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Hand over election power now says SNP chief

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Published Date: 15 May 2008
TIME is running out for Westminster to hand control of Scottish Parliament elections to Holyrood, an SNP minister has said.
The independent Gould report into last year's election fiasco recommended control of both the Holyrood and council elections should be given to the Scottish Parliament instead of having the responsibility split between Westminster and Holyrood.

But Bruce Crawford, Minister for Parliamentary Business, said: "Time is already running short to do the things we need to do. We expect (The Scottish Office) to say something before the summer.

"If they don't say something by September it will be too late for the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government to deal with the Scottish Parliament election in 2011."





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  • Last Updated: 15 May 2008 10:39 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Alan B,

15/05/2008 12:01:20
What is Wendies take. She believes in more powers for the scottish parliament. Labours own review into its dreadful handling of the election, (which many believe was an attempt to gerrymander the election result), said to hand over powers to the sp.

What is the point of Calman if labour just ignore there own reviews.

Brown must go now.
2

Sanny,

Glasgow 15/05/2008 12:22:10
If Westminster will not give us the power voluntarily, then we must take it! This applies to all powers not just the right to organise our own elections.

The bottom line is simple; in the modern world what can Westminster do against the will of the people, with the world watching. Are we another Zimbabwe? Europe had already told Westminster that the set-up in the UK was unacceptable – hence the devolution acts, which were the minimum that Europe would accept.
3

Nikostratos,

15/05/2008 12:35:17
#2

"then we must take it"

Please do try nothing would be better than to see you lot in a prison and away from law abiding people.
4

The Answer,

Glasgow 15/05/2008 12:52:02
#2

There are 10,000 more males in scotsland unemployed today than a year!

Maybe they could "take" the powers needed!

Maybe "the obese one" is planning to stir up trouble by making scots males jobless, if not what the hell is he doing.
5

All Politicians are the same,

Scotland 15/05/2008 12:54:20
#2

Ah the tru "nationalists" show their colours.
6

,

15/05/2008 13:11:43
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
7

Andrew D,

BNE 15/05/2008 13:25:50
I think it would take a majority in the Scottish Parliament to be able to "take it" but if that did come about then it would be a very interesting ground if they did decide to take 'over' the running of the election.

What would Westminster do? Suspend the Scottish Parliament? I can't see that happening. Of course it would take the Tories and/or Lib Dems siding with the SNP in such a vote for it to come about and they *might* go along with such a thing given the ability to cause grief for Labour in England that could come from it.

The UK parliament would either not be able to stop it - and lose power by vote for the first time - or stop it and go against the will of the Scottish parliament and recommendations made in a report that is well known and public.

I doubt it would happen but interesting to consider nonetheless.
8

Farky,

Not just elections... 15/05/2008 13:39:43
We want all powers handed back to a parliament that serves Scotland!
9

Highland Mighty,

15/05/2008 14:06:28
2. What stupid comments to make!

So it was the EU that demanded that devolution take place, was it? The EU has power over the British constitution now?

Strange how the unitary government of France isn't affected by this 'EU Directive'!

The nats are really starting to lose the plot nowadays.

Have there been more polls showing shrinking support for independence? Or shrinking leads over Labour, despite their almost complete ineptitude? What's tipping this lot over the edge?
10

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 14:14:46
9

Aye and havent you just raised the bar on stupid comments??
whats the matter did ye feel challenged??
Typical unionist troll thinks he has the monopoly on stupid comments.
11

Shave,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 14:29:19
#2 Sanny
"Are we another Zimbabwe?"

Eh, no. Comparing Scotland's free society with Zimbabwe's regime is obviously wrong.
12

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 14:31:49
11 HM/ Troll

And changing back to yer original logon isnae hiding yer stupidity either. Yer posts give it away every time.
13

Alan B,

15/05/2008 14:37:57
#11 AM2

Alternatively it was the most stupid thing for Brown to say.

“whatever is necessary” to preserve the Union

what does that mean.

While i agree it did not mean war and that is silly i do think it has very sinister undertones.

If salmond said he would do “whatever is necessary” to get freedon u would rightly critising him.

Many unionist governments have acted in a corrupt manner in order to preserve the union. There are arguments for and against the union but we should all as democrats condemn browns words as being completely inappropriate.



14

Alan B,

15/05/2008 14:40:49
#Highland Mighty

Do not know if there is anything in the EU thing or not.

But i think it refers to the fact that a majority in 79 voted for an assembly and the government at the time ignored the democratic will of the scottish people, with objectionable rules like the 40% one.

A rule that would mean on a 50% turnout u would have to get over 80% of the vote.
15

john z,

edinburgh 15/05/2008 15:03:44
The Idea of military force is not so absurd. If a Scottish parliament with a massive SNP majority in the future, were to take powers back without consulting Westminster, what could westminster do? Bottom line is, they would have to use force if The Scottish Government did not agree.

And of course there is the question about that big oil and gas tap at Grangemouth feeding Engerland with Scottish reserves free of charge.

So to the likes of AM2, it is a very serious point. The powers mentioned in the article above should of course be handed back to the Scottish parliament. It's just common sense, if nothing else.

The Westminster parliament and Scottish Labour have never done anything for Scotland, just bled us dry. The reason people like the current Scottish government, is they are actually standing up for the interests of the people of Scotland, unlike the previous bunch of libdem/labour wasters.
16

Marian,

15/05/2008 15:08:53
New Labour will hold on to every vestige of power it can is Scotland until it is wrested from them as it will when the Conservatives are elected at the next UK general election. At that time the Conservatives will cause such unprecedented problems for Scotland that New Labour will be forced to join with the Nationalist cause to leave the UK.
17

john z,

edinburgh 15/05/2008 15:09:04
And another point. When Broon said "whatever is necessary" to preserve the union, can we safely assume that will mean lying, and deception, production of false misleading statistics, and decieving the people of Scotland about oil reserves in the North sea?

I guess it could, because those very things were done (as evidence by the cover up of the mccrone report) to the people of Scotland in the 1970's by lying toerags from Labour and the tories in England.

When the oil and gas are done, Scotland won't be just allowed to leave the 'union', but rather TOLD to leave the union. Anyone who cannot see this, is naive in the extreme.
18

karinxxx,

15/05/2008 15:17:17
iT wasnt the european union who gave scotland devolution and it certainly wasnt the labour party it was a council of europe decision that labour had to adhere to.
19

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 15:22:11
19

No yer right it was the push for Independence that gave us Devolution and the harder we push the more we get so you can all thank the SNP and the rest of us Nationalist for every concession won from Westminster.
20

Merouane,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 15:31:34
#11. Did it also make you laugh when the head of your Orange Order threatened to take up arms to "defend the Union" should we choose independence?
21

Foulkes Off the CyberNat,

Edinburgh 15/05/2008 19:01:14
23

So when does he actually plan to start then??
Do you no think he should stop trying to destroy the union before he begins to make a case for it??
22

An Beal Bacht,

15/05/2008 19:30:51
Aye - we can't allow 140,000 voters to be disenfranchised again. When we have the referendum we can't let Westminster fiddle the results as we all know they would given half a chance.
23

Conan the Librarian™,

15/05/2008 19:31:38
24
LOL.That would be difficult.
Perhaps taping over his mouth while he makes a wee display case for the original parchment?

 

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