Johann Lamont: SNP is more interested in stirring up resentment than having debate

Published on Sunday 15 January 2012 00:00

DEVOLUTION is a process, not an event. That principle was true when Donald Dewar first expressed it and it is true now. I believe that.

I want the current devolved settlement to be renewed, refreshed and deepened, and by that I mean not just moving powers from Westminster to Holyrood but also devolving more power to local government. I believe we need new powers to find new ways to build the economic strength which will enable us to build a stronger, more just Scotland.

How we reshape our government should be a matter of inclusive debate and rigorous study. The measure should not be a dogmatic belief in the transference of power, it should be what best serves the interests of the people of Scotland. But I do not believe that debate can be properly conducted while we are debating Scotland leaving the United Kingdom.

The concepts of devolution and separation are two very different approaches. The nationalists want people to believe that devolution is a half measure of separation. That it is a stop on a line whose terminus is independence.

I believe that to be profoundly wrong.

Sovereignty lies with the people, and we pool sovereignty with other nations to make us all stronger. That is what the UK is all about, and the EU is at its best.

Alex Salmond doesn’t believe in devolution, and I think any offer from him to have a vote on a concept he doesn’t believe in should be regarded with deep suspicion. The core divide in Scottish politics is between the Scottish Labour Party, who believe in devolution, and the SNP, whose credo is separation. Why then would we welcome the SNP having a stab at defining what we believe in?

It is one of the tactics he has adopted in the needlessly convoluted process he has set in train on the way to the referendum. It is a tactic which I believe he thinks will work for him on two levels. First, if Scotland rejects leaving the UK – which I believe we will – if the second option is successful he will claim a victory. Second, he will spin any debate amongst those of us who believe in devolution as splits.

It is wrong to conflate devolution with independence, and the kind of debate that would result would not be worthy of Scotland.

What I want is the referendum to be held quickly. I believe that, once the arguments are properly aired, separation will be firmly rejected and devolution will be re-affirmed as the settled will of the Scottish people.

Then we can have a clear and calm debate on which powers work more effectively for the people of Scotland when they are shared with our neighbours and what new powers we need to exercise at Holyrood and in our communities to make Scotland all it can be.

But don’t let the tortuous process which Alex Salmond started last week fool you. The SNP does not want to talk about the principles and practicalities of separation in this debate – that is one of the reasons why it wants a campaign which confuses it with devolution.

It wants to avoid the debate on principle and instead create enough resentment in the process that Scotland votes out of grievance.

It is one of the reasons Salmond will talk to the Tories, but not to me.

If he is true to his word, we will have a referendum in the year of the 700th anniversary of Bannockburn, when he will give us the chance to vote for a better yesterday.

Once that has been defeated, those of us who believe in devolution can start building a better tomorrow.

• Johann Lamont MSP is leader of the Scottish Labour Party

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16

VOTE YES

Monday, January 16, 2012 at 02:28 AM

Fae the wuman who broucht ye - a phony rape case and the tragedy of a child's death to try and score some political points.

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15

BillDunblane

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:10 PM

Labour had their chance to put forward a positive proposal, and all they could do was be negative, negative, negative. In the election they got well and truly gubbed! Which part of 'you don't have a leg to stand on' does wee Jimmy Krankie not understand?

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14

The Harder They Come

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:34 PM

Does anyone actually care what Johann Lamont says?

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13

Tennis C. Williams

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:21 PM

They even have the same haircut.

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12

Tennis C. Williams

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:56 AM

I cannot surely be the only one who has noticed the many parallels in the lives of Johann Lamont and Joan of Arc. Both were born and brought up in rural communities before experiencing visions that would form their destinies. Joan was told by the voice of our Lord to come to the aid of the King of France, while Johann was inspired by a radio interview with our Lord Foulkes talking about the evils of Scottish independence. It is also uncanny that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake and now Johann is staking her political career and reputation on the the outcome of the referendum. Joan is known in France as la vierge and Johann is known to have been a virgin too at one time. Like Joan of Arc, Johann Lamont is the right woman in the right place at the right time and we Unionists should be grateful for her divine intervention.

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11

Penny Dainty

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:51 AM

The battle lines were drawn and Scottish Labour immediately ran over to join the tories' side.

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10

Jo'Burg Jock

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:54 AM

"Johann Lamont states "we pool sovereignty with other nations to make us all stronger. That is what the UK is all about," ________________________________________________________ The "pool" in which Lamont would rather see Scotland drown is the reason that the Tories are in power even though they have only 1 MP out of 59 in Scotland. It is the Tories that Alex Salmond must deal with because this is the way Johann Lamont's pool works. ________________________________________________________ Later in her article she complains:- "Salmond will talk to the Tories, but not to me." Good god in Govan! Lamont is in total denial of reality or she is completely off her head. We might give her the benefit of the doubt and assume the former.

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9

gus1940

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:40 AM

Are the bookies offering odds on just how long Rosa Klebb will remain as Esteemed Great Leader of Labour in Scotland and imagined boss of Murphy, Alexander, Foulkes, Davidson McConnell et al?

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8

Jo'Burg Jock

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:17 AM

"From the article:- "Sovereignty lies with the people, and we pool sovereignty with other nations" ________________________________________________________ When you pool your sovereignty with other nations you negate your own sovereignty and make it subject to that "pool". When the other nation has 10 times the population of your own then you are in effect surrendering your sovereignty in total. You will always be outvoted. ________________________________________________________ Johann Lamont has stated quite clearly in her article that we must subjugate ourselves to our larger neighbour but sugar coats this disturbing statement with talk of a "pool".

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7

Brahann

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:05 AM

This is absolute Claptrap! I am sick to death of what passes for an opposition in Scotland whinging and whining because they lost an election instead of forming their reasoned point of view as a basis for a discussion about IndependenceDevo Max. For once I would like to hear what are the benefits of Scotland remaining in the Union as opposed to Independence. I would also like to know what is the true value in hard currency of Scotland to Westminster. I mean the real one including Income Tax, VAT, Duty. Television Licences, Road Tax, Electricity generation grid connection surcharge, Stamp Duty, Corporation Tax, Death Duty and every other flaming tax that is inflicted on us or businesses in this country. Only once I know this and other information will I actually be able to make some sort of rational decision about Independence. This sort of negative mudslinging does absolutely nothing to help me make any sort of decision, in fact it belittles me, treating me as a playground infant who stands in a circle chanting "Fight Fight Fight" instead of the rational adult that I think I am who is desperate to have enough information to make a rational decision about the future of my country!

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6

Willie Macleod

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 02:49 AM

The Labour Party are wrong on the way they are dealing with and responding to the referendum debate.There is an opportunity here for them,and they just dont see it..

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5

Vivas

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 01:14 AM

"Once that has been defeated, those of us who believe in devolution can start building a better tomorrow. " _________________________________________________________ Oh dear oh dear. If Scotland votes No as Rosa hopes ... and when the Tories throw their LibDem crutch into the ditch in the UK 2015 general election, then how would they view a Scotland that lost its nerve - again ? With contempt, thats how. And just how will Rosa make "a better tomorrow" from the diminished and weakened balance of power that will result ? Is she so naive to believe that standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cameron before the referendum, will see him do anything less than exploit and weaken Scotland afterwards ? What an utter fool you are Rosa !

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4

Vivas

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 01:05 AM

Sorry, I had to give up on this tripe after a few sentences. Theres only one thing that Rosa should be aware of. Scottish Labour can still grab the reins of devomax this side of the referendum and regain their relevance. Or they can side with the ConDems over the next 1000 days years and suffer the consequnces after the referendum,at the 2016 election - and thats regardless of the outcome.

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3

Ceremony

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:30 AM

Full of negativity. It’s clear that Johann Lamont and The British Labour Party in Scotland are determined to block any further powers to the Scottish people whether it be through Scotland joining the other independent nations of the world or through DevoMax. Its no wonder she supports and stands shoulder-to-shoulder with David Cameron in trying to block any further powers to the Scottish Parlaiment. Keep us subservient to Westminster seems to be the message from the British Labour Party in Scotland.

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2

The Harder They Come

Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 12:28 AM

Negative, Negative, Negtaive - Labour have nothing to say except, "look at the SNP, it's not fair."- It's pathetic, Scotland deserves better than this level of deceit from Lamont.

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