A National Conversation

Jack McConnell, the Leader of the Labour Party in Scotland has resigned today. Perhaps he is just not ready to put up a fight against the SNP, especially following yesterday's White Paper on Independence.

However, this is improbable given that the opposition parties were quick to issue a joint statement against the SNP's Independence conversation. Could this be a sign that a Rainbow coalition is on the way in Scotland, in a desperate attempt to oust the minority administration of the SNP? I sincerely hope not!

The National Conversation website seems very professionally thought out, and addresses the issues head on. The aim is to create an atmosphere where people can talk about Independence in Scotland, and have a chance to take part in the process of deciding on the country's future.

As the Scotsman duly suggests, the SNP are taking a gradualist approach, partly because they do not have a parliamentary majority, and will struggle to win any vote at this stage. Nevertheless, I believe that a gradualist approach is needed in the debate on Independence, so that there is a concerted effort to pick away at the stereotypes and the myths surrounding Independence, and a clear attempt at outlining the arguments for and against Independence in the cold light of day.

On the issue of holding a referendum on a Scottish Republic, from what I have read, I gather that there would be a follow on referendum on a Republic if the Scots voted for Independence initially. The Queen would continue to have a Castle at Balmoral( lucky her!) Nevertheless, I can't see the Scots agreeing to maintaining the English Monarchy in such circumstances. I may be wrong, but constitutionally it would create tensions- this without even contemplating the effect on Gordon Brown and other Scottish MP's, who, if prevented from sitting at Westminster would deny Labour a majority.

As yet there is no timeline for the Conversation on Independence, but I am sure that the SNP will be spearheading a campaign as part of this White Paper, and will be working at grassroots level to promote a positive outcome to the referendum.

I believe that the One Wales Government should be looking with interest to what is happening in Scotland at the moment. We have the challenge of initiating a referendum on a Parliament for Wales by 2011- of setting up the Convention successfully, and of encouraging people to take part in the debate surrounding additional powers for the Assembly. It will be a challenge, especially with tensions in the Labour ranks, but it is, after all, part of the One Wales agreement, and as far as I am concerned, we must work positively to make a success of the process.

Labour meltdown in Scotland

I think that this SNP billboard ad is very effective and simple. It defines the difference between their priorities for Government, and Labour who wish to invest billions in renewing the trident nuclear programme.

It seems that Labour are in meltdown in Scotland, what with Labour considering to move operations to develop Trident from it's Scottish base to Devon due to mounting opposition in the country to new nuclear arms, and following the latest revelation that Labour in Scotland have used high ranking party officials posing as members of the public in their party political broadcast!

I've been watching some of the BBC Scotland election coverage when I find the time, and I must say it's quite exciting, especially given that the SNP are doing so well in all the polls. Independence is obviously a hot election topic. We will know soon after May the 3rd whether the SNP's hopes of initiating a referendum on the issue will become a reality.