Clash in North over vote on home rule
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THE SNP should “stop mucking about with the future of Scotland” and hold a referendum on independence sooner rather than later to end uncertainty over the issue.
That was said this week by Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso but local MSP Rob Gibson hit back and accused political opponents of “scaremongering”. He claimed the other parties are playing politics with the referendum and accused John Thurso of “pooh-poohing anything the Scottish Government puts forward”.
The local politicians expressed their respective views in interviews with the John O’Groat Journal as it emerged the Scottish Government plans to hold the vote in the autumn of 2014.
But the UK Government this week said the power to hold a referendum is reserved to Westminster under devolution laws passed in 1998. The Scottish Government, it argued, cannot authorise the vote on its own.
UK cabinet ministers insist a Holyrood poll would be advisory and open to a legal challenge. They want a simple yes
However, First Minister Alex Salmond said the SNP has an overwhelming mandate from the Scottish people to hold a referendum in the second half of the parliament. He accused Westminster of trying to dictate the terms of the vote as tension between the two governments increased.
Mr Salmond said Prime Minister David Cameron’s approach to the referendum was “Thatcheresque” and called on the UK Government to amend the Scotland Bill to allow the poll to be held “with no strings attached”. The Scottish Government would like an independent body to oversee the poll but not the Electoral Commission as it has political appointees.
John Thurso said it is “utterly extraordinary” the SNP does not appear to want the Electoral Commission to be involved in the process.
He accused the party of being “petrified of having its bluff called” and said it should “stop mucking about with the future of Scotland”.
“It beggars belief that the Scottish Government is running scared from the proposal of having an independently administered referendum,” he said.
John Thurso, who is in favour of Scotland remaining within the UK, said the arguments opposing the UK Government plan are “desperate” and will “not wash”.
The Liberal Democrat said a referendum should be held sooner rather than later.
He argued the UK Government is offering its Scottish counterparts the power to hold a referendum which is legally binding and not just advisory. He is “astonished” the Scottish Government seems to want to refuse the opportunity to honour a key manifesto commitment, and thinks the vote should have a simple question to help end uncertainty.
John Thurso does not believe perceived interference from Westminster will result in more votes being cast for independence.
However, Mr Gibson stressed Mr Salmond made it clear before the election a referendum would be held in the second half of the parliament.
The Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP said the planned timescale is logical as the Scotland Bill, which could give more powers to the Government north of the border, is currently going through the UK Parliament.
He accused opponents of “scaremongering” and claimed they are playing politics with the referendum issue. Mr Gibson argued all referenda held in the UK since 1975 have been advisory and not legally binding.
On the question in the referendum, he said a simple yes
He claimed the behaviour of the UK Government is “a sad indictment on its much-heralded respect agenda” towards the Scottish Government.
“The Scots are competent enough and sensible enough to make the referendum work. We have a mandate from the people of Scotland for an advisory referendum and don’t need interference from London to do that,” he added.
VOX POP
‘Let’s cut out a layer of government’
1: Ann Murray, of Upper Burnside, Thurso, said independence would be “absolutely catastrophic” for Scotland, especially in the current economic climate.
But she thinks Prime Minister David Cameron’s involvement in the matter could create a backlash from Scottish voters.
2: Frances Purves, of Robert Street, Wick, comes from England but has lived in Caithness for over 30 years and believes Scotland should be independent. “Scotland has its own culture, its own heritage and should be independent. I think this issue is a matter for the people of Scotland and not one for the UK Government,” she said.
3: Donald Menzies, of Royal Terrace, Thurso, feels Scotland has more to gain by staying in the Union. He said people might resent what is seen as interference by Mr Cameron. “His views may encourage some people to vote in favour of independence but not me,” he said.
4: David Henderson, of Calder Drive, Thurso, said: “It is very difficult to say but I think we would be better off staying within the Union the way things are at the moment.” Mr Henderson said Mr Cameron’s involvement in the issue could persuade some of the electorate to vote in favour of independence.
5: Sandy Robinson, from Kinbrace, would vote yes to independence for Scotland but thinks First Minister Alex Salmond is being “too hard-nosed” on the issue. Mr Robinson, who is from Cheshire but has lived in the Far North since 2000, feels Mr Cameron’s stance could backfire and lead to more people backing the independence cause.
6: Jan McEwan, who works in Wick, doesn’t think Scotland should be independent. “I think for the sake of certain issues such as security we need to remain as part of the UK. However, I do think Scotland should be given more powers from Westminster,” she said.
7: Jane Hellens, of Berriedale, has “grave concerns” Scotland will not be able to financially support itself. “Westminster will never give up the oil money from the North Sea and without that revenue Scotland is not viable as an independent country,” she said. “We’re a small country with very little industry or core businesses left. My query is how does Scotland survive if it is independent?” She argued, however, the UK Government should keep out of the debate. “I think Westminster should mind their own bloody business. It’s really up to the people of Scotland to decide what they want to do.”
8: Stewart Gunn, of Thurso, is for independence. “I think we should be able to manage our own affairs and I think we would probably do a better job of it rather than it being centralised to London,” he said. “We’ve got a parliament in Edinburgh so let’s make use of it. I think we are actually over-governed between Edinburgh, London and Brussels, as well as Highland Council – so let’s cut out a layer of government.”
9: Bruce de Wert, of Wick, was born in England but his mother was Scottish and he has lived in the country most of his life. He feels Scottish and is proud to be Scottish. “Our first minister is the consummate politician but I find him patronising with a tendency to take us for granted. Independence is scary because he keeps us in the dark about his plans. I need to know a lot more. What are his plans for taxation and borrowing? Will we be in the Euro? How are we going to defend ourselves? If not with nuclear, how is he going to bridge the upcoming energy gap? He knows he has no real opposition in Scotland and so I predict he will not give us the information we need and he will fight the referendum on emotion. I have grave doubts about independence and the little I have been told so far gives me no grounds for optimism.”
10: A woman who works in Wick, who wanted to remain anonymous, believes it does not matter whether Scotland is independent or not – either way she is going to lose out as both governments ignore the problems of blue-collar workers. “I think it’s probably a bit late, we should have gone independent while we still had control of our oil,” she said. “I’m just on the breadline all the time, no matter who is in power so it doesn’t affect me one way or the other. The Government doesn’t have a clue about the working classes – Cameron was born into wealth and Salmond is not much better.”
