Devo-max merely a dodgy back-up plan to save SNP, says Jim Sillars
Jim Sillars wanted Scotland to be free by 93'. Picture: Jane Barlow
THE SNP move to include a “devo-max” question in the independence referendum is a “fraudulent claim”, designed to keep the Nationalist movement intact and in power if it loses the vote on the future of the UK, Jim Sillars, one of the party’s former deputy leaders, has declared.
Mr Sillars has called on his former ally Alex Salmond to bin the idea of a second question on maximum devolution, warning that the SNP’s flirtation with the idea “sends a damaging ambiguous signal about its confidence in the case for independence”.
He claims the devo-max option is only being touted as a back-up plan for the SNP should people reject independence, giving the SNP a cause to champion and a reason to “bounce back” for the 2016 Holyrood election.
In an article in this week’s Holyrood magazine, Mr Sillars says Mr Salmond “has tasted power and likes it”.
He adds: “A cold weekend of surgery work in Gordon instead of tea with the Emir of Qatar is not a happy prospect.”
Consequently, Mr Sillars says, the “fall-back position – which can form its [the SNP’s] future platform and reason for existing, is a necessity”.
An SNP spokesman said Mr Sillars was “entitled to his view”, but insisted it would leave open the option of a second question. Mr Salmond said earlier this week he has “an open mind” on the prospect.
But the intervention comes at a bad time for the SNP, with Mr Salmond preparing to meet Prime Minister David Cameron tomorrow. The UK government is also insisting the referendum should offer a straight choice on independence.
Mr Sillars takes further issue with SNP efforts to sell the case for independence, saying it has done far too little to make secession attractive to Scottish voters.This has resulted, he says, in the First Minister “winging it” on policy, including defence and the currency, in recent weeks.
The SNP intention to keep the Bank of England as the lender of last resort in an independent Scotland is “absurd”, says Mr Sillars.
Under “devo-max”, the Scottish Government would become fiscally independent but would remain part of the UK, paying London for shared services such as defence and foreign affairs. The option raised by Mr Salmond would be to have a question on independence, and another question on “devo-max”.
However, a UK government offer to devolve powers to Holyrood to ensure the referendum is legal will only be granted if the SNP agrees to limit it to a single question on secession.
Mr Sillars writes: “Time… for the SNP to put aside what would be a fraudulent claim to implement devo-max, and produce policies on the detailed issues that will determine the result when the historic day arrives. Lack of preparation is allowing the Unionists to set the agenda.”
Mr Sillars also appears to support recent comments both by the Liberal Democrat Scottish Secretary Michael Moore and Tory leader Mr Cameron that any further changes to the devolved settlement would have to be agreed by the whole of the UK. He says: “If there is to be a devo-max question, for it to be capable of being delivered, there must be a Westminster government white paper and a written guarantee that if the Scots vote for the version set out, it will be delivered by the only parliament than can do so – Westminster.”
Mr Sillars says the SNP “neglect” over the detail of independence has been manifest on defence and currency in recent weeks.
On the latter, Mr Sillars remarks: “As for the Bank of England being lender of last resort, it is absurd.”
He goes on: “If Whitehall agrees to the Salmond proposal, there will have to be a treaty to determine the rules of the new sterling currency union; and an independent Scotland will not be the stronger side of the negotiations because, as [Chamncellor George] Osborne would point out, the alternative to agreeing the treaty terms dictated by Westminster would be the euro.”
A spokesman for the First Minister said: “Jim Sillars is a columnist, and entitled to his view.
“The future of Scotland is a matter for the people of Scotland – in line with the Claim of Right, as endorsed by parliament last month – and the inclusion of a possible ‘devo-max’ option in the referendum is a matter to be determined via the Scottish Government’s consultation.
“The reality is that support for independence is already running neck-and-neck with opposition, and we are confident of securing a Yes vote for independence in the referendum in all circumstances.”
Scottish Labour’s external affairs spokeswoman Patricia Ferguson MSP said: “This really intensifies pressure on the SNP to agree to what even most of their MSPs and ministers actually want – a straightforward question on whether or not we leave the UK.
“That is the decision that needs to be made, and it is good to see growing support against delays and attempts to muddy the water.”
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Comments
There are 615 comments to this article
Page 1 of 41
Scouse Dave
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 12:34 AMwhen do scots stop sponging from english coffers? please go. live as a miniscule overlooked and insignificant backyard of england...please... I want to save on my taxes.
Anagach
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:47 PM613 Buford Van Stomm Why are we not good enough for full independence.....cringeworthy stuff.....snp are settling for second best....that is simply not good enough. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Full Independence will be on the Ballot. Why are we not good enough for a full range of choice ?, why are the Unionists limiting the future, this is just not good enough.
Buford Van Stomm
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 09:45 AMWhy are we not good enough for full independence.....cringeworthy stuff.....snp are settling for second best....that is simply not good enough.
