Fears over pressure on ‘civic Scotland’ to back devo-max
Alex Salmond suggested a two-question referendum. Picture: Getty
THE leaders of a civic Scotland campaign to give greater powers to Holyrood have been warned they must remain politically neutral, amid fears Alex Salmond is leaning on them to back a second referendum question.
When he unveiled his referendum consultation, the First Minister said he would go for a ballot with both an independence and “devo-max” option – if there was enough support for the latter from “civic” Scotland.
Within days, a consortium describing itself as civic Scotland and made up of trade unionists, church leaders and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) said it was to launch a campaign to examine the issue of constitutional change.
Unionists, who believe the referendum should be restricted to a single question on independence, suspect the SNP is exerting influence on civic Scotland to persuade it to back devo-max.
Its inclusion in the referendum would give the SNP a fall-back option if, as the polls suggest, the Scottish electorate says No to breaking up the UK.
As the campaign prepares for its launch on Monday, a senior figure within the voluntary sector has already expressed concern about the language being used by his colleagues when the consortium was being set up.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, who is on the SCVO board of trustees, said he was aware of the perception the campaign had been established in order to come to the conclusion devo-max ought to be included on the ballot paper.
He said he had brought up the issue of political neutrality after receiving an e-mail that mentioned the new organisation in the context of the referendum.
“This is something that I was concerned about and sought assurances that the organisation is absolutely 100 per cent divorced from the political storm and the legality of the referendum and any question that might appear in that,” Mr Cole-Hamilton said.
He said he had “put down a marker” calling for neutrality, adding: “We have to be very, very careful about the language that we use regarding the referendum, because this is a highly politically charged issue and I don’t feel comfortable. I think we can have this discussion and it is appropriate that we do, but it has to be divorced from the issue of a referendum.”
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Mr Cole-Hamilton, the head of policy for a national children’s charity, said that he was now satisfied that the importance of neutrality was understood.
But he warned it would be difficult for the SCVO to represent the views of its members on such a sensitive subject. “It is a very divisive issue and we couldn’t claim to speak for the organisations that we represent by coming down on one side of an argument incurring such political wrath at the moment,” he said.
But others were less relaxed about the role to be played by the campaign, backed by the Church of Scotland and the STUC as well as the SCVO. In the past, the SCVO’s public affairs director, John Downie, has written: “For this discussion or the referendum itself to be shackled by an overly simplistic Yes/No approach would be a travesty for democracy. The referendum must include all the options.”
Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman David McLetchie said: “I think it is absolutely no coincidence that such a campaign springs up after such a short period of time. I do not believe it to be spontaneous. I am sure there has been a bit of strong guidance going on from the SNP.
“This group has to ensure it genuinely represents its members and member groups and that it does not turn out to be a body that does Alex Salmond’s bidding in promoting a second question that will simply confuse the fundamental issue – of whether we remain in or out of the UK.”
But an SCVO spokeswoman insisted the campaign would be “completely neutral” and “consider everything”.
There has been some speculation suggesting Henry McLeish, the former First Minister and a supporter of devo-max, might lead the campaign. Yesterday, however, he denied he had been approached said he was not offering himself as a candidate to lead civic Scotland’s campaign.
The Rev Ewan Aitken, a former Labour leader of Edinburgh city council and secretary of the Kirk’s church and society committee, has also been closely involved with the consortium.
Meanwhile, it has been suggested Prime Minister David Cameron believes the whole UK should be given a say if devo-max is included in the referendum, as any change in, say, Scotland’s rate of corporation tax would impact on the rest of the country.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: “We remain open to the prospect of another option in the referendum, and it is good to see civic Scotland engaging so enthusiastically with the debate on Scotland’s future.”
KEY PLAYERS
• EWAN Aitken, a Church of Scotland minister, was elected as a Labour councillor to Edinburgh City Council in 1999.
In 2006 he was elected council leader and following the election in May 2007 was leader of the Labour group until he stepped down in 2008. Was unsuccessful in his bid last year to become MSP for Eastern Edinburgh and oust justice minister Kenny MacAskill.
• ALEX Cole-Hamilton, a leading light in the Scottish Liberal Democrats first came into the policitcal spotlight with his campaigning to end tuition fees while president of Aberdeen University’s Students’ Representative Council. Stood unsuccessfully as candidate for Edinburgh Central at last year’s Scottish Parliamentary elections.
• DAVID McLetchie, a former solicitor, is Conservative MSP for Lothian. Took over as leader of the Scottish Conservatives in1999 but was forced to resign in 2005 following controversy over his expenses claims.
• JOHN Downie, is director of public affairs at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. His high-profile remit includes liaising with politicians and running both the organisation’s policy and research team and its communications and campaigns team.
• Dr Alison Elliot, OBE, is convener of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. She is a former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the first woman to be elected to the post. She worked as psychology lecturer and was a founding board member of the Palestine Festival of Literature.
• HENRY McLeish, served as the second First Minister of Scotland from October 2000 to November 2001 following the sudden death of Donald Dewar. Resigned following a financial scandal. Former Labour MP for Centra Fife from 1987 to 2001, he was elected MSP for Central Fife 1999-2003. A former association footballer.
• ALEX Salmond is the fourth First Minister of Scotland and leader of the Scottish National Party. He won the Aberdeenshire East constituency at last May’s election, when the SNP won a majority of seats of at Holyrood. He was re-elected unopposed for a second term as First Minister.
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Comments
There are 489 comments to this article
Page 1 of 33
Anagach
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:49 PM486 Kon 481 Jimmy fae the West, you OWE 140 BILLION, you have assets of 30 billion, how are you paying us the 110 billion before you go? shall we just keep the oil fields till the debts gone as a guarantee? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ What ?. You dont make sense. Scotland owes Westminster 140 billion ? not a chance. Scotland's share per capita of the UK debt may be in the region of 140 billion, but it does not owe Westminster. As for assets, thats an issue that needs looked at, some assets seem to have moved south.
Harry Palmer
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:46 PMEck leans on people because he can. The SNP is such a one man band that Eck is used to leaning on them to force them to do even the most simple of things. I can't wait til the next time he steps down. It will be like last time. Swinny stabs Sturgeon in the back. Sturgeon stabs Neal in the back and Neal stabs Swinny in the back. It will be brilliant.
Tightfisted
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 08:17 PMHang about...............why should CIVIC life in Scotland not have an opinion when PRIVATE COMMERCE has been mouthing off for weeks?? level playing fields please Finding it hard work Eh...Eddie and co???
Kon
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 03:32 PM481 Jimmy fae the West, you OWE 140 BILLION, you have assets of 30 billion, how are you paying us the 110 billion before you go? shall we just keep the oil fields till the debts gone as a guarantee?
Pilrig.
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:14 PM484 - oh for the guid auld days when discussion o' Scottish matters at Westminster was confined tae one hour per month. We knew oor place in those days !
Dijit
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:01 PMWe should be allowed one extra question if we vote "no." "Should the Holyrood parliament be disbanded? YesNo."
bieldmaster
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 01:47 AMWhile the referendum question "agee disagree"the percetage turn out of eligible voters is of equal importance ;possibly more so.
Colonialtoff
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12:58 AMWell just read that devomax is not an option now or ever. Not much to discuss then. Good luck with independence in 1000 days shame about the labour party sinking Lol.
Jimmy Fae the West
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12:09 AM477 HorridHenrietta 10 years of rent for keeping WMD's that might cancel out the debt the UK want to pass onto an Independent Scotland. _______________________________________________________ nice one. And don't forget to mention the hugely expensive infrastructure, maintenance and security. I am still waiting for the remainder of Britain to explain if and how it intends to buy out Scotland's share of the Bank of England and it's reserves of Gold therein?
easyzone
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 12:09 AMThere's a good article ( not on line ) by Alf Young called " Who sits in Holyrood if vote is "Yes" In it , it says "Alex Salmond writes Much of what Scotland will be like the day after independence will be similiar to the day before : people will go to work , pensions and benefits will be collected, children will go out to play and life will be as normal " I find that a wee bit weird . Its got a touch of the "Stepford Wives " about it .
easyzone
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:59 PMThere's a good article ( not on line ) by Alf Young called " Who sits in Holyrood if vote is "Yes" In it , it says "Alex Salmond writes Much of what Scotland will be like the day after independence will be similiar to the day before : people will go to work , pensions and benefits will be collected, children will go out to play and life will be as normal " I find that a wee bit weird .
