Tag: Politics

Salmond to step down

Salmond resigns

First Minister Alex Salmond is to step down following defeat for the Yes Scotland campaign in the independence referendum. 

Mr Salmond told party members: “I have has announced my intention to stand down as SNP Leader at the Party’s Annual Conference in November and then as First Minister when the SNP have elected the next Leader following a membership ballot. My statement to the nation, made a few moments ago at Bute House, is as follows:

“I am immensely proud of the campaign which Yes Scotland fought and of the 1.6 million voters who rallied to that cause by backing an independent Scotland.

“I am also proud of the 85 per cent turnout in the referendum and the remarkable response of all of the people of Scotland who participated in this great constitutional debate and the manner in which they conducted themselves.

“We now have the opportunity to hold Westminster’s feet to the fire on the “vow” that they have made to devolve further meaningful power to Scotland. This places Scotland in a very strong position.

“I spoke to the Prime Minister today and, although he reiterated his intention to proceed as he has outlined, he would not commit to a second reading vote by 27th March on a Scotland Bill. That was a clear promise laid out by Gordon Brown during the campaign. The Prime Minister says such a vote would be meaningless. I suspect he cannot guarantee the support of his party.

“But today the point is this. The real guardians of progress are not the politicians at Westminster, or even at Holyrood, but the energised activism of tens of thousands of people who I predict will refuse meekly to go back into the political shadows.

“For me right now , therefore there is a decision as to who is best placed to lead this process forward politically.

“I believe that in this new exciting situation, redolent with possibility, Party, Parliament and country would benefit from new leadership.

“Therefore I have told the National Secretary of the SNP that I will not accept nomination to be a candidate for leader at the Annual Conference in Perth on 13th-15th November.

“After the membership ballot I will stand down as First Minister to allow the new leader to be elected by due Parliamentary process.

“Until then I will continue to serve as First Minister. After that I will continue to offer to serve as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East.

“It has been the privilege of my life to serve Scotland as First Minister. But as I said often during the referendum campaign this is not about me or the SNP. It is much more important than that.

“The position is this. We lost the referendum vote but can still carry the political initiative. More importantly Scotland can still emerge as the real winner.”

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Scotland says No Thanks

betterThe people of Scotland have voted to remain part of the United Kingdom. Voters came out in unprecedented numbers to have their say on independence – and an emphatic majority decided that separation is a step too far.

By 6.15am, with 31 of 32 counts declared, Better Together has 1,914,187 votes while Yes Scotland has 1,539,920 – an unassailable lead.

Sue BruceEdinburgh’s result was declared just before 6am (picture above), and despite predictions that the result would be close, a clear majority of the capital’s citizens voted to remain part of the union. Edinburgh voted No: 194, 638 (60.19%), Yes: 123,927 (39.81%).

Many people believed that the Better Together campaign was too negative and handed the initiative to a vibrant Yes Scotland bandwagon, but voters agreed with the unionist parties that ‘it’s not worth the risk’.

First Minister Alex Salmond will make a statement later this morning, but Nicola Sturgeon told the BBC of a “real sense of disappointment that we have fallen narrowly short of securing a ‘Yes’ vote”.

darlingPrime Minister David Cameron said: “I’ve spoken to Alistair Darling (pictured above) and congratulated him on a well-fought campaign.”  He too is expected to make a further statement this morning.

While the result will be a bitter disappointment for almost half of the nation, there are positives to be taken from the campaign, whatever side of the debate you’re on. All across the country people have engaged in politics once again. This was the campaign where the people took democracy back.

And now, at the end of a gruelling thirty-month campaign that has split the country, it’s time to build bridges. One of the few things on which politicians of both sides agree is that politics has changed forever, and it’s to be hoped that all of the energy, positivity and enthusiasm that was poured into the campaign can be harnessed for the collective good of our nation. There’s an awful lot of work to be done.

Yes, the people have spoken – and this time the politicians really had better listen. 

