Scottish independence: Alex Salmond hits back at Tory ‘Bourbons’ in battle over devo-max
Alex Salmond has hit out at the two Tory grandees. Picture: AP
ALEX Salmond has accused former Tory Cabinet ministers Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Lord Forsyth of having “learned nothing” since their time in power, after they launched strongly worded attacks on the idea of full economic powers for Holyrood.
The First Minister seized on attacks the two made on “devo-max” – an option that would see all economic powers transferred to the Scottish Parliament – to demand “clarity” from Prime Minister David Cameron over his pledge for more Holyrood powers if Scotland votes against independence.
Mr Salmond claimed former foreign secretary and Scottish secretary Sir Malcolm and ex-Scottish secretary Lord Forsyth had presided over the electoral decline of the Tories north of the Border, when they served in the cabinets of Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
He dubbed the two Tory grandees “the Bourbons of Scottish politics – they have ‘learned nothing and forgotten nothing’” – a reference to the European dynasty that was repeatedly overthrown and restored to the thrones of nations such as France, Italy and Spain between the 16th and the 18th centuries.
The row comes after Mr Cameron’s visit to Scotland last week, during which he offered a deal that would see the referendum ballot restricted to a single question on independence in return for a promise of more powers after a vote in favour of the Union. Mr Cameron has declined to say how much power he is prepared to transfer to Edinburgh, arguing the independence question has to be answered before such details are sorted out.
Lord Forsyth issued a stark warning to the Prime Minister that his pledge of more powers had “lit the touch paper” for supporters of devo-max, while Sir Malcolm said it would be “independence in all but name”.
Mr Salmond said: “These interventions by senior Tories at Westminster – seeking to hold Scotland back – underline exactly why we need clarity from the Prime Minister as to what his proposals amount to.
“Not only does his offer need to be in the public domain well before the referendum, David Cameron should spell it out within the timescale of the Scottish Government’s consultation on the referendum, which ends on 11 May. That is plenty of time, if the Prime Minister and his colleagues are serious about it.
“Given these negative interventions by Tory Scottish secretaries from their party’s anti-devolution years, the issue right now is the people’s right to know what the Prime Minister’s alternative to independence is.
“David Cameron has said, for the very first time, that it is not the current Scotland Bill – but his own party is clearly deeply divided on the issue.
“The Prime Minister has an obligation in the coming weeks and months to tell the rest of us what his offer is.”
Mr Salmond heavily criticised Sir Malcolm and Lord Forsyth for standing on a Conservative platform in the 1990s opposing devolution. He said: “Lord Forsyth and Sir Malcolm are the Bourbons of Scottish politics – they have ‘learned nothing and forgotten nothing’.”
However, Sir Malcolm hit back and compared Mr Salmond to Maximilien Robespierre, one of the most influential figures of the French Revolution, who was executed. Sir Malcolm said: “If we’re the Bourbons, then Mr Salmond appears to think that he’s Robespierre, but he should remember that Robespierre ended up on the guillotine too.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was clear in his speech, and in his meeting with the First Minister, that any discussions on further devolution should take place after the referendum, which should have a single question and take place as soon as possible.”
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Comments
There are 293 comments to this article
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Markmywords
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 06:35 AMAll I see from Salmond are attempted witty put downs of what other people are trying to say. He needs to start telling Scots the truth about what will happen to Scotland's fair share of the UK national debt, whether or not you will have to apply to join the EU (membership cannot be just assumed on Independence Day), how you will deal with joining the Euro, helping to bail out the Greeks, Irish etc. Will your tax rates have to increase ? And who does "Scotland's Oil" actually belong to ? The clue might not, for once, be in the name.(See who owns the North Sea licenses). I remember Salmond telling us all how Scotland can look to the economies of Ireland and Iceland (among other small nations) for examples of how small countries can thrive economically. Both the quoted nations have since gone bankrupt. The Scots are about to make massive choices. Salmond seems like a guy "I could have a pint with", but he also comes across as very lightweight, at times. He uses his jokes and witty put downs as though these were demonstrative of a huge intellectual grasp of the seriousness of the issues. He needs to start getting serious. The Scots deserve to know everything, all the implications of independence, economic and constitutional. I have yet to see any of this from the SNP. Scotland has massive decisions to take. Its politicians MUST be honest with the people who are going to take them.
