MacAskill may have to admit defeat

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 22:45

TODAY'S vote in the Scottish Parliament will send out a clear message – MSPs are against raising the legal limit for buying alcohol to 21 in shops.

What it will not do, though, is bind the Scottish Government to that approach.

The vote is being tabled by the Scottish Conservatives as one of their opposition day debates. So, although the message will be clear, the long-term outcome will not be.

What happens to the controversial proposal will now be down to Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary.

Mr MacAskill has shown he is willing to be tough and determined but, in this case, he may have to admit defeat.

He could bring the policy back again in legislation, but he knows he will be defeated again. Mr MacAskill does not like to back down on anything, but this time even he knows it is probably time to ditch this one. There are other areas in this policy where he might be able to get support from other parties, and he will have to concentrate on those.