Hector the Lessor
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 07:59 AMJim Sillars was always OK. Bit too honest really when you think about it. I tend to agree with him that the Devo Max is a pretty dodgy plan, but lets face it, it is a good wee dodgy plan.
Jaded Spectator
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 04:03 AM57.SPIT ROYSTING Yer teas oot!!
whitstomatowiu
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:44 AMAucthtermuchty,-------------------He's a local councillor as far as I'm concerned"----------------Muchty Me,--------- I'm concerned at the state of your mind,---------------------------Also "He surrounds himselfs with nobodys----------------- If you had seen Nicola Sturgeon making an utter clown of the Unionista Big Wig Lord Advocate Oh Lordy Lordy Wallace you would not be writing such tripe--------------------------------But Muchty where do you get your information from you claim you have'nt a TV?--------------------------------------OH no it isn't the Hootsman and other MSM -----------------------Oh stop it Muchty away tae yur bed and hide under the covers
Harry Palmer
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:44 AMA spokesman for the First Minister said: “Jim Sillars is a columnist, and entitled to his view. I thought Jim Sillars was Ecks former Deputy and the man all Nats touted as a hero for defecting from Labour. Funny how a difference of opinion with an autocrat like Eck can change somebody's profile. The SNP are rocking just now because they have no answers to the tough questions. Eck thought 2014 would allow him to pick the game and set the rules to his advantage for the referendum. Instead he is worried now because it means over two years of hard questions that(despite his foulksy manners) Eck and nobody in the SNP has the answers too. Sillars is wrong about one thing. The SNP will survive and will win the next election with Nicola Sturgeon as FM. Nicola will win because the Labour leader is (unfortunatly in this era of personalites) not electable.
Aucthtermuchty
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:26 AMYou are surely jesting dreaming and deluded? Idiots like yourself might anonymously make a great effort to badmouth Alex Salmond but he is a high achieving political heavyweight in these Isles with very few to match him.............. ================================= I was talking about WeeEck , hes a local councillor , a petty despot who wants to turn Scotland to extremes . ============================================== I dont get this will of the Scottish people thing ? half them did not vote , an dhalf of them thta did voted SNP , and half of them must be disgruntled with him by now
Kinghob
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:20 AM'KingBOB hes a Local councillor as far as I am concerned , he has some learning and some wit ..........." As a living I used to teach medical interventions upon the dead"-but am studying for something else now............I am not a councillor nor would I wish to be.
A Friend of Fernando Troll
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:17 AMCult figures usually end up in dead cults.
Kinghob
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:16 AMUnlike yourself and unionist drones on here I argue about what is happening now politically in Scotland instead of displaying a skewed interpretation of the past..............The lack of influence and lack of understanding of thew scottish electorate within the scotsman is palpable and fear fuelled as they plod on hopefully to what may be a YES in an Independence referendum. I base this on how hopelessly lacking the scotsman is with their grasp on modern politics in Scotland and on the total inability of 'anyone', politician or pleb to defend the status quo........................will you vote for no change whatsoever is going to be the big question and we know Scots want change-if they aren't offered it then the ones who would have gone for a halfway house will opt for Independence!
Aucthtermuchty
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:14 AMYou are surely jesting dreaming and deluded? Idiots like yourself might anonymously make a great effort to badmouth Alex Salmond but he is a high achieving political heavyweight in these Isles with very few to match him.............. @KingBOB hes a Local councillor as far as I am concerned , he has some learning and some wit , but the fact he surronds himself in nobodies and dominates all life forms , reminds me of the darker side of politics quasi religous leaders
Kinghob
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:07 AMPity the increasingly bitter cellars uses the pro unionist scotsman to attack the Scottish Government in a snide way as opposed to making the likes of the scotsman account for their own increasingly bizarre headlines that simply demonstrate how out of touch the editorial team are with Scottish opinion..............and of course the dire opposition are not called to account for being a complete waste of space by cellars or the hootsmoan.
Vote 'NO'
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:06 AM600 You clearly haven't thought this through. If Brown had no regulation as you claim, it made no sense for Salmond to politicise RBS by asking for what must then be even more regulation. Your argument is daft.
flyinngscott
Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12:04 AMTo summarise then. Lonely old man puts a decades old personal dispute above the Independence goal he purports to support. Being proved wrong on his opposition to the gradualist approach, which has given us devolution, competent government & a mandate from the people to hold a referendum on the big issue, has left him bitter and isolated.============================The point , i think, of leaving the vote till 2014, is to consider & air the many and varied implications of separation(currency & defence policy being two of the most complicated & important) . Surely Mr Salmond was as surprised as we all were at the strength of the mandate he was given at the last election. Pragmatically, it gives more time to win over more people, by continued good governance.Two years of nothing but negativity from the, lets face it incompetent opposition, and scary headline grabbing p!sh from much of the media, can only play into Mr Salmonds hands. The people aren't daft.============ As to devo max however, Mr Sillers is on the right track. It will be a yea-nay question "come the historic day".
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