LABOUR BLOCK REFORM WITH DELAY TO CALMAN PROPOSALS.
NATIONAL CONVERSATION LEAVES OPPOSITION PARTIES LAGGING,
SNP Home Affairs Spokesperson and Member of the Scottish Affairs Committee, Pete Wishart MP has urged the UK Government to work with the SNP Scottish Government to transfer responsibility from Westminster to Holyrood in several defined areas where there is unanimous agreement that the Scottish Parliament should take the lead.
His comments come as SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick challenged petty opposition smears over public support for the National Conversation.
Speaking after today’s meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee in Glasgow, where the final report of the Calman Commission was discussed, Mr Wishart said:
“I am puzzled as to why the Calman parties would rather let this report gather dust than take a few simple steps towards better governance for Scotland with the transfer of power in areas – including drink driving and airgun legislation - where we all agree.
“To quote Sir Kenneth Calman himself, the transfer of these powers could be implemented ‘quickly and easily’ without fuss. Indeed, First Minister Alex Salmond has published the orders to enable this transfer to take place.
“From today’s questions it appears the block to reform is the sceptical views of Labour MPs and their UK Government colleagues.”
Commenting on opposition attempts to smear the National Conversation, SNP MSP Joe FitzPatrick who introduced the latest public consultation event in Dundee last week said:
“The contrast between the National Conversation and the Calman Commission is stark.
“With around 150 people attending the National Conversation event in Dundee last week and 170 in Livingston a few weeks ago, the opposition parties are struggling to keep up as thousands of Scots join in the discussion over Scotland's future.
“Their desperate and inaccurate claims show how concerned they are by the popularity of the Scottish Government and the desire of Scottish voters to have their say in a referendum over Scotland’s constitutional future.
“The public are engaged in person and online with the Scottish Government’s National Conversation – while the only people involved in Calman are yet more politicians.
“As Unionist parties park the recommendations of Calman in a lay by and refuse to listen to the views of the Scottish people, the SNP Scottish Government will continue to put the best interests of the Scottish public and the sovereignty of the Scottish people at the heart any decision over Scotland’s constitutional future.”
info
1. Speaking on Newsnight Scotland on 15 June 2009, Sir Kenneth Calman said:
“I think there are lots of bits, as I mentioned, which I think can be implemented quickly and easily without too much fuss, others will take a bit of time to think through.”
2. Details of the Scottish Government National Conversation in Livingston http://news.scotsman.com/
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