Westminster pledges more powers if Scotland says NO

Unionists are ‘Desperate’, says Yes Scotland

Record front pageThe leaders of the three main Westminster parties have signed a “vow” for more powers for Scotland if it rejects independence. David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg have signed the letter which appears on the front page of today’s Daily Record. However Yes Scotland leaders have dismissed the move and say that only a vote for independence on Thursday can secure for Scotland the powers it needs to create jobs, save the health service and build a better society.

The Westminster leaders’ pledge promises ‘extensive new powers” for the Scottish Parliament’ delivered by the process and to the timetable agreed’ by the three parties – ‘devo max’ by any other name.

love scotland vote noLast week former prime minister Gordon Brown – who has taken an increasingly prominent role in the Better Together campaign – set out his proposed schedule for new powers to be transferred to Holyrood. He said three guarantees in particular must be locked in: to guarantee new powers to the Scottish Parliament, to guarantee fairness to Scotland and to guarantee the power to spend more on the NHS if that is the wish of Scottish people.

The unionist party leaders in Scotland then jointly endorsed the timetable for the new transfer of powers from Westminster to Holyrood, and this was followed by today’s Cameron, Clegg and Miliband ‘vow’ .

In their ‘Promise to Scotland’ letter, the party leaders say they agree that “the UK exists to ensure opportunity and security for all by sharing our resources equitably across all four nations”.

The joint letter also states: “And because of the continuation of the Barnett allocation for resources and the powers of the Scottish Parliament to raise revenue, we can state categorically that the final say on how much is spent on the NHS will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.”

YES scotlandHowever independence supporters have dismissed the Westminster leaders’ ‘promise to Scotland’ as ‘desperate’.

Alex Salmond said he did not believe the letter would persuade the people of Scotland to reject independence, and a Yes Scotland spokesman said: “It’s clear that Project Panic is willing to say anything in the last few days of the campaign to try to halt the Yes momentum – anything except what new powers, if any, they might be willing to offer.

“The reality is that the only way to guarantee Scotland gets all the powers we need to create jobs and protect our NHS is with a Yes vote on Thursday – so that we can use our enormous wealth to create a better and fairer country.”

It’s more than likely that there will be yet more twists and turns, one last throw of the dice, as Thursday approaches. The latest Panelbase poll shows Better Together on 47% , Yes Scotland on 46% and – crucially – 7% undecided. It really is down to the wire.

Lazarowicz: keep rail on right track

trains at newcastle stationEdinburgh North and Leith MP Mark Lazarowicz has welcomed the latest figures from publicly-owned rail operator East Coast. He stressed again the case for the line to stay in the public sector and said the issue that has been kept alive by Labour MPs in constituencies along the route – especially those in Edinburgh.

East Coast paid £225m to the government in the year to March 2014, making a total of more than £1bn since the last Labour Government took it back into the public sector. The rail operator also came top for customer satisfaction amongst long distance franchises.

The Labour MP said: “It’s a real achievement for this public sector company to pay back £225m to the taxpayer whilst also coming top amongst long distance operators for customer satisfaction – I want to see the line stay in public hands.

“The Government is determined to reprivatise East Coast and the fight for its future has been led by Labour MPs along the route – in Yorkshire, the North-East and in Scotland.

“Issues like this don’t just stop at Berwick and only Labour is committed to giving it the chance to continue running the line – separation won’t stop privatisation, only a Labour Government will ensure passengers are put first.”

“Labour Shadow Secretary of Transport Mary Creagh has made a commitment to a complete overhaul of the franchise system where operators make unrealistic bids which can only be achieved if corners are cut on services or ticket prices are hiked. East Coast’s results show there is another way.”

Women: ask Elaine anything at North Edinburgh Arts!

Actress and comedian Elaine C Smith will visit North Edinburgh Arts on Saturday at 11.30am to talk to women about the referendum, life, anything!

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Elaine is a commited YES supporter of course, so in the interests of balance we should point out that other voting options are available!

 

Edinburgh College Students: Aye or Naw?

Aye, Naw or Undecided? 

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Are you Aye, Naw or Undecided? Wherever you are in the referendum debate,  come along to the Edinburgh College Students’ Association Debate and put your questions to both campaigns.

