Sunday, 1 November 2009

Democracy, thy name is Tavish

I was going to write a post criticising the Liberal "Democrats" for the position taken at their conference yesterday.

I was going to, and then I read Will's post, which makes the point far more eloquently than I could, so I won't bother.

Except to say this. The SNP's preferred wording for a referendum is not the only option. If the Lib Dems wanted a referendum - as some of their membership apparently wished though seem to have changed their minds - couldn't they have negotiated a question with the SNP? I seem to remember a three-option question was - and remains - on the table.

Then again, wouldn't that mean being democratic? Something it appears that the Lib Dems are pretty incapable of. And that's where Will's terrific post comes in.

6 comments:

Stephen Glenn 1 November 2009 at 12:21  

Malc a three way option doesn't work. You're the policial PhD Candidate you should know that, I'll let you look into the ramifications of the 1948 Newfoundloand referendum.

What Alex is not offereing is multiple-question referendum. The wriggle room he is offering is limited and limiting.

Stephen Glenn 1 November 2009 at 12:22  

Also he is offering a question on the future before the future is clear. The question is accepting that the crystal ball of the SNP is sufficient without the detailed framework of what it entails.

Anonymous,  1 November 2009 at 12:27  

LOL, Stephen is fighting fires this morning after what can only be described as a disastrous result from their conference.

They've called a special meeting to agree nothing, it simply makes them look imbeciles.

Roll on the three option referendum bill, watch Tavish's leadership come to a shuddering halt.

Cruachan 1 November 2009 at 13:10  

You know, the more I think about this today, the more I think this brings us closer to the prize; so thank you Tavish Scott.

Alan Smart 1 November 2009 at 15:14  

Saw Tavish on the Politics Show, What an excuse of a performance. ( Ian Gray on minimum pricing mind you was worse!)

I do though think that a multi option referendum is a bad idea. Bad in principle, but also i think would be a bad tactical error for the SNP. If offfered the status quo, independence or something in between ( no matter what!), the electorate will near certainly vote for the thing in between - It's human nature, to hedge. The onus should be on unionists and federalist to come up with their proposals and seek majorities for them in straight yes/no referendum. And in the case of fedealist one surely Tavish on an all UK basis.

Fot nationalists, whilst the hurdle might be higher, surely the question should surely be a simple yes/no option on independence on a Scotland only basis? To trade this simplicity for a multi option vote would be an error in so many ways.

I think unwittingly, Tavish and co might have done us a favour. the challenge for natioists is to crerate condition in which it is just not credible for unionists to deny the people of scotland such a vote

....but more than anything Tavish has exposed their own opportunism -even their own debate on the matter was in closed session!.

And Labour of course will go into the next election offering us a referendum on the alternative vote, nobody wants or understands, but no referendum on the issue people do want votes on, on an all UK basis, the Euro and EU Federalism, and in Scotland, independence....with the libs criticing for not want pnes on the former whilst backing them on the former, unless someone offers Tavish and co a plush ministerial limo and the retention of MSP capital gains. Real principled. real liberal, real democratic!

And if a referendum Bill - The SNPs main 2007 election pledge to voters - is a "waste of taxpayers' money", what was The Calmun Commission - 100% state funded via the Scottish Parliament thanks to Lab Lib and Tory votes?

Anonymous,  1 November 2009 at 23:16  

@Aye We Can - interesting point about the hedging being more likely. Depends whether we know what these increased powers are beforehand - what are talking about? Full fiscal autonomy?

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