flyinngscott
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:55 PMMr Toff, there comes a time for pausing before comment. Otherwise you just start to string cliches together into incomprehensible gibberish. Your moment arrived long ago. "King Salmond blah, blah, blah" =================================================== My bed time has arrived JIT, before I get lazy with the keyboard too. I wonder what tomorrows scary headline will be ?========== NATIONALIST'S SECRETLY FILMED EATING ENGLISH BABIES ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ VAMPIRE NATS ATTACK AT NIGHT ###################################################### SCOTTISH TANKS TO ROLL ON CARLISLE IF THE VOTE IS YES
Colonialtoff
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:47 PMMore historical nonsense from AS. Does he now think he can compare a referendum to a blood stained revolution. Maybe he is planning to march on London, killing all his wake. Weirdo.
Danielrober2
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:36 PM# 287 The Tin Man ................... The SNP are sinking to new depths as Alec.S essentially does nothing. Personal insults come close to causing new feuds whilst pretending to be caring about Scottish issues. We live in increasing dangerous days, driven by the vanity f a single man trying to embrace history.
Cynicus
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:30 PMGood evening, Rufus. You are an admirer of Rupe the Scoop. What do you say about his latest gesture of support for a political leader whose name escapes me?
Mr Super Bad
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:49 PM273 Anagach, good post.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 10:10 PM286 frank mcbride: As His Alexness hasn't deigned to tell the people what the dabate is about, there is no debate. Have you not noticed? It is a dull tirade about constitutional what not from the SNP, from their position of not currently asking the people anything. It is boring, beyond description. It is not a masterstroke of statesmanship, it is treating the people as a bunch of jokers.
frank mcbride
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:37 PM276The Tin Man Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:12 PM 275 Anagach:.........." a binding referendum on Scottish independence is a referendum that is not subject to legal dispute. Read Lallands Peat Worrier about the issue - he is a nat. The whole thing has been made so stale by the SNP. It is really simple. Lets have the debate about that simple question, now".....................TTM, what debate do you want to have?...........................Is it about the Referendum question?..................................The SG one that goes, "Do you agree that Scotland should be an Independent country?".....YES or NO.......................................Or are you looking to debate something else?.................Like DevoMax.........Devo+..............the Status Quo? ........................................It would be wonderful if you would enlighten us....................Please feel free to do so, as people are unsure of the Unionist position with regard to their stance on the future governance of Scotland.
Graham Slater
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:30 PMTin Man, got to go. You Edinburgers maybe don't know all that's going down in the Oil Capital of Europe. The hotel plan fell through. Marischal college was refurbished as the new ACC HQ! (You COULDN'T make that one up). We're currently running the Union Terrace Gardens referendum, partly paid for by a kicking and screaming SIW. We can't comment on the biggest local issue in generations in our local paper which has closed all reader commenting to, it is widely believed, keep in with the movers aand shakers who were being demolished all day and every day. Not hard to do when they are telling us how good an idea it is to bulldoze Victorian parklands and fell nearly 100 century-old trees. Today we learn that ACSEF have , in a direct assault, many believe, on freedom of expression, reported the critical, hard-hitting and right-on-target 'SAVE UTG' bloggage to the polis.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:17 PM282 Graham Slater: And are visitors able to fulfil their north east Scotland cultural itinerary by sleeping in a hotel made out of the greatest granite former university building in the globe? Jeezo.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 09:10 PM282 Graham Slater: at least you will be able to live on the grounds of an ex school, play golf on ex dunes, park in an ex park, and shop on an ex street. How thrilling.
Graham Slater
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:50 PMTin Man, as a former SNP-voting independence enthusiast, still looking for a self-governing Scotland, BUT with a leadership cadre drawn from all the talents and all political persuasions, I can tell you that Salmond and his ACC SNP minions are not just selling the city's schools to developers AND OUR PARKS, they are, in the view of those of us outwith Edinburgh douceness, selling DEMOCRACY to vested interests.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:41 PM277 Graham Slater: and, if you think that Aberdeen Council will give their citizens a referendum on the future of Aberdeen, like Edinburgh Council did, you are living in la la land.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:37 PM277 Graham Slater: Or destroying a site of special scientific interest and turning it into another golf course. The council are selling your schools to private developers, as well.
The Tin Man
Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 08:32 PM278 Anagach: not true.
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