squidge
20-Feb-12, 14:10
A friend of mine posted this elsewhere and I wondered what others think about Devo max
Devo max is a tool to split the unionist vote. If it's allowed the Independence vote will come out on top. The SNP will campaign for this option to be allowed right up until the last minute where they will 'allow' themselves to be pushed into a position where it's a straight yes/no vote (Possibly in return for po...wers for a legally binding referendum) Then they'll campaign for a yes vote on the basis of the Unionists removing Devo max and the only way to have more powers in Scotland will be independence. Many devo Max supporters will flock to the SNP and it'll be a landslide for independence.
For the SNP, the consequences of a loss are simply another 40 year setback, like we've had since the last referendum. Don't expect them to disappear anymore than you expect pro union Labour to disappear in an Independent Scotland. (I actually think Labour will return to proper socialist politics in an independent Scotland and freeing Labour from London will be good for it.)The SNP will put enough spin on a No vote and accuse Westminster of interference. Ultimately, for the Union to remain and the SNP to cease to exist it will take decades of FAIR government from London, and frankly, that's never going to happen. More likely Scotland will continue to be treated as a vassal state which will cause resentment to continue to grow. The unions best bet here is that by the time we get around to another referendum the oil will have run out in the North sea. (Cross your fingers Scotland can't get any from the North Atlantic!) But by then Scotland wioll probably be a world leader in renewable energy from the vast waves around it as well as the wind.
An independent Scotland might actually be more likely to bring about the end of the SNP.
At the moment there is only one party out there with the interests of the Average Scot at heart. But once they have independence the SNP might very well Schism. Under the banner of independence left wing and right wing political views rub shoulders. (Much like the they do under the banner of the Union) Once the main SNP goal is achieved they might very well split, or lose people to other already existing parties. There is much opinion that the SDA will begin putting candidates forward for election and only don't at the moment because they do not want to dilute the Nationalist vote. Along with a resurgent Labour party that Scots can believe in again and some form of new right wing party, (Because a lot of right wing voters are disenfranchised by the tories) perhaps led by Murdo Fraser, Independence is a much bigger threat to the SNP than remaining in the union
Devo max is a tool to split the unionist vote. If it's allowed the Independence vote will come out on top. The SNP will campaign for this option to be allowed right up until the last minute where they will 'allow' themselves to be pushed into a position where it's a straight yes/no vote (Possibly in return for po...wers for a legally binding referendum) Then they'll campaign for a yes vote on the basis of the Unionists removing Devo max and the only way to have more powers in Scotland will be independence. Many devo Max supporters will flock to the SNP and it'll be a landslide for independence.
For the SNP, the consequences of a loss are simply another 40 year setback, like we've had since the last referendum. Don't expect them to disappear anymore than you expect pro union Labour to disappear in an Independent Scotland. (I actually think Labour will return to proper socialist politics in an independent Scotland and freeing Labour from London will be good for it.)The SNP will put enough spin on a No vote and accuse Westminster of interference. Ultimately, for the Union to remain and the SNP to cease to exist it will take decades of FAIR government from London, and frankly, that's never going to happen. More likely Scotland will continue to be treated as a vassal state which will cause resentment to continue to grow. The unions best bet here is that by the time we get around to another referendum the oil will have run out in the North sea. (Cross your fingers Scotland can't get any from the North Atlantic!) But by then Scotland wioll probably be a world leader in renewable energy from the vast waves around it as well as the wind.
An independent Scotland might actually be more likely to bring about the end of the SNP.
At the moment there is only one party out there with the interests of the Average Scot at heart. But once they have independence the SNP might very well Schism. Under the banner of independence left wing and right wing political views rub shoulders. (Much like the they do under the banner of the Union) Once the main SNP goal is achieved they might very well split, or lose people to other already existing parties. There is much opinion that the SDA will begin putting candidates forward for election and only don't at the moment because they do not want to dilute the Nationalist vote. Along with a resurgent Labour party that Scots can believe in again and some form of new right wing party, (Because a lot of right wing voters are disenfranchised by the tories) perhaps led by Murdo Fraser, Independence is a much bigger threat to the SNP than remaining in the union