open Democracy News Analysis - Scottish Parliament Commission meets, - Comments

Thinking UK: Northern Ireland and the Calman Commis on "Scottish Parliament Commission meets"

Thinking UK: Northern Ireland and the Calman Commis — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:50:46 +0000

[...] Scotland Tories debate a Scottish independence referendumBilly Bragg returns to the frayScottish Parliament Commission meetsEngland and EuropeCEP [...]

Ray Bell on "Scottish Parliament Commission meets"

Ray Bell — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:47:52 +0000

Some of the non-party selections are revealing. If they are so non-partisan, why were they not willing to work with the SNP, on opening this question up?

There are some obvious Labour stooges, and a few Tories in there, such as Shonaig Macpherson of the NTS, whose presence vindicates the idea that the National Trust has been working against the SNP. (They attempted to sabotage the SNP event at Bannockburn last year)

Liam on "Scottish Parliament Commission meets"

Liam — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 18:07:39 +0000

I'm surprised they've all got such a good view of Scotland from thier Chelsea penthouses!

Scott on "Scottish Parliament Commission meets"

Scott — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:39:03 +0000

I agree with Mike Small you could go on. and on. Lord Elder is the very adviser of the Electoral Commission who did not pass Wendy Alexander to the police despite her campaign admitting breaking the law and who coincidentally donated money to her leadership campaign!

No way representative it’s a who's who of people completely opposed to independence. Biggest party in Scotland and the Scottish Government are excluded.

0.000003% of the Scottish population are involved in this commission and it makes NO attempt to engage with the people of Scotland. Most of the commission are dependent on Westminster for their livelihoods. The business individuals are well known for their visceral hatred of change of any type.

As the current Scottish parliament motions goes "that of 15 members on the commission, five are members of the House of Lords and two are knights of the realm, hardly a cross-section of Scottish society, and believes that the National Conversation, which welcomes input from Scots of all opinions and from all walks of life, is a better vehicle for addressing Scotland's constitutional future than the hand-picked unionist clique who form the commission."

Could go on but our national bard says it all so well

"Fareweel to a' our Scottish fame,

Fareweel our ancient glory;

Fareweel ev'n to the Scottish name,

Sae fam'd in martial story.

Now Sark rins over Solway sands,

An' Tweed rins to the ocean,

To mark where England's province stands-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

What force or guile could not subdue,

Thro' many warlike ages,

Is wrought now by a coward few,

For hireling traitor's wages.

The English stell we could disdain,

Secure in valour's station;

But English gold has been our bane-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation!

O would, or I had seen the day

That Treason thus could sell us,

My auld grey head had lien in clay,

Wi' Bruce and loyal Wallace!

But pith and power, till my last hour,

I'll mak this declaration;

We're bought and sold for English gold-

Such a parcel of rogues in a nation! "

Mike Small on "Scottish Parliament Commission meets"

Mike Small — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:20:00 +0000

Truly a feast of talent!!!

I won't go the default 'what a parcel of rogues' accusation but if you were to construct a more predictable, out of touch, and faintly ridiculous group, I'd like to see it.

"Murdoch MacLennan, Chief Executive, Telegraph Media Group" Who he, and what legitimacy or expertise does he bring?

"James Douglas Hamilton, former Scottish Office Minister, member of the House of Lords (Conservative)" This is like some throwback the 19th C

I could go on.

Scottish Parliament Commission meets,

OurKingdom — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:16:59 +0000

Tom Griffin (London, The Green Ribbon) The Scottish Parliament Commission held its first meeting at Holyrood on Monday. One name which didn't feature on the panel of fifteen worthies who will review the workings of devolution was that of George Reid, the former Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament.

Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander was in favour of Reid's inclusion, as were the Liberal Democrats. The move was reportedly blocked by the UK Labour Party because of Reid's SNP background, in what may be the latest sign of Downing Street's anxieties about the Commission.

It is also understood the preparatory work undertaken to establish the commission has included disagreements on where the body should meet.

The UK Government wanted the commission to hold its meetings at the Scotland Office, while the political parties in Holyrood argued for the Scottish Parliament to be the venue.

This mirrored an earlier row about the name of the body. Prime Minister Gordon Brown had made it clear that the word "commission" gave an "incorrect impression" about the group's status.

In spite of the failure to appoint Reid, the very fact that the Commission is meeting at Holyrood suggests that Downing Street has not got everything its own way.

On Friday, the new body's chairman held out an olive branch to the SNP and its rival National Conversation:

These are not rival processes. I will be using the national conversation, especially its papers on devolution.

I hope the Scottish Government will co-operate with us.

Sir Kenneth Calman also distanced himself from suggestions that it could return powers to Westminster, suggestions that originated with Gordon Brown.

The full membership of the Commission is as follows:

Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow (Chair)

Colin Boyd, former Lord Advocate, member of the House of Lords (Labour)

Rani Dhir, Director Drumchapel Housing Co-operative

James Douglas Hamilton, former Scottish Office Minister, member of the House of Lords (Conservative)

Professor Sir David Edward, retired Judge of the European Court

Lord Elder, member of the House of Lords (Labour)

Audrey Findlay, former Leader of Aberdeenshire Council, now Convener of the Scottish Liberal Democrats

Jamie Lindsay, former Scottish Office Minister, member of the House of Lords (Conservative), Chairman SAC (Scottish Agricultural College)

John Loughton, President of the Scottish Youth Parliament (serving in a personal capacity)

Murdoch MacLennan, Chief Executive, Telegraph Media Group

Shonaig Macpherson, Chair of the National Trust for Scotland and of the SCDI (Scottish Council Development and Industry)

Iain McMillan, Director, CBI Scotland

Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Islamic Studies, University of Glasgow

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary , UNISON

Jim Wallace, former Deputy First Minister and former leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats