tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post2621505289458573802..comments2023-10-22T14:14:16.419+01:00Comments on J. Arthur MacNumpty: 30 years have passed, nothing has changedWillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-44058461216898920482006-12-30T12:16:00.000+00:002006-12-30T12:16:00.000+00:00If you knew the pain that Alex went through gettin...If you knew the pain that Alex went through getting the Referendum passed at March 2000 National Council in Glasgow, you would know that he wont play around with the Referendum full stop. It was a trick we all learnt from Bliar.Tartan Herohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02349865980640474307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-31950763333197037112006-12-29T21:16:00.000+00:002006-12-29T21:16:00.000+00:00Well, interestingly enough, the policy isn't to ho...Well, interestingly enough, the policy isn't to hold a referendum immediately, but to legislate for one immediately, which is of course an entirely different idea and one which supports your viewpoint entirely. That said, I don't see it being easy (if it's even possible) for the Leadership to put the matter off until a second term: that would probably lead to blood on the Conference floor unless it were dealt with very cleverly.<br /><br />On the other hand, if anyone can pull that off, Alex Salmond can.Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10978812670312106107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-68142992044338683202006-12-29T18:09:00.000+00:002006-12-29T18:09:00.000+00:00I don't think that the SNP would win an independen...I don't think that the SNP would win an independence referendum if it were held the day after the May elections. It might be close, but I think it would be lost.<br /><br />Perhaps the more interesting question, from your point of view, is why the SNP aren't actually all that sold on an immediate referendum - yes, I know it's policy, but you get the distinct impression that Salmond would drop it as the price for coalition with the Lib Dems if he thought he could get away with it...Mr Eugenideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00555302880124512593noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19208183.post-49793980225048712362006-12-29T12:42:00.000+00:002006-12-29T12:42:00.000+00:00I think NL and the Lib dems would prefer an autono...I think NL and the Lib dems would prefer an autonomous scotland and wales in europe (norn ireland shoved into ROI) It is the English holding things up.You see New Labour thought by carving England into regions and saying "britain and british" 100 times a day at least, the English would think nothing had changed much, but they did notice, much to the annoyance of Gordon Brown .They kept on saying English every time he said british. To be fair the tories are no better and are furiously waving the union flag with gordo,whilst the English are waving the English flag back at them. They are only trying to stave off Scottish independence for now, because the English have refused to fit in with their european regional agenda.The concept of britain in europe must be maintained at all costs.Once an English Parliament is convened that is the end of britain in europe.England will withdraw.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com