FIRE BRIGADE UNION AND YOUTH PARLIAMENT AMONG REFERENDUM SUPPORTERS

FIRE BRIGADE UNION AND YOUTH PARLIAMENT AMONG REFERENDUM SUPPORTERS
FBU MEMBERS BACK INDEPENDENCE
The Fire Brigades Union and the Scottish Youth Parliament are among the individuals and organisations backing a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future according to the consultation responses released today.

A poll by the FBU of nearly 1000 of its members also found a majority in support of independence for Scotland.  90% of FBU members backed a referendum to decide Scotland’s future and 60% of FBU members supported independence for Scotland.

The full range of responses also show considerable scepticism over the Calman Commission proposals with respondents urging the Government to put forward a choice between “full devolution” and independence.
The FBU response states:

“Those who are given the responsibility of decision making should execute their responsibilities within the parameters set by those who send put them in place. It is our belief that the powers of the Scottish Parliament should be set by the Scottish people. We further believe that the right and proper process for varying those powers is to ask the permission of the Scottish people in the form of a referendum.”

Meanwhile the Scottish Youth Parliament response supports both the referendum itself and the Scottish Government’s proposal to give 16 and 17 year olds a vote in that referendum.

SNP MSP for Glasgow and Deputy Whip Bill Kidd said:

“FBU support not only for a referendum but for independence is a welcome step.

“The FBU have recognised what increasing numbers of Scots recognise that without more powers it will be far harder for Scotland to reach our full potential by delivering real economic growth and fully addressing the inequalities in our society.

“The FBU, Youth Parliament and individual respondents are clear that a referendum is the best way to determine Scotland’s constitutional future.

“That referendum is not only backed by a majority of Scots but should include as many of those in Scotland with an interest in Scotland’s future as possible. 

"For that reason I welcome the support of the youth parliament for the SNP Government’s proposal to extend the franchise to include 16 and 17 year olds and hope parties around the Parliament will join the respondents to the consultation and back the right of Scotland’s people to make their voice heard on Scotland’s future.”