One for our pals North of the Border

[themount2]

Hot on the heels of the blustering Mr A CAMPBELL, and his W.O.M.D (Words of Mass Distraction - can't take credit for it, Andrew Marr - BBC, I think!) comes the narrowest government majority on Foundation Hospitals in England. This majority was only made possible by Scots and Welsh MP's voting in favour. Given these MP's don't like the concept and wouldn't vote for it in their own assemblies, can someone explain to me the justification for allowing them to lumber us with it. Maybe it's too early in the morning, but I'm having real trouble understanding what's going on these days and why politicians question and deny the apathy that exists today. .
Sailing connection - if the MCA get their way and pilot regulation is attempted in the Solent we may have our Scots & Welsh brethren voting on that too. Tenuous, I know, but at least I tried!

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[Aja]

West Lothian Question NM

.

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[jimi]

I do'nt understand this constitutional shambles that's been dumped on us. As far as I'm concerned one Island (or archipelago) one country .. our nations are so intertwined it really is daft to try and wind back the clock and artificially separate them .. that is the way of conflict. I'm not saying that we should'nt be proud of our cultural heritage but to confuse that with political and economic management is just plain crazy.

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[themount2]

Good, not just me then! Whatever happened to straightforward honesty and integrity. Naive, I know, 'cos someone invented money and greed.

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[Chris_Robb]

totally agree

This whole constitutional mishmash is totally crazy

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[Ohdrat]

Have to say I have slight preferance for Holyrood over Westminster.. I generally have more sympathy with Holyrood legislation than I do Westminster and the Blair / Campbell axis is a major factor in my anti Westminster attitude.. however I have to say this is Westminster and not England/UK

I like the idea of devolution and de-centralization of govt.. but this is very much on a regional basis, the Highlands and Islands Enterprise CEO was quoted that devolution would work for Central Scotland, as most of th MSPs are Urban Central belt, but would not work for the Highlands and Islands or predominantly rural areas.

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[Aja]

Maybe to answer you question directly, this was not decided by a National vote. It was decided by Labour Party Whips.

Although MPs are elected by their constiuents, surely it is naive to believe they represent them at local level when they owe their jobs to a National Party?

Discuss.

Donald

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[Ohdrat]

"Although MPs are elected by their constiuents, surely it is naive to believe they represent them at local level when they owe their jobs to a National Party2"

Quite agree.. which is why I have a slight preference for Holyrood.. the proportional representation aspect of our electoral system means that we are unlikely to have a party with a large majority and more smaller parties like the Greens and SSP. This effectively means the Party Whips have less control over the final vote.

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[Aja]

Sorry, but have to disagree with you. We get what we deserve up here, jumped up Parish Councillors. Not my words, but Tony Blairs.

Apathy rules. Voting should be made compulsary, even if it results in spoilt ballot papers.

Give the Parliament in Edinburgh proper tax powers (that they would use) and you see the real parliamentarians moving up north. I would love to see members with the ability of a (say) Robin Cook standing for the Scottish Parliament.

No. I have never voted Labour.

Donald

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[Ohdrat]

I still reckon Holyrood functions better than Westminster.. and yes It would be great to see MSPs of the calibre of Robin Cook but he is probably at the top end of the scale for Westminster too as far as capability is concerned..

In terms of the UK I have to say I would like to see the whole of the UK governed from the regions .. so the Highlands and Islands would have a regional assembly with representation from the assemblies sitting in Westminster with legislative powers only on UK matters.

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[mickshep]

"Apathy rules. Voting should be compulsary"

Hmmmm! Interesting concept. Perhaps more people would vote if ministers were made to stick to the promises they make whilst they are trying to get your vote, If I cocked up/copped out/failed to deliver the promises I make in the course of my job I'd be out on my ear (with no 6 figure payout for making an arse of myself and costing us the taxpayer millions) Perhaps the word Apathy should be changed to disinchanted. My neighbour has garden gnomes with more integrity than the shower at Westminster of either party, (now there is a thought, bet they would get more votes too) Regards Mick.

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[claymore]

Hmm - all a bit strange. Devolvement feels more like being given responsibility but not power, as the root of governmental power must surely be linked to economy?
We seem to be creating extra levels of government which, rather like the Metropolitan Boroughs dismantled in the mid 80's by Mrs T seem to be an expensive strategy that appeared to create a lot of posts, premises and levels of administration without delivering much that wasn't already there.

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Claymore
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[Aja]

Ok. We may not get the likes of Robin Cook. But we're being led by a schoolteacher just now.

I'm not saying that schoolteachers are incapable of leading a parliament, but what grounding does he have apart from politics?

We still get an extra tier of government?

what I would like to see is Government with a small 'g'.

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[themount2]

My point entirely.

Surely it is incumbent upon Parliament to interest the populus sufficently to make them WANT to vote because they truly believe it will make a difference.

How can I get enthusiastic about a Government that dumps me with a policy I do not want by relying on the votes of MP's who also wouldn't want it but couldn't care less if I have to have it!! I'm a reasonable man - please don't take the p**s!!

Compulsory voting is a nonsense. Has the world suddenly lost all it's rebels!
What should be compulsory is politicians who, on pain of death by hanging possess integrity, honesty and the humility to say once in a while, oops, got it wrong, I now think differently, want to change my mind, sorry etc, etc. Where does it say on the ballot paper "the person you are voting for is perfect and incapable of getting anything wrong"? Where does it obligate them to become such a person?

Obviously the Media cannot get away SCOT free, they are responsible for a lot of the b*ll**ks we have to put up with. I actually admire a lot of what the Beeb does, but to some extent Campbell & Gilligan deserve each other, and they are obviously having a lot of fun and getting lots of coverage.

If our politicians were less interested in power, image and their pocket linings and more interested in supporting their constituents, surely the Media would recognise the resulting ground swell of public approval and embrace it. Who else are they going to sell their pages of advertising to!

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[ParaHandy]

I have real fear at the thought of the strathclyde maffia having their grubby mitts on tax revenues ....

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[Ohdrat]

and I don't like the EdinburghisthecentreoftheuniversewearesoimportantanyonenorthoftPertharepeasants clan

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[themount2]

We could always send some Englishmen up to run your Parliament and give you some of the rubbish you are giving us. Been wondering where we could send IDS - purrfick!!
Any other suggestions

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[tcm]

Re: robin Cook + schoolteachers

er, i hope the idea isn't being bandied about that Robin Cook is a totally wonderful and incrediby admirable politician? Intelligent when faced with an examination paper maybe, but there's plenty of advice to be had from advisors and specialists. He is a leader amongst the others who also don't keep promises. Starting with the "ethical foreign poilcy" that led us to war several times, and of course the moderately important promises he made to his wife, and broke with deceit.

Seperately, we should have no problem with schoolteachers becoming politicians, should we? Not the whole place full of them, but some is fine. They can be as able as any, and better than many, academic rigour, cogent speakers in front of a class of rabble and all that. Schoolteachers are better suited to being politicians than leading children in worship every weekday - not permitted in France and US.

But agreed , small government.

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[ParaHandy]

boing .... oooofff .... !! Where's the Scottish National Orchestra based and who is being referred to as "all fur coat and nae knickers"? Ah've nae misapprehensions about auld reekie ....

Stratchclyde was (and presumably still is) so bent that they'd be looking up their ain airses .... years of unchallenged political power made them behave like Stuart royalty ......

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[Ohdrat]

Only if we can depost the Ewing clan in Westminster/forums/images/icons/wink.gif

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