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Alexander's referendum demand could backfire warns McLeish

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Published Date: 06 May 2008
FORMER First Minister Henry McLeish today warned that Labour leader Wendy Alexander's calls for an early referendum could backfire.
He said the SNP could benefit from an inconclusive result and urged the need for caution and full public debate. There has never been a referendum on independence, and the mere fact of having a referendum would be "spectacular" on its own, said Mr McLeish.

"But if the results suggest a significant move towards independence, a poor vote for the Union options, whatever they are, then clearly this could make a situation much, much worse politically.

"If the name of the game is to try and shoot the fox by having an early referendum, the danger is it could backfire and we have a result which does not suit the unionist parties but will suit the SNP – because it will be the first recorded, proper vote on independence, which will only make their enthusiasm that much greater."

His warning came after Ms Alexander challenged SNP leader Alex Salmond to bring forward his own referendum bill, currently planned for 2010, saying: "I don't fear the verdict of the Scottish people – bring it on."

The SNP has said it has no plans to advance its timescale.





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  • Last Updated: 06 May 2008 9:54 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Scottish independence
 
1

Danny Mather,

Edinburgh 06/05/2008 11:36:56
Personally, I feel sorry for Wendy. She's patently out of her depth. This referendum stunt of hers is poorly thought out. Had she bothered to consult senior colleagues, she might have let the SNP dig their own hole. But as it is, she's now down there, digging furiously with no sign of stopping.
2

Denise_W,

Edinburgh 06/05/2008 11:43:15
She will never learn to keep her mouth shut simply because she can't. She's like a newscaster. She simply reads whatever they put in front of her without a thought going into it.
3

John Knox furr First Meenister,

High St, Embra 06/05/2008 12:06:02
I wonder.. Wendy will have no problem (well OK apart from all her obvious current problems) sticking to the line and defending the Union in a referendum in 2010 or 2009.
However, if the Snippies delayed it until after the next Westminster elections, Wendy would have to be singing the praises of an English dominated Tory government. A hard sell indeed.
4

Dragonlord,

06/05/2008 12:19:52
A proper referendum is required. Simply one question, two options. No need to cloud the issue just ask'
Do you want independance for Scotland.YES or NO?
5

gorgie resident,

06/05/2008 13:11:19
I agree with Wendy LETS have the referendum. After the political program at the weekend when Mr McLeish was being interviwed I was under the impression that he has joined the SNP the interviewer even suggested that he might join the SNP so Wendy don't listen to anything he says.
6

gorgie resident,

06/05/2008 13:12:50
I agree with 4# Yes or No is all we need.
7

Stu,

Edinburgh 06/05/2008 14:01:23
Should it no be

Aye or Nae

so the Great Glasgow west coach laborites can vote without getting confused

8

Arrow,

edinburgh 06/05/2008 14:06:12
#4 i would prefer independence. and i do think that Wendy has made an error in political judgement. it is clear that she has seen the rise in SNP backing and the likely loss of Labour in any general election and is trying to stop an incoming tide with a paper towel. as far as "i have always supported the idea of a referendum i just have never spoekn about it" approach being spun now deserves tha reply "aye! right!"
has Baron Foulkes not had anything to say other than Vlad is bad? than
9

,

06/05/2008 14:21:25
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
10

John Knox furr First Meenister,

High St, Embra 06/05/2008 14:40:46
#9 ah but... 50% yes... 50% no.... the country's no sure!
Ach weel, we can always hold it again in a couple of years.
11

Edward,

06/05/2008 15:11:37
#6 gorgie resident
As a matter of interest and idle curiosity, which way would you vote and why?
12

Calum10,

06/05/2008 15:51:50
The BIG problem for Labour in having a YES/NO referendum is that the latest polls show that when only these two options are on offer over 40% of Scots have said they will vote for independence.

Couple that with real Scottish fears of a return of a Tory government in 2010 and the profound unpopularity of Gordon Brown then you have a Unionist recipe for disaster.

