans like "Real jobs for Real Britains" Brown has proven that he is not only out of touch but like David Blunkett he'll use the race card when required. If Tebbit is supporting him, and former top Tories are welcomed at their conference, Labour must realise in their heart of hearts that they have lost their way.

Norman Tebbit - Right wing loon who invented the 'Cricket Test' which suggested that people shouldn't be allowed to stay in Britain unless they supported England at cricket.

A right wing former Tory minister praised Gordon Brown and attacked David Cameron today as the party geared up for its conference next week. Lord Tebbit, the former Conservative party chairman, said that voters believed that Mr Cameron was out of touch and had "no experience of the world". By contrast, he praised Gordon Brown's "courtesy and political nous" in inviting Lady Thatcher to No 10 at a time when the Tory leadership was attempting to distance itself from her.

In an interview with the Times, Lord Tebbit said that Mr Brown was a "very clever man and I have considerable regard for him", adding that the prime minister was not "tacky" in the manner of his predecessor, Tony Blair.

Lord Tebbit, who served in Lady Thatcher's cabinet, said that the former prime minister knew exactly what she was doing when she was photographed in Downing Street with Mr Brown earlier this month.

"I'm quite sure that Margaret Thatcher knew exactly what she was doing," he said.
"She's, first, too well-mannered to rebuff the prime minister and, second, of course, the present Conservative leadership has been at great pains to distance himself from her - and she is, after all, a woman."

He said that the present Tory party "lack somebody of the standing of Margaret". He said that the prime minister's invitation to Lady Thatcher was "Gordon Brown at his very best, a wonderful mixture of his courtesy and his political nous".

He added: "After all, Cameron described himself as the 'heir to Blair'. It's only natural that Brown should make himself the 'heir to Thatcher'. It's the perfect response, isn't it?"

LABOUR'S LOVE FOR BRITAIN WILL BE THEIR UNDOING

Alexander says sorry for letting SNP gain power at Holyrood - Wendy Alexander has apologised to the people of Scotland for allowing the SNP to be victorious over Labour in the May elections (reports the Britman).

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1531252007

How can Wendy Alexander apologise "to the people of Scotland" for "allowing Labour to be defeated"? The fact is that the people CHOSE the SNP because they had a positive uplifting message and faith in their own folk something Labour will never understand in a million years.

While Wendy actually apologies to her Labour chums (when in fact they should be grateful the Scots have given them the benefit of the doubt for years) and pleads for help to defeat the SNP, her boss tells us exactly why Labour will never deserve another vote from a Scot again:

Quote from the Scotsman's front page article: "And that nation, as ever, is Britain, an identity the Prime Minister again made clear he believes must come before and above those of the constituent parts of the United Kingdom."

http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1531142007

Aye well there's the rub, if Brown doesn't care about Scotland and puts Britain first as he so clearly does, why should we care about him? The more Brown trumpets his love for Britain the more Scots will flush his party down the toilet of history. His hingers on like the Alexanders will enjoy the u-bend right beside him.

CHANGE THE RECORD WENDY- YOU'RE FOOLING NO-ONE

The difference between the SNP and Labour is that the SNP believe the Scots are equal to any other people on the planet and that we have the same right to rule our own affairs, while Labour are stuck to a union which suits their party politically but is long past it's sell by date.

Independence is normality and the SNP are right to call for it just as all the other parties based in Scotland support it as well.

Ms Alexander comes across like another self interested glove puppet of No. 10 Downing Street.

She is only slightly more appealing than her brother, one of the most irritating individuals ever, a puffed up little tick whose career has been based on sooking up Broon's backside and who has obviously never given even an idle thought to the best interests of the people of Scotland.

That Wendy Alexander can only come up with this dreadful response to the SNP's national conversation reveals what everyone already knows, that there is no enthusiasm for continued union or for the low level aspirations for Scotland that Labour has.

The pumped up Britishness of Gordon Brown, clearly designed to cover up his scottish identity and fool the English UK majority is both transparent and pathetic. The SNP have nothing to fear from this crowd. The time is right for independence.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS CONTEMPT FOR SCOTS LEADER = CONTEMPT FOR SCOTLAND

From 'secret weapon' to Lib Dem fringe act (Scotsman)

A YEAR ago, Nicol Stephen made his battle cry for the Scottish elections on the main stage at the Liberal Democrats' conference, billed as the party's "secret weapon", ready to be deployed against the SNP. Yesterday, for his sole appearance at the Brighton conference, Mr Stephen and the Scottish Liberal Democrats were, literally, relegated to the fringe.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1492352007

Interesting article from the Britman about the Lib Dems, it transpires that the Lib Dems are now demanding some of the oil money for Scotland (a move in the right direction) but the British party conference won't even let them say it on their main stage! It doesn't say much for their influence or relevance down south does it?

This reminds me of the treatment of Jack McConnell during the last election. Basically Jack went down to London, explained his plans for the Scottish elections which were ripped up and laughed at by Blair and Brown (or Bwown as he now prefers to be known) and then he was told how it would be run, and yet he was supposed to inspire respect as First Minister of the Scottish Government...!!

I just watched Nicol Stephen on Newsnight Scotland (the one Jeremy Paxman doesn't want us to have even though he's never actually watched it) and he was ripped to bits by Gordon Brewer who is hardly the finest interviewer on the TV, he's more of a friendly puppy than an attack dog, yet even he, an arch unionist, was flabbergasted at the Lib Dem's hypocrisy.

Do you want a referendum on the EU, 'oh yes' says Nicol 'because we believe in the EU and we want the chance to put our case for it', do you want a referendum on the minimal new powers at Westminster proposed by Gordon Brown, 'oh yes the British people should have a choice on this important change in the powers of the Government'.

'So you want a referendum on the EU but you don't want to have a referendum on Scottish independence? You don't want to make a positive case for the union?' says Brewer.

'Oh no! We don't believe in independence' says Mr Stephen. (So they will only hold referendums they think they can win and suit their party, a great attitude to Democracy.)

A referendum on independence gives the SCOTTISH PEOPLE a choice on independence. Nicol claimed that the people had the chance to vote for independence in the Scottish elections and the UK general elections, yes they did and they also had a massive campaign of lies and misleading statistics led by a biased media against independence. They also were voting on party manifestos and local issues, so it was NOT a direct vote on independence, as he well knows.

Of course Nicol claimed he had came back to Scotland for important discussions with his new best pals the leaders of the Labour and Tory parties. Their humiliating conclusion? That they now need to GO BACK DOWN TO LONDON to get advice on exactly what powers Britain might decide to advance to Scotland!

There we have again if proof was ever required that the Liberal Democrats have no interest whatsoever in what the Scottish people might desire, all they want is to stop any move towards self determination, what a sad day for a once proud actively campaigning Scottish political party which held to the Claim of Right for Scotland. I imagine their could be some screams of anguish at their next Scottish conference, IF they have any principled members left.

When the Scottish Liberal Democrats get humped in Scotland in the upcoming British general election they will only have themselves to blame.

Independent Scotland would have to apply to join EU CLAIMS the Scotsman

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1497442007

The 'meat' of the 'story' is here: "On the issue concerning Scotland's independence, that's not my competence to assess or to evaluate..."

IE this person is not competent to make a judgement so this is yet another attempt by the scotsman to cast doubt on the SNP's position without foundation.

The European Commission retained its neutral position yesterday. A spokeswoman said: "It is not customary for the commission to state its views on matters which, as things stand, are purely hypothetical."

Scotland joined the EU as part of Britain. If Scotland becomes independent then the British state as enshrined in the Act of Union no longer exists. There will be a rump state of England and allies (possibly terming itself the UK but without any foundation to that because 'the Kingdom' ie the state would not in fact be united anymore).

It is unlikely that it will last for long as logically Wales would follow Scotland to independence and NI might see less prestige in being part of England rather than Britain.