Jimmy Fae the West
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:58 PM474 Kon Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:18 PM 473 Jimmy fae the West, is there such a thing as extinction these days after your claim yesterday that Scotland holds the key to life itself? _______________________________________________________ Firstly I said Scotland had excesses of "THE BASICS FOR HUMAN EXISTENCE"! You failed to read and comprehend. Secondly, you britishers are about to discover the meaning of "Exstinking" (which was a very clever play on words) as British is abhorred and in decline both sides of the border. EXSTINKING BRITISHNESS, hahahahahahaha.
HorridHenrietta
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:47 PM'Even if Scots were to vote for independence, Trident would have to be kept at Faslane, on the Clyde, and Coulport, in Argyll, because there are no other sites. Alternative storage and berthing facilities for warheads and the submarines would take up to 10 years to build, so the UK’s nuclear capability could not be moved.' ==================================================== 10 years of rent for keeping WMD's that might cancel out the debt the UK want to pass onto an Independent Scotland.
Jimmy Fae the West
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:45 PM470 HorridHenrietta Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 10:11 PM I've just read in the Express that Nuclear Weapons have to stay in an Independent Scotland 'cos the RUK have nowhere else to put them. I wonder how much rent we could charge for parking these WMD's? _______________________________________________________ May I guarantee you that an independent Scotland owning or possessing a nuclear deterrent would be realising Jim Wallace's threats (or were they promises) that Scotland would receive the same atrocity as Kosovo. One can only suppose the British Law Lord implied that the remains-ashes of Britain would assume the part of Serbia with David Cameron playing Radovan Karadžić
furian
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 11:34 PM“This is something that I was concerned about and sought assurances that the organisation is absolutely 100 per cent divorced from the political storm and the legality of the referendum and any question that might appear in that,” Mr Cole-Hamilton said. The civic Scotland consortium is quite an impressive group of characters. The group's vaguely declared mandate is as hilarious as it is absurdity par excellence. The consortium's intention is to protect the civil society from political influence around the most important political question in Scotland for 300 years................................................................................................................. Few people, if any, can make any common sense out of Cole Hamilton's arguments, and the other key figures in the consortium wont bring much clarity to the politically abused Scots.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But what we do know: Mr. Cole Hamilton is supposed to be the leading beacon or light for the Scottish Liberal Democrats. Not much of a leading light as he seems to be swirling around in political darkness like the rest of his party. He did not even make it to the Scottish Parliament............................................................................................... Ewan Aitken is another political celebrity from Labour. His political merits are all Ex and he did not make it to the Scottish Parliament. The unprotected Scottish voters ousted him and it serves as an example of what horror will occur if people get involved in politics and make their own choices................................................................................................ David McLetchie is another ex MSP and expenses fiddling tory...............................................................................................................Dr Alison Elliot, OBE- what she is doing in this consortium is matter between her, God and Carl Jung........................................ HENRY McLeish. Yet another innocent money fiddling minister who sacrificed himself and resigned to save his party's political honor and reputation. He still insists a political conspiracy brought him down and he serves as a role model for footballers. He made it to First Minister for Labour, and we all wonder how. He has not offered himself to lead the campaign as running costs and expenses seem to be an issue. More honorable personalities and ex politicians will pop up in the consortium to be watchdogs for the civil society. They are all declared "unionists", as are the mentioned founders, but they insist they serve political neutrality. SNP has declared: "it is good to see civic Scotland engaging so enthusiastically with the debate on Scotland’s future.” Bravo, we salute that statement and wait for more key players to join the campaign. One has got Chicken Pox, and Mr. Cameron is restarting his British version of Disneyland- the Big Society project . .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Interesting times ahead ,and pay no attention to the rumors about PIP that produced the famous tit breast implants. The owner insists that no brain implants have been produced and delivered to UK. It is hard to believe that anyone could even suggest that some ex politicians and other dignitaries might be with the fairies ? The word eccentric is much better and less politicized and the consortium has got its fair share of them!
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