Thank You, John

I write this having heard this morning that John Swinney is to step down as leader of the Scottish National Party.

John Swinney has been rightly praised as a decent, honest and honourable man.

Over the years I have seen for myself how much he is liked and admired by voters with whom he comes into personal contact, whether on street walkabouts or at meetings of parents concerned about what is happening to their children's¹ schools.

As leader of the Party he has shown both a patience with and a forbearance towards others which have been admirable, although these virtues almost certainly helped to undermine his position.

He has been a consensus politician par excellence.  Not for him any grand-standing self-indulgence or ego-trips or the promotion of his own particular political or social agenda, but rather a steady working towards policies that the vast majority of his heterogeneous  party could in large measure support.

He has also left us with a much-needed streamlining of  our constitution and a centralised membership data-base which will stand the party in good stead in the future.

He is also a man who is dedicated to his country¹s cause of independence, the achievement of which will bring all Scots both dignity and responsibility.

So it is a big Thank You, John, for all you have done for your Party and for Scotland, even if much of it goes unrecognised at the moment.

A Second Thought

A BBC reporter commented the other day that she had been unable to find anyone from any political party who disliked John Swinney.  Sadly, John¹s qualities are not  qualities that are much appreciated in the British and Scottish political culture.  Indeed, to our shame, such virtues are regularly scorned and derided.

In a country such as Sweden, where moderation, consensus and sheer  competence are highly prized, John Swinney would almost certainly have been able to make a very great contribution indeed to the well-being of his fellow-citizens.

In the British political system, nastiness and viciousness, ignorance, hypocrisy and aggressive confrontation are of  prime importance, daily reinforced by a cynical media which often seems bent on manipulating mass hysteria.

In such a society decent politicians find the going hard.

See You, Jimmy

Last Saturday, for the first time in many years, I attended the Oliver Brown Award Lunch.

Oliver Brown was a fine man.  He was a teacher of modern languages, and I first came into contact with him in the late 1950s at Glasgow University which he was visiting in his capacity as chairman of, I think, something called the Franco-Scottish Society.

So he was an internationalist.  Many years later I learned that he was also a well-known Scottish Nationalist, a man of great erudition, wit and wisdom, and also somewhat eccentric.

In fact, on my bookshelves somewhere, there is a copy of a delightful book entitled The Wit and Wisdom of Oliver Brown, full of humour and entertaining insights into ordinary life.

Oliver was also greatly loved.

So when he died it was decided to hold an annual dinner in his memory and to make an award to someone who the Award Selection Committee considered had made a great contribution to Scottish life.

This year it was Jimmy Reid.

Fascinating!  Jimmy ranged over his early family life, the impact on him of his parents, his early working life, his experiences as a trade unionist, his wonderful happy days at the Glasgow Herald, as it was then called, his thoughts on politics and society, and much else besides.

A deserving award-winner, ably supported by his delightful wife Joan.

I mention Mrs Reid, for all too often we tend to completely ignore the supportive role of a spouse when praising the famous.

See pctures from the SI Lunch 2004

Two Great Graces

The estimable Peter Wright of the Scots Independent chaired the Oliver Brown Lunch with his wonted panache and good humour.

Peter came up with two excellent  pre-prandial graces which I had never heard before.  How about this, if you are just desperate to get stuck in to the nosh as fast as possible?

           Heavenly Pa,
           Ta.

Or this one, when hosting a meal for selected Scottish cognoscenti:

           Doon wi¹ your heid,
           Up wi¹ your paws,
           And thank the Good Lord
           For the poo¹er o¹ your jaws!

(More, I hope, about this excellent occasion in my next edition of the Flag.)

Watch It!

Always look out for the hidden agenda, even in the most unlikely places.

We can all remember how the Communist Chinese supposedly used to  teach English idiom to students, using carefully chosen sentences such as:

Join the peoples¹ fight against the American capitalists and their imperialist running-dogs!

While the British press may not be so blatant nowadays - or is it? - I was pulled up while reading one of my favourite weekly magazines, The Week, which surveys world news of the previous seven days.

There was an article about Switzerland, praising the Swiss and their many achievements.

Fair enough, for Switzerland is a grand country that Scotland can learn a lot from.  The Swiss believe in and practise both independence and democracy.  They are totally opposed to bureaucratic and elitist centralism, so they are very sceptical of the EU as presently constituted.

They are great believers in referenda.

They can¹t stand the cult of personality.  Quote:  The Swiss equivalent of Margaret Thatcher or Tony Blair would be inconceivable.

