Westminster talks to set unionist agenda for the future of Scotland

SHORTLY before lunchtime today, the leaders of Scotland's main unionist parties will sit down for a groundbreaking meeting at Westminster that will set the agenda for the constitutional future of the country.

But not one of the six senior politicians involved will be representing the Scottish Government.

Today's meeting – between Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat politicians – will help create a Scottish Constitutional Commission to deliver more powers for the Scottish Parliament.

At the same time, officials in Alex Salmond's office will be planning the next stage of the Scottish Government's National Conversation on Independence.

Political experts agree that Scottish politics has now become polarised on constitutional grounds with the unionist parties and their Scottish Constitutional Commission on one side and the SNP's National Conversation on the other.

However, there is also considerable scope for confusion, with two separate debates on Scotland's constitutional future going on, one organised by the nationalists and one by the unionists, with neither side willing to get involved with the other.

Professor John Curtice, political expert at Strathclyde University, said he believed the Scottish Constitutional Commission has far more potential to change Scottish politics than its nationalist rival.

Prof Curtice said: "The National Conversation is a mechanism to encourage debate and perhaps to encourage more support for independence, but the brutal truth is that, as far as holding a referendum is concerned, the votes are not there.

"The Scottish Constitutional Commission potentially is very important because the parties involved have the votes necessary in both legislatures to pass the necessary legislation."

But he added: "Whether it will prove to be more than a talking shop will depend on the attitude of the UK Labour government."

Wendy Alexander, for Labour, Annabel Goldie, for the Tories and Nicol Stephen, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, are heading south for today's meeting, where they will discuss the commission plans with Des Browne, the Scottish Secretary, and his shadows, Tory David Mundell and Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmicheal.

A senior Liberal Democrat source said the party wanted a formal statement from Mr Browne after today's meeting, not just acknowledging the debate, but actively supporting the commission idea. "We have never had that from the UK government," the source said.

And he added: "The reason that is so important is because, at the end of this process, we would envisage a Scotland Act Amendment Bill coming through the House of Commons and that needs government support."

The Liberal Democrats believe a lot of the work of the commission will involve Treasury officials, because of the complex arguments over fiscal control and responsibility, and that will need positive support from the UK government.

The Tories are more cautious, looking for the practical details of the commission's work to be thrashed out today.

For Labour, the central issue is the difference between Ms Alexander, the Scottish Labour leader, and Mr Browne. Ms Alexander has made the drive for more powers for Holyrood a central part of her leadership. She wants to see the commission discuss more fiscal autonomy for Holyrood.

The Scottish Secretary, however, is not quite so keen on this. He is having to tread a careful line between the demands of his Scottish leader for change and the cool response from the Prime Minister, who simply dismissed the question of the commission last week with the phrase: "Its a debate that should happen."

AN APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THE PEOPLE

ALEX Salmond launched the National Conversation on Independence last year in an attempt to encourage support for independence.

It was a deliberate move to bypass parliament – where there is no majority for an independence referendum – and appeal directly to the people.

The First Minister launched a website which has attracted 269,047 hits. There have also been 22,285 call-ups of the white paper on independence and 7,342 downloads of the white paper. Ministers have also been writing blogs – in response to comments on the website – on an occasional basis and although the website has attracted thousands of responses, many have come from Nationalists.

Mr Salmond also promised nationwide roadshows, allowing members of the public to talk directly to ministers.

A spokesman for the First Minister said plans were being drawn up for this second phase of the National Conversation, and those plans would be discussed by the Scottish Cabinet in the next few weeks.