You are invited to attend The Edinburgh College Debate being held in the Music Box at Sighthill Campus, on Wednesday 10 September from  4 – 5.30pm.

This is an amazing opportunity for you to take part in the debate about the biggest decision any of us may ever make in the upcoming independence referendum.

Speaking for the Yes campaign are Kenny MacAskill MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, and SNP MSP for Eastern Edinburgh, and Colin Fox, National Convenor of the Scottish Socialist Party.

Speaking for the Better Together campaign are Kezia Dugdale MSP, Labour MSP for the Lothians, and Cameron Buchanan MSP, Conservative MSP for the Lothians.

NUS Scotland’s Women’s Officer, Vonnie Sandlan will be chairing the debate.

Please arrive early (3:30pm) to avoid disappointment, and if you would like any further details on this event, get in touch with us at contact@ecsaonline.co.uk.

We look forward to seeing you!

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Curriculum for Excellence report card: Russell must try harder

Less assessment would benefit pupils and teachers, say Greens

teacherGreen MSP Alison Johnstone says lower levels of assessment in schools would benefit pupils and reduce the massive workload of teachers.

A report published today looking at the first year of the Curriculum for Excellence qualifications (see below)  says that the new qualifications have been a success overall, but highlights ‘significant and unsustainable level of over‑assessment in many parts of the system’ and a ‘higher level of assessment than was necessary or desirable’.

Alison Johnstone, Green MSP for Lothian and education spokesperson for the Scottish Greens said: “I congratulate every teacher who has worked hard to make a success of this last year with the new qualifications. We need to get the balance right between learning and assessment and this report reflects my concern that the system is still too heavily weighted towards exams, which doesn’t always lead to better educational outcomes.

“Workloads in the teaching profession remain far too high and the Scottish Education Secretary must address this as one of his top priorities. I believe the Curriculum for Excellence has set us on the right path in Scotland but there is more work to do to achieve a school system that is sustainable and rewarding for both pupils and teachers.”

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Alexander: ‘best of both worlds’

Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander sets out why he believes being part of the UK is helping Scotland’s economy grow and create jobs …

Danny_AlexanderThis week I will be travelling across the breadth and width of Scotland, from east to west and from north to south, talking to businesses and families about the issues that matter to them.

I will visit a range of companies, representing many of Scotland’s key sectors like life sciences, financial services, tourism, manufacturing and the creative industries.

I am certain that the one common thread which will emerge during my travels is this: the economy of Scotland is rich, diverse and prosperous, with huge and exciting opportunities ahead of us. But our present strength and our future potential come from the fact that we are – and I believe we should remain – part of the United Kingdom.

There’s little doubt that the UK and Scottish economies are recovering strongly. Scotland has now seen seven quarters of continuous growth. And that impressive performance is contributing to the strength of the UK economy: data released on Friday showed that the UK has grown by 3.2% in the past year.

This means that our economy is now recovering faster than all our major international competitors like the US, Germany, Japan or France.

What’s more, independent experts predict that the UK will continue to lead the pack over the rest of this year and grow faster than any other G7 nation.

With more economic growth we’re also seeing more jobs. Since 2010 some 1.8 million additional jobs have been created across the UK, as part of that there are almost 160,000 new jobs in Scotland.

There are now more Scots in work – some 2.6 million – than ever before.

The strength of our labour market means we can continue to reduce unemployment in Scotland, including among our young people: new data released last week showed the biggest fall in UK-wide youth unemployment since records began.

All the evidence shows that being part of the UK is helping Scotland’s economy grow and create jobs.

One reason for this is that Scottish companies do most of their trade with the rest of the UK.

Almost 70% of Scotland’s exports go to England, Wales and Northern Ireland – more than to the every other country in the world combined. As a single state, the UK shares common regulations and a bigger marketplace where people can move freely, all of this makes it far easier to do business.

Being part of the UK is also good for jobs. New analysis published last week showed that almost 270,000 jobs in Scotland – more than one in every ten jobs – is dependent on trade with the rest of the UK.

This includes 45,000 manufacturing jobs and 180,000 jobs in the services industries, all of which benefit from the larger single integrated market available as part of the UK.

