Christopher Harvie (Fife, author and MSP): The SNP government's Choosing Scotland's Future proposes a 'national conversation' followed by a referendum. This has been criticised in OurKingdom by supporters of a Constitutional Convention. They say there is no constitutional structure for the venture, no committees, no mechanism of final agreement. Point taken: but politics have moved on from the semi-colonial position of Scotland under Thatcher in 1989. What Alex Salmond proposes inhabits that debateable land between party opportunism and pragmatic reform, but it's not weakened by this. 'Semi-detached' Scotland is in a learning process and our 'national conversation' will focus argument on what’s practical for the country as an economic and international actor, giving a field for argument and executive action, while in the longer term promising to obtain consent through consultation.
The convention route is abstractly a possibility. I respect those who put it forward. They have already made a convert in Gordon Brown, who was, during the election, unbudgeable about devolving further powers. But the idea of making such a commitment has to be placed in the context of a Scottish government on the qui vive, keeping things on the move and establishing its executive competence in the expectation that Brown may go to the country when he deems it favourable (an option he has and Salmond hasn't). In which case the convention route will shunt things into a siding.
Seen from Holyrood, the Scottish Government's success comes from its exploration of economic and diplomatic strategies which were never part of the agenda in 1989-93. Given the clouds gathering over the Brownite economy, this is prudent, and could offset Labour's tactical advantages when the election comes. Thereafter the Scottish Government can then think in more formal convention terms, in circumstances in which consensus can probably be found for the co-operation of nationalities within the islands – in European Union and Commonwealth affairs – as being more constructive than any attempt to animate a federal structure.
In such circumstances it is possible for the call for a referendum to be successful. The Scottish Government can then go forward. It will put its case, having proved its competence. It will then be for the voters to decide. Which is what democratic nationality is all about.
