ShareThis

.

.

Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast

This web site will no longer be updated save to correct errors.


4 April 2007

SNP ties referendum to election victory - Gulf News

By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter, Gulf News (United Arab Emirates)

Edinburgh: Scottish nationalists say they will insist on having a referendum on independence if they seize power in Edinburgh after the parliamentary elections on May 3.

A senior figure in the Scottish National Party (SNP) told Gulf News his party would not accept a recent proposal from Liberal Democrats in the Scottish Parliament for a post-election cross-party convention to look at constitutional issues.

Nicol Stephen, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group in the Scottish Parliament has proposed the convention so that his party would be able to form a joint administration with the SNP.

The nationalist SNP is expected to take over from Labour as the party with the largest group in the Holyrood parliament after May 3, but is likely to need a coalition partner if it is to have a working majority in the 129-member chamber.

Stewart Stevenson, an SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) who is close to party leader Alex Salmond, told Gulf News the convention proposal was unacceptable.

Second guess "I think it's time for the people of Scotland to make their decision, not for parties to sit down and try to second guess them.

"I think we should trust the people and not sideline them," said Stevenson, who was elected an MSP in 2001.

However, Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles said there was much in the constitutional convention proposal to give heart to those who favour reducing links to the UK Parliament.

He told Gulf News the convention would "without a doubt" lead to increased powers for the Scottish Parliament, which first sat in 1999.

to read the original story click on Gulf News

Stewart Stevenson
does not gather, use or
retain any cookie data.

However Google who publish for us, may do.
fiosZS is a name registered in Scotland for Stewart Stevenson
www.blogger.com www.ourblogtemplates.com


  © Blogger templates The Professional Template by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008

Back to TOP