Many of these jobs are in the key industrial sectors which I will be visiting over the coming week.

We have a top financial and professional services sector. We are world-leaders in renewable energy. Aberdeen is a global hub for oil and gas expertise. We have a state-of-the-art life sciences sector. We have a vibrant creative industries scene, concentrated around Dundee and Glasgow.

All these sectors are thriving precisely because Scotland benefits from the broad shoulders and economic stability that come from being part of the UK.

I am in no doubt that the ingenuity and hard-work of the Scottish people is one of our greatest assets – an asset that will yield even more success as part of the UK.

And that’s because the UK offers stability and strength, with certainty about our currency, better funded public services and safer savings and pensions.

And with a more powerful Scottish Parliament we can have the best of both worlds, so that we can find Scottish solutions to Scottish issues while remaining part of a stronger United Kingdom.

We should all be incredibly proud of everything Scotland has achieved. Let’s make sure that our children and grandchildren can be even more successful as part of the United Kingdom.

No fracking chance!

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The Scottish Government is objecting to UK Government proposals which would remove the right of Scottish householders to object to oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing beneath their homes. The stance has been welcomed by the Scottish Greens, who say fracking poses a threat to our economy as well as our environment.

The proposals from the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change will allow companies to drill below people’s land without first negotiating a right of access.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing has said that powers on this issue should be with Scotland, and that independence will give the people of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government the power to consider policy on unconventional oil and gas in a cautious, considered and evidence-based way.

Scottish Energy Minister Fergus Ewing said: “The Scottish Government believe that there should be an evidence based, cautious and considered approach to unconventional oil and gas, and that all of the decisions taken about it should be taken by the people of Scotland, through the Parliament and Government they elected.

“UK Government proposals to remove the right of Scottish householders to object to drilling under their homes flies in the face of that approach and that is why we object to them. It is also fundamentally an issue affecting land ownership rights.

“The gung-ho approach of the UK Government to the whole issue of unconventional oil and gas – often without any consultation with the Scottish Government at all – contrasts with our approach.

“Whatever your view on the issue of unconventional oil and gas – and it is clear that there are both opportunities and concerns – there is only one way that the people of Scotland can determine the approach in Scotland – including beneath their homes and land. That is to take the power to deal with this issue away from Westminster and that can only be done with the powers of independence.“

Patrick Harvie, Co-convener of the Scottish Greens, welcomed Energy Minister Fergus Ewing’s comments yesterday.

The Green MSP pointed out that the Infrastructure Bill – put forward at Westminster by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat government and supported by Labour – would overrule trespass laws, enabling drilling firms to install pipes to transport gas without landowners’ permission.

He added: “Greens have been calling for this proposal to be blocked in Scotland, so these comments from Fergus Ewing are a good step. Holyrood should reject the UK Infrastructure Bill when it gets the chance to do so by way of legislative consent motions.

“Meantime Scottish ministers should continue to consider the use of existing regulations to ban unconventional gas completely. We are risking our economy, not just our environment, if we encourage yet more fossil fuel extraction.

“Communities such as Airth near Falkirk and Canonbie in Dumfries and Galloway are already facing a battle against gas drilling. Given the Scottish Government’s failure to support a ban on fracking or clear buffer zones, and the First Minister’s description of shale gas as an opportunity, many other communities across Scotland will remain deeply concerned at these unwanted, unnecessary developments.”

In June, Derek Mackay MSP, Minister for Local Government and Planning, announced the new Scottish Planning Policy. Following extensive public consultation and rigorous scrutiny in the Scottish Parliament, it was clear that concerns remained over buffer-zones and community engagement.

Five new measures were introduced in relation to hydraulic fracturing, including bringing in a requirement that developments only proceed if communities and the environment can be protected, and operators will have to consult with communities on their proposals.

The Scottish Government convened a group of experts last September to review the scientific evidence on unconventional oil & gas, and on 28 July they published an authoritative and impartial report.

The findings from the Independent Expert Scientific Panel have highlighted a number of issues that may require further work, including some suggestions on further tightening of our robust regulatory process and a Working Group will now look at these areas to take forward those suggestions.