Scottish Independence watch

[Tredman]

Any kind of change which creates 2 class of mps in Westminster will ultimately fail

The only workable option, Imo, is an English Parliament. And for good measure site it in Birmingham.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Any kind of change which creates 2 class of mps in Westminster will ultimately fail

The only workable option, Imo, is an English Parliament. And for good measure site it in Birmingham.

Given that that would produce another group of politicians, who are all adept at spending our money, then only way it would be acceptable is for a massive slim down in London.

The House of Lords has needed culling & reforming properly for a long time, though no party has been prepared to bite the bullet. And if Westminster is only dealing with those issues not devolved (mainly Defence & Foreign affairs) then they don't need 635 MPs for that. No reason that it could not be made cost neutral & agree an English assembly/parliament should be based well outside London

 

[Tredman]

Given that that would produce another group of politicians, who are all adept at spending our money, then only way it would be acceptable is for a massive slim down in London.

The House of Lords has needed culling & reforming properly for a long time, though no party has been prepared to bite the bullet. And if Westminster is only dealing with those issues not devolved (mainly Defence & Foreign affairs) then they don't need 635 MPs for that. No reason that it could not be made cost neutral & agree an English assembly/parliament should be based well outside London

Agreed completely. The house of lords is a pointless disgrace, I'd knock the number of MPs down to under 400 too.

However, cost is usually brought up as an issue with an english parliament - it never seems to rear its head when talking about stormont, Edinburgh or the welsh assembly.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Agreed completely. The house of lords is a pointless disgrace, I'd knock the number of MPs down to under 400 too.

However, cost is usually brought up as an issue with an english parliament - it never seems to rear its head when talking about stormont, Edinburgh or the welsh assembly.

I'd cut it down to 200 or less - not as if they need to deal with constituency issues as those would go to the 'English' parliament MPs

But would need to disband completely the House of Lords & have an elected upper chamber of a similar number to act as a control on the parliament

Absolutely no need for sundry Bishops/Peers of the Realm/friends of the current political leaders given peerages to be awarded that role

 

[Tredman]

That's a very good platform for any forward thinking political party.

Shame they are all too risk averse to do anything which effects the status quo

 

[Parkins left foot]

Problem is that most politicians look at the narrow angle - how will this aid my party.

The only reason Cameron is linking the further Scottish devolution to the issue of Scottish Westminster MPs voting on issues solely affecting England is because it fucks up Labour's potential majority in those areas. Not because its the right thing to do as long as there is a coordinated sensible, long term solution put in place

 

[Premier Quality]

Problem is that most politicians look at the narrow angle - how will this aid my party.

The only reason Cameron is linking the further Scottish devolution to the issue of Scottish Westminster MPs voting on issues solely affecting England is because it $#@!s up Labour's potential majority in those areas. Not because its the right thing to do as long as there is a coordinated sensible, long term solution put in place

Probably, and I agree with the general "all politicians are self serving bastards" way you're going - but occasionally their own interests coincide with doing the right thing. And on this, I think it's the right thing, even if they do it for the wrong reasons.

 

[ROVERT47]

Yeah, Cameron (or probably his advisors) has/have played a blinder, they've stiched everyone up, that's why he wants the whole lot done by November.

There's a chance that there could be a Labour Government next May albeit by a small majority, the loss of 49 MP'S voting in policies will leave Milliband as lame as Obama is in the states, bit of a pisser for the Scots but the whole thing could be heading for the long grass.

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Miliband has not backed out of the timetable, Cameron has now linked it to the West Lothian issue. Miliband will not sign off the two together. Publicly at least today is the first time Cameron has linked the two together.

I think that after the Scottish people voted no, the West Lothian question was always likely to raise its head again.

 

[Johnny75]

Yeah, Cameron (or probably his advisors) has/have played a blinder, they've stiched everyone up, that's why he wants the whole lot done by November.

There's a chance that there could be a Labour Government next May albeit by a small majority, the loss of 49 MP'S voting in policies will leave Milliband as lame as Obama is in the states, bit of a pisser for the Scots but the whole thing could be heading for the long grass.

Labour have to capitulate there is no other way. Cameron and Brown (on behalf of his leader) committed to the timetable but Labour are the stumbling block for Scotland getting what they want.

I don't blame the Labour party, it is in effect turkeys voting for xmas. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. It would piss a whole nation (England) off if they rush through Scottish reform without English reform and still have Scottish MP's ruling over English policy when the vice versa is not allowed. That's a surefire way to lose a general election and writes the Conservative campaign on its own.

The alternative is lose 49 MP's and have every policy vetoed in England. Checkmate.

 

[Johnny75]

Doubled up.

 

[Lycan]

Labour will lose a substantial number of Scottish MP's anyway. Paradoxically, if anyone has come out of the debate in a bad light it's not the SNP it's Labour, despite being on the winning side. I don't even know what they stand for anymore, they've pissed off a huge portion of their base and it will be a long time before people in Scotland begin to trust them again. Scottish Labour are finished IMO.

 

[Jolemai]

Maybe Glasgowolf wasn't exaggerating after all.

 

[Tony Towner]

According to Guido, Sturgeon has a super injunction in place which is putting her leadership in jeopardy

 

[Jabbawolf]

Is it something to do with her mother being Elton John?

 

[Papper]

If the road leads to membership of the EU then the Sturge needs to ascertain whether Scotland will be net receivers or net contributors of the EU budget (given the current kerfuffle going on in Brussels by those who are not happy to pay more in). The House of Cards is beginning to fall ...

 

[Pablowolf]

Spain would veto Scotland's membership, it's a badly kept secret. They don't want the Basque region getting similar ideas.

 

[Tony Towner]

Sturgeon quitting. Brought down by getting involved in the very nuanced Trans debate by the look of it

 

[sycophantia]

Sturgeon quitting. Brought down by getting involved in the very nuanced Trans debate by the look of it

Wow, that's a big deal.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Good Lord, never saw that comIng.

Be interesting to see if was the trans debate that tipped the scales, but the independence pissing in the wind was always going to take its toll eventually.