Amen to that.

So far, so good.  But now comes the crunch.  The author writes approvingly as follows to explain the Swiss success:

There is no 35-hour week - the Swiss work a weekly average of 41.5 hours - and more are still working at the age of 64 than in any other country.  Employers are relatively free to hire and fire.

Just great!  Sounds fantastic!  Are we supposed to cheer?  

By giving us loads of incontrovertible facts and figures, the writer lulls us into agreement, and then punches in his own subjective explanation.

Watch it!!

Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen

My wife and I flew last week to visit my nephew in Malmø, Sweden.  We left by easyjet from Newcastle and arrived in Copenhagen.

Our passports were merely glanced at.  We then headed for the baggage reclaim, stepping out along the parquet flooring.  Parquet flooring!  In an airport!

Next we went to reclaim our luggage.  The carousel was very long, so there was lots of space for passengers to stand and reclaim without the pushing and jostling so common in British airports.  (Newcastle I was pleased to see has this same system.)

Then we noticed that the bags and cases on the carousel were all separate, rather than being piled any-old-how on top of each other.  This sensible arrangement was thanks to an infra-red beam that made the conveyor belt carrying the cases stop if there was another item of luggage about to get in the way.

Having reclaimed our luggage, we headed, under cover, from the airport to the train ticket office - about twenty yards away.

We bought two singles by credit card, and walked ten yards to the step-less escalator - step-less so that you can take your luggage trolley with you onto the train platform - clever devils, these foreigners!

>From a television-type screen on the platform we learned that our train would be three minutes late in arriving, and that it would be stopping at Malmø Sud as well as Malmø Central.

Within thirty minutes, in a modern, spotless train we were across the bridge and through the tunnel that now join Denmark and Sweden.

Question:  If the Scandinavians can be so sensible and competent, why can¹t we?

It¹s All about Teamwork

I well remember watching the marvellous Manchester United team of the mid-1990s.

They were a team of superlative individual talent - I particularly remember the forward combination of Giggs and Kanchelskys, and the commanding figure of Paul Ince.

But great as the individuals were, there strength was in their playing as a team, and sacrificing some of that individuality for the greater benefit of the whole.

Then Paul Ince got too big for his boots, and, wonderful player that he was, he had to go.

Perhaps the SNP might be a bit more ruthless, like Alex Ferguson, and have some speedy democratic equivalent to deal with those who think that they as individuals are bigger than the Party.

STOP PRESS

And Finally - a Great Success!

As I write, I have just heard that the Scottish Parliament has voted by an overwhelming majority for the 1907 local government elections to be held by proportional representation by the single transferable vote (STV) method.

This is wonderful news.

For a start, it will bring to an end the iniquitous first-past-the-post system where a political party - in Scotland, usually the Labour Party - could get below fifty per cent of the vote but win over ninety per cent of the seats.

This sort of gross discrepancy of over 40 percentage points between votes gained and seats won has happened time and time again at local government level, perhaps most notably in Glasgow and Midlothian.

First-past-the-post was grossly unfair and undemocratic.

It gave a totally distorted picture of the real political feelings of the Scottish voters.  It bred arrogance and corruption among the winners, despair and hopelessness among the losers, and cynicism and apathy among the voters.

It also meant that stupid ideas in planning, housing, education, social work and many other fields were bulldozed through without any proper discussion or democratic opposition.

Without reservation, congratulations to all those of all parties, to the Fairshare organisation and to the Electoral Reform Society who have worked so hard for so long for this great break-through in Scottish and British politics.

And now on to get the Scottish Parliament and Westminster elected by the same method - with not just constituencies electing three or four members, but where sensible and practicable constituencies of up to eight members - Glasgow is a possibility here.

The higher the number of seats in a constituency, the greater the proportionality and the richer our democracy.

Let it roll!!

POLICY POSTCARDS

Saturday 19 June 2004
Scots Priorities Low in EU Constitution Negotiations

We Need Independent Representation

The leader of the Scottish National Party at Westminster Alex Salmond MP has cautioned against welcoming the agreement over a new EU Constitution.

Mr Salmond said:

We still need to look at the final text of the constitution - however what is quite clear is that Scottish interests have been low on the Prime Minister's list of priorities.

The inclusion of exclusive competence over fishing is unacceptable and will be a disaster for our fishing communities. I am also concerned about the slippage over energy policy though there was some progress after pressure was applied by the SNP and others.

