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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
"Promoting all that is best in Scottish Nationalism and all that is best in Scotland."
Content of the Flag in the Wind Web Site is the copyright of the Scots Independent Newspaper.

[ Issue 507 - 19th February 2010 ]

Compiled by Jamie Hepburn

The Unionists are in a pickle
over constitutional change

David "call me Dave" Cameron has outlined how he will graciously hand greater powers to the Scottish Parliament should he assume the post of Prime Minister. This is of course terribly good of him, yet he has singularly failed to set out what powers he is talking about. This is without mentioning that his position is to fundamentally misunderstand the path to constitutional change that Scotland has been on.

We do not rely on power being doled out to us. Such an attitude is typical of the Westminster mindset that has that Parliament as sovereign, with an all consuming set of powers over the destiny of the people of Scotland, and indeed elsewhere on these islands.

However, Scotland has achieved its own parliament as an expression of its own will. It is the Scottish people who have demanded and achieved the progress we have made so far, and it is the people who will determine where we go next. David Cameron of course cannot understand this.

Meanwhile, we have the bizarre spectacle of Labour MPs at Westminster voting for a referendum on introducing the Alternative Vote for elections to the House of Commons, and members of all parties at the Welsh Assembly supporting a referendum on the devolution of more powers to itself, yet a resolute stance in Scotland across the unionist spectrum against an independence referendum. They are prepared to countenance the idea of a vote on the Alternative Vote, which if introduced would tinker at the edges of constitutional reform, yet will not let the people of Scotland have their say on the future of their country when independence would give us the powers to transform the country for the better. Such inconsistencies surely cannot sustain themselves lest they embarrass themselves before the electorate.

Consistently Inconsistent

The Scottish budget has been passed since my last turn at compiling the Flag in the Wind

What were some of the demands of the Labour Party in advance of the budget being presented? What did they argue absolutely had to be in there?

A Post Office Diversification Fund and a Boiler Scrappage Scheme were two of the things being called for by various Labour MSPs. Indeed on 28^th January at question time in the Scottish Parliament, Ken MacIntosh, MSP for Eastwood, was making great play of the supposed failure of the SNP government for not having introduced a boiler scrappage scheme, and the day before in a debate secured by the SNP’s own Christine Grahame, Labour MSP for Falkirk East, Cathie Peattie was hailing the idea of a post office diversification fund for Scotland.

What was included in the Scottish Budget?

You guessed it...a Post Office Diversification Fund and a Boiler Scrappage Scheme.

How did the Labour Party vote on the budget? They opposed it.

So much for their support for these two funds.

Join the Debate

News is breaking that Alex Salmond might be included in Sky’s leader debates in the run up to the coming Westminster election is welcome. Common sense – and electoral law - surely dictates that in any such televised debates Scotland’s First Minister and the leader of a party that is actively participating in the election should be allowed to take part.

However, as welcome as this development is, it doesn’t go far enough. If Sky do accede to demands to allow Alex Salmond to participate in their debate that is a step in the right direction, but it is still possible that the BBC and ITV will try and block him from their debates.

This is of course with the willing connivance of the leaders of the three unionist parties, but if they are as sure of their position as they say they are, what do they have to fear from Alex Salmond taking part? It seems they are running scared from the independence movement and Scotland’s First Minister.

Can you circulate as widely as possible (and sign it of course) - lets get a massive number of signatures and protect the
Scottish Football Team

Comment by Craig Brown - Last year FIFA President Mr Blatter made clear that the consequence of Scots, Welsh and Irish participation would be an end to those respective national sides, and crucially the independent league set up in Scotland. So clearly that will have a potentially huge impact economically as well as seriously undermining football in Scotland as we know it.

http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/view_petition.asp?PetitionID=297

Great Britain Football team Raised by: Craig Brown on 17 December 2008
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to consider what impact the creation of a Great Britain football team at the Olympics or other sporting event would have on the promotion and support it and other public bodies such as sportscotland provide for football as a means of encouraging healthy lifestyle as well as generating economic and social benefits.

Read Christina McKelvie MSP's Weekly Diary

SYNOPSIS

Economic Recovery Must Be Supported

Statistics released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) show that the unemployment rate in Scotland remains lower than that across the UK - 7.6% to 7.8% - however, the number looking for work rose by 10 000.