However when Britain breaks up there will be at least two seperate new states created, they will either both have to apply for EU membership or both will be automatically accepted, I suggest the latter is more likely to be prudent given our resources and our history as an EU member.
If in fact we do have to re-apply for membership then many people would argue that Scortland would be better off outside anyway so this won't necessarilly affect Scots prospects of voting for independence as much as the Scotsman hopes.

The most important body we need to join is the UN, the others are negotiable.

http://www.scottishindependence.com/

A VIEW FROM ENGLAND

Quite a good article with some interesting comments appended. JOE

If Scotland got its vote, then so should we
Beware, Mr Brown, the English are proud patriots too
William Rees-Mogg (The Times)

After three centuries, this seems likely to be the year of Scotland’s revenge. In 1707 the last Scottish Parliament of the old order dissolved itself and Scottish sovereignty was transferred from Edinburgh to London.

In their hearts many Scots never accepted this English predominance. They rebelled in 1715 and 1745, but it was not until May of this year that they elected, with a plurality of only one seat, a Scottish government committed to Scottish independence. I admire Alex Salmond’s achievement as leader of the Scottish National Party.

In a month’s time in Lisbon, Gordon Brown, who is a Scottish Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, will go to the European summit to approve a treaty that will transfer many of the remaining powers of British sovereignty to the European Union.

Although the Scottish people were given two constitutional referendums to establish Scottish devolution, no such consideration will be given to the British people, if the Prime Minister can avoid it. Certainly, the English people, however much they might object to becoming one of the western provinces of a European empire, will be allowed no chance to decide the matter for themselves.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/william_rees_mogg/article2469067.ece

SCOTLAND BEWARE AS BROWN WOOS ENGLISH TORIES

'Not so New' Labour: Does this man represent our interests and our values?

(from Washington Post) Gordon Brown and Mrs Margaret Thatcher's meeting at Downing Street came after the current leader praised Thatcher, still a hugely divisive figure in British politics and amid an apparent campaign by Brown to appeal to supporters of her party, the main opposition Conservatives.

In recent weeks, Brown has appointed two Conservative lawmakers as advisers to his government and hired the opposition party's ex-deputy treasurer as an environmental consultant.

Brown, who must call a national election before mid-2010, has also tapped Thatcher's former advertising agency to handle Labour's looming campaign.

Unionist Arguments Against Independence Are Desperate Rubbish

Letter to the Editor (Metro)

14/09/2007

Dear Sir,

Proponents of Scottish independence should perhaps be pleased as the arguments against it seem to have become ever more desperate over the years. The latest assertion by 'Robin' that "Scottish independence is nothing more than a label to hide behind for hatred of the English" is perhaps the nastiest assertion yet, though most unionists have sang some variation on this theme at some point.

Let's be absolutely clear. A belief that Scotland has a right to the normal political powers that almost every other country enjoys is about simple democracy not any imagined feeling of superiority.

It is ironic that those who hark back to the so called golden times of the British Empire - which was in fact based upon a philosophy of imperialism and superiority to other cultures - try and turn the argument against Scotland for wanting the same freedoms that most former colonies now enjoy.

Modern civic based nationalism is about changing Scotland for the better and it attracts support from every nationality and ethnic minority living in Scotland. It is about improving things for everyone who lives here.

'Nick' from Edinburgh says nationalists are all right wing thereby attempting a variation on the other great lie that fascism and nationalism are somehow linked. Not all nationalists believe in the superiority of their culture over others, those who do are imperialist nationalists like Hitler or the BNP.

The SNP are quite different. They are a genuine democratic left of centre inclusive political party, however 'Nick from Edinburgh' probably knew that already just as his pal 'Robin from Glasgow' is no doubt aware that more Scots fought in the Spanish civil war per head of population than any other outside nationality.

If more people had followed our example we might have avoided World War II altogether! It is a totally grotesque insult against every Scot who fought in the second world war to claim that if we were independent at that time we would have taken no part in it.

If British unionism is based on both blatant lies and deliberately twisting our past shared history (and it is surprising how often these 'arguments' come up) it is no wonder that increasing numbers of Scots see the British union as redundant and want a better life for them and their children as a free and independent state.