The negotiations over the EU Constitution have shown that what we really need is an independent voice in Europe so that Scotland's interests can be properly represented rather than by proxy.

Monday 21 June 2004
Blair All at Sea over Constitution

Constitution Shows that Scotland Needs Independent Representation

SNP Group Leader at Westminster, Alex Salmond MP, responded to the Prime Minister's statement in the House of Commons on the European Constitution.

Speaking from the House of Commons, Mr Salmond said:

Blair is all at sea on the Constitution and in particular the huge impact that it will have on our crucial fisheries industry. Last time he said that it was a shared competence, now he says it is an exclusive EU competence.

The Tories gave away our fisheries industry and now the Labour party have missed a golden opportunity to advance the Scottish fishing industry by returning national control.

The SNP will campaign not for Brussels control, nor for London control but for Scottish control to ensure a viable and sustainable fishing industry.

Tuesday 22 June 2004
John Swinney to Step Down - Full Text of Statement

Speaking at a press conference in SNP headquarters, SNP leader John Swinney said:

I have taken a few days to reflect on the results of the European Elections and the implications for the Scottish National Party.  As a result, I have decided not to seek re-nomination as leader of the Scottish National Party.

It has become clear to me over the last few days, that the constant and relentless speculation over my position is obscuring, and crucially in my judgement, will continue to obscure - the political objectives of the SNP.

I have come to the view that the SNP cannot make the electoral progress I believe is possible, if our vital political message is communicated through an endless debate about my leadership.

As someone who has devoted all of my adult life to the cause of Scottish Independence, that is something I cannot allow to happen.

When I joined the SNP in 1979 the party was going through difficult times.

As I said to the national conference last year, no-one could accuse me of jumping on the bandwagon.

In the elections of that year we trailed the Conservatives by 14 points and the Labour Party by 24 points.

Today, as a result of SNP pressure, we sit in the first Scottish Parliament for 300 years, as the main opposition party to the once all-dominant Labour Party, which has just recorded its worst electoral performance since 1918 with just 26% of the vote.

I say that, not to gloss over the challenges facing the SNP, or to ignore the verdict of the voters, but as a reminder that far from being a low-point in the history of this party, this remains a time of real opportunity for our movement.

It is an opportunity based on solid foundations, foundations I believe I have helped to build over the last 25 years, and in particular as Leader of the SNP over the last four years.

Our economic message is now coherent and convincing.  We are building a genuinely national coalition in support of full financial powers for the Parliament.

We have more credibility on key public service policies than at any time in our history.

We can be proud of our principled and consistent stand on the great international issues of the day.

And the SNP now has a modern constitution, designed to put power into the hands of ordinary rank and file members.

But I recognise we still have work to do.  

For those of us in the SNP, the case for Independence is clearly compelling. But many voters are telling us we have not yet answered their key question: why Independence?

We are not yet seen as an alternative government in waiting.

And despite my best efforts over the past four years, I accept that many people still do not have a clear understanding of what the SNP stands for, over and above an Independent Scotland.

As leader I take full responsibility for the fact that that we have not made as much progress in these areas as I would have liked.

The post-devolution landscape has proved to be a turbulent time in Scottish politics.

Established parties are having to come to terms with a multi-party system and the break-down of accepted voting patterns.

And for the SNP in particular, the disappointment over the performance of devolution has undermined confidence in the case for self-government.

Throughout this turbulence, I have been bolstered by the good-sense and foresight of the members of the Scottish National Party.

Their warmth and support at national conference, national council and other party events, and particularly their countless messages of support over the past few days, is a reflection of the true nature of this party.

Our members understand the realities of the political environment that the SNP operates in.

We should not complain about that environment. To do so would be counter-productive because it is a fact of Scottish political life.

But given the scale of the challenges we face, what our members need and what I appeal for today is unity within the Scottish National Party to ensure our success.  No member of the SNP should ever underestimate the damage that is caused to our movement by the loose and dangerous talk of the few.

Today I pledge my support and my co-operation to my successor who will be elected for the first time by one member one vote.  And I confirm my intention to continue to represent the people of North Tayside in the Scottish Parliament for as long as they will give me the honour of doing so.

It has been a privilege to lead the SNP during this time of the re-birth of Scottish democracy.

I am proud to have played my part in the sometimes difficult journey the SNP is making from being a party of protest to becoming a party of government.

It is a journey I am certain we will complete.

And I am confident that as a party we have the arguments, the ability and the drive to lead our country to Independence.                    