Commenting on the news, SNP Treasury Spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has said the figures underlined the pressing need for continued economic stimulus in the UK.

"Unique amongst the G7, the UK is the only country to withdraw its fiscal stimulus measures in 2010. The Scottish economy is beginning to turn a corner - now is the wrong time for London to cancel fiscal stimulus.

"Every job loss is felt in local communities, and the London parties are letting Scotland down. Labour are already imposing zero stimulus this year by withdrawing the support package, while Tory proposals to cut even further and faster add up to negative stimulus.

"The SNP are calling for a positive stimulus package to support jobs and recovery.

"The Scottish Government's Economic Recovery plan is making a real difference, but - until Scotland gains fiscal independence - support must also be forthcoming from the London Treasury.

"The UK Labour Government ignored SNP calls to continue the acceleration of capital spending, and now they are dealing a real blow to the Scottish economy by removing the fiscal stimulus this year.

"Only the SNP will champion economic recovery and jobs in Scotland, which is why Scotland needs SNP MPs."

Labour’s PFI Debt Burden

The legacy of Labour’s use of the Private Finance Initiative is estimated to cost the Scottish Government a total of £27.7 billion from 2010-11 financial year.

The figure was confirmed in a parliamentary answer from SNP Finance Secretary John Swinney.

John Swinney The SNP has also released figures on the annual repayments (as estimated in 2009) and the level of repayments to be made by local authorities over the next two years.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson has branded the £27.7 billion figure a “disgraceful legacy of Labour” with the repayments being made to banks and finance firms at the same time as both Labour and the Tories propose cuts to Scotland’s budget.

Mr Gibson said:

“This is the disgraceful £27.7 billion legacy that Labour has left Scotland.

“While the SNP is working hard to put new money into building schools, hospitals, homes and delivering public services Labour’s love of debt sees council’s, the NHS and the Government being stripped of funds to make excessive repayments.

“While the SNP is building public services Labour built debts.

“As we face tighter budgets in coming years as a result of Labour’s mismanagement we will be repaying billions to banks and finance firms to meet Labour’s debt legacy.

“All across Scotland's public sector it is not just Labour's cuts that are affecting public services but Labour's legacy as well.

“PFI repayments are now approaching the same level as Scotland’s annual budget. Labour’s refusal to recognise the problems of PFI and the better deal for taxpayers being delivered by the SNP in Government leaves them in a ludicrous position.”

Tories Hit Scotland with Triple Cuts Whammy

As the Conservative Party conference gets underway, SNP Treasury Spokesperson, Stewart Hosie MP, has rounded on claims that electing a Tory Government are in the best interests of Scotland's economy.

"Warm words from the Tory high command cannot mask their stated intention to impose a triple whammy of cuts to Scotland's budget.

Stewart Hosie MP "The Tories are backing massive cuts to Scotland's budget next year - the first real terms cut since devolution, they want to go further and faster in the years thereafter, and earlier this week, David Cameron let it slip that he plans a new spending formula that will further reduce Scottish cash.

"The Tories so-called real change means short change for Scotland.

"If this is the Tory Leader's message to Scotland, it will be the Tories sole seat north of the Border that will be getting cut.

"The phoney war between Labour and the Tories has nothing to offer Scotland. Both are committed to making swingeing cuts to Scotland's budget while frittering away billions of pounds on a the Trident nuclear weapons system - an obscene vanity project the people of Scotland do not want.

"To get through these tough times, the people of Scotland need local champions who will stand up for their interests. Only the SNP will speak up for Scotland's services as the London parties race to slash funding.

"Westminster is holding Scotland back. The only way Scotland can thrive economically is with fiscal autonomy. As the official GERS report lays out, Scotland recorded a current budget surplus over the three years to 2007/08 of £2.3bn while the UK ran up a deficit of £24bn over the same period."

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THE SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
The Scots Independent Newspaper is independent of the Scottish National Party, but we support the Party in its drive for Independence; while space precludes us commenting on all the issues raised by the 47 MSPs, 7 MPS and 2 MEPs and the Party Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.

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Content of the Flag in the Wind is the copyright of the Scots Independent Newspaper which has been owned, edited and printed in Scotland since November 1926.