Yours faithfully,

Joe Middleton

Unsettling changes (for Labour and the Media)

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/mike_small/2007/09/unsettling_changes.html

A cracking article and some very interesting well thought out comments appended to it.

Waffle from Wendy? Or are Labour going to back a referendum?

Ruaridh Nicoll in the observer:

At the Apex, Alexander hinted at how she might be prepared to call Salmond's bluff. 'There will be a referendum in 2010,' she told the delegates.

That's quite a statement. Why must there be a referendum? Her certainty was odd, for there is no need for one. The SNP have not got the votes in Parliament to call it. Could she be planning to have Labour back this call? Her advisers were not forthcoming, beyond encouraging speculation.
'There will be a referendum in 2010 and the SNP will lose,' she told the delegates.

http://politics.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2165514,00.html

UNIONIST BLOC TRYING TO HOODWINK SCOTS OUT OF INDY

United call for new Holyrood powers

SCOTLAND'S three main Unionist parties joined forces last night to launch a joint bid for more powers for the Scottish Parliament. Scottish Labour, the Scottish Conservatives and the Scottish Liberal Democrats announced plans for their own "national conversation" to rival that launched by Alex Salmond, the First Minister, earlier this month to push for independence.

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1370472007

Labour and the Liberal Democrats were in power for the last two parliaments. If they had any genuine desire for more powers for the Scottish parliament they would have articulated that desire during their time in power. Although it was not properly reported prior to the election the independence movement as a whole was never more united than at the last election. All the major scottish parties (SNP, Greens, SSP, Solidarity) are agreed on political strategy (ie through a referendum and also delaying a final decision on the EU and monarchy till after independence to ensure maximum unity now) and all were actively working together within the Independence Convention and the referendum campaign Independence First.

In the past Labour and the Lib Dems lined up against the Conservatives for devolution (also motivated by a desire to outflank the SNP). The Conservatives were like King Canute, telling the waves of support for devolution to stop, before being washed away electorally. Now Labour and the Lib Dems have joined forces with the Tories and now effectively speak with one unionist voice bellowing NO to a Scottish public which wants a referendum. 'This far and no further' they effectively told the Scottish people at the last election, Devolution was 'good enough'.

Labour subsequently got cuffed by the SNP. Since the elections Labour, Tories and Lib Dems have started issuing joint statements and are now having secret meetings supposedly to call for 'more powers' but actually to decide the absolute minimum of power they think Scotland will be satisfied with. The message that there is no difference whatsoever between these parties is now ringing out very loudly and very clearly.

Most polls prior to the election showed a narrow MAJORITY for independence (if don't knows were excluded (see Independence First's website for more info) which explains why the unionst bloc is actually unwilling to countenance a referendum, they might well lose it!
If the unionist parties supported the 'Claim of Right for Scotland' which was the moral basis of the Scottish constitutional Convention in the 1980's then they would respect the Scottish public's desire for a referendum on independence (support for that is at between 60 and 80% according to the polls).

In fact they do not. All are London owned and controlled branches of larger British parties which require the status quo on the union to continue to allow them to gain power at Westminster. The more they act together the more the Scottish public will see who they can trust and who they can't to represent Scottish interests. It's not hard now we see a home grown Scottish party in power to see the difference in political ambition between the current administration and the last.

No doubt mistakes will be made by the SNP but no one can doubt their desire for more power for their fellow Scots. On the other hand one can easily see the moves by the unionists to call for 'more powers' are an obvious and pretty cynical last ditch attempt to hoodwink their fellow Scots out of the natural normal powers of independence.

SNP: KEEP SCOTS IN THE DARK OVER INDEPENDENCE

The usual garbage from the retard, only they could spin the logical idea that scots must take our own decisions AFTER independence into this:

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/news/tm_headline=keep-scots-in-the-dark-nats&method=full&objectid=19603978&siteid=66633-name_page.html

Still the fact they are attacking this aspect of the convention shows they recognise the danger (for unionists) of a united pro independence campaign.