Tuesday 22nd June 2004
Reaction to Resignation of SNP National Convenor

Speaking following the resignation of SNP National Convenor John Swinney this morning, SNP Westminster Leader Alex Salmond said:

John Swinney is a good man laid low by extraordinary negativity of much of the Scottish press and a small faction within the SNP who were never reconciled with his leadership.

As a result his achievements as National Convenor, such as winning nine first past the post seats in the Scottish elections last year, and the process of party reform were belittled, and every setback amplified.

Scottish politics is a sadder place for the fact that someone of John Swinney's inherent decency is unable to sustain his position.  

Pete Wishart MP, who shares his North Tayside constituency with John Swinney added:

I speak for the whole of the Westminster SNP group when I say I am immensely saddened at the departure of John Swinney from the leadership of the SNP. John displayed tremendous personal qualities throughout his leadership and those qualities of honesty, integrity and decency will be missed.

John has been leader at a tough time for the SNP with the arrival of the new multi party political culture in Scotland and the deep feeling of disappointment in the performance of the Scottish Parliament.
   
However, the process of internal reform that he has begun will equip the party for the future as Scotland's political process recovers its nerve and direction.

Wednesday 23 June 2004   
All Member Vote for Leader and Depute Posts

SNP national secretary Dr Alasdair Allan, has announced that the party's senior vice-convener, Roseanna Cunningham MSP, has intimated her wish to step down from the post on the same date, 3 September, that the National Convener, John Swinney MSP, will leave his post.  This will allow a ballot of all members for both Leader and Depute Leader posts to be held on the same timescale.

Therefore, the date of announcement for both elections is deemed to be 22 June 2004.

All members of the Scottish National Party, who are registered as such on or before 22 June 2004 shall have entitlement to vote in the Leader and Depute Leader elections.

Nominations for both posts will open as of this date, and the closing date for nominations will be 16 July 2004.

If an election is required for either post then ballot papers will be mailed to all members by 13 August 2004.

The elections will be conducted using Single Transferable Vote (STV).

Ballot papers must be returned by members no later than 31 August 2004, and will be counted by an independent organisation.

The announcement of the result of the Leader and Depute Leader elections will be made on Friday 3 September 2004.                    

Wednesday 23 June 2004
Salmond Quizzes Blair over Changes to Energy Law in  European Constitution

Proposed Changes to Energy Chapter Must be Set Out in Full

The leader of the SNP Group at Westminster, Alex Salmond MP, has  asked the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer a series of questions about the changes that have been made to the Energy Chapter of the European Constitution.

The European Constitution makes Energy a shared competence of the European Union. This issue was initially raised by Alex Salmond MP and industry figures last year and a number of concessions were won.

Although the original draft of the Energy Chapter was amended, it was later taken out of the Constitution altogether before being put back in at the meeting in Brussels on 18 June.

Speaking from the House of Commons, Alex Salmond MP said:

I am reasonably satisfied that, due to pressure, there have been some gains since the first drafts of the Energy Chapter were written. Nonetheless the affects of the current chapter should be set out as fully as possible. The Prime Minister's lack of attention to detail is well known and we need to adopt a belt and braces approach to this.

The chapter was taken out and then put back in again very late in the day. There must have been a reason for the Energy Chapter going back in and we need to find out the decision making process behind that. As the fishermen know only too well we must be vigilant of any euro-creep.

The concessions that the SNP and industry representatives won on the energy chapter rang alarm bells and we don't want that snatched away because Blair's attention was diverted due to a spat with the French President.

Thursday 24 June 2004
Maxwell Welcomes LibDem Support on Smoking Ban

Urges all MSPs to Support his Member¹s Bill

SNP MSP for the West of Scotland Mr Stewart Maxwell has called on the Scottish Liberal Democrats to support his Member¹s Bill to ban smoking in public places following their submission to the Executive¹s consultation which supported a ban in Scotland. Mr Maxwell said:

The Lib Dem submission to the Executive¹s consultation, supporting a ban on smoking in public places is very welcome. Now that the Lib Dems have made their position clear I urge them to support my Member¹s Bill which would allow a ban to come into force more swiftly.

The health evidence about the dangers of passive smoking is abundantly clear and the sooner we have legislation in place the better it will be for the health of the nation.

We already know that the majority of the public support a ban on smoking in public places and I hope that this move by the Lib Dems today will spur MSPs from all other parties to follow suit.

The priority for us all must be to protect the health of non-smokers in Scotland and the best way to do this is to implement a ban as quickly as possible and MSPs can do this by voting for my Bill in the Autumn.