Wendy Alexander has clearly not thought this through.

She has ditched her own commission, upset her commission partners the Tories and the LibDems for a snap referendum that is more likely to give voters the chance to give Labour another good kicking.
13

,

06/05/2008 16:14:19
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
14

Scotish Exile,

06/05/2008 16:59:53
advise from henry mcleish....now that is scraping the depths, just shows that you do not need a brain to run a country, just friends in the right place!
15

Andrew Murphy,

EDINBURGH 06/05/2008 17:22:50
It’s almost unbelievable that Wendy Alexander could be so politically naive; shouting for a referendum when they are so low in the polls. But by all means, bring it on Wendy.

The SNP have nothing to worry about, they’re the party pushing the country in the right direction – something that the Labour/Lib Dem coalition failed to do after eight years in power. Most people have an idea what the result would be if that referendum were held sooner rather than later. The SNP would win.

I believe the Scottish People will vote for independence given the political climate of the country right now. They’ll do anything to get rid of the party that has hammered them with taxes and unpopular policies. This is the party that hasn't listened according to our Prime Minister.

Labour is now disliked as much as the Conservative party were, and that’s wasn’t hard to achieve given the way they’ve behaved to electorate

The problems that the country is going through just now are of the Labour party’s own making and they can’t blame the Conservative party forever more.

They wanted to be all things to all voters, and they’ve failed. Labour will be lucky if they can get themselves elected next time round given the current political climate of the country.

When in trouble keep your mouth shut, and hopes that nobody notices. Sadly, the Labour party is digging itself deeper into the mire because they really though their formula was a winning one when it wasn’t.

Alex Salmond should stick to his own timetable and have faith in the Scottish people who will select the right party when the time comes.

Every time Wendy Alexander talks she does the SNP a favour. She’s pushing the Scot’s closer towards independence.

They believe their own spin, whereas most of us can see it for what it really is. Spin.
16

me150,

06/05/2008 17:22:55
What is the point of a referendum. Each party will want the questions asked in a way to favour themselves. The only way to do it properly is to ask seriously protracted questions which some of the voters will not understand.

Waste of time!

Abandon Independence, it can't work!

Get rid of SNP, money wasters and a lot more!!!
17

me150,

06/05/2008 17:26:33
Unpopular policies are the ones that actually work given time. So if Labour are guilty of this then they should be voted back in as a matter of urgency.

Only hard politics can make things better not the crappy popular vote winning policies of SNP.
18

Alan B,

06/05/2008 17:46:21
#me150 Labour are not guilty of introducing unpopular policies that work. Labour have introduced policies over 10yrs that are now being shown not to work.

Brown has made a mess of the uk economy. He has done nothing in 10yrs to improve scotlands growth rate. A failed chancellor who allowed personal debt and public deficits to rise to unsustainable levels.

Devolution while an advance on what we had before was far too weak to deal with scotlands problems and did not deal with the west lothian question so left a constitutional timebomb and the mess we now have.

Add to the labour are financially corrupt with dodgy donations and morally vacuous. Why anyone would consider voting labour is beyond me.

19

Dragonlord,

06/05/2008 18:21:38
Fogive me if I have this wrong, But once scotland has independance. Labour ,Tories and Libdems would fight it out to see who governs this " new" country. There would be no SNP as their job would be done. Unless they formed another party to govern. Now surely the Scottish Labour would welcome this, as by then Englandshire would be stuck with the Tories.
20

Andrew Murphy,

EDINBURGH 06/05/2008 20:13:44
Forgive me if I have this wrong.

If Labour, Tories and Lib Dems have to fight it out fine, that's the way it goes. That's the way our democracy works.

It won't be a clear run for these parties, because they will have too convince the electorate that the SNP are failing them - and that isn't happening just now because they are doing a good job.

SNP wouldn't need to form another party. They already have a party name - and that's called the SNP.

Being quite honest, I couldn't care less if the conservatives are elected in Englandshire. That's a matter reserved for each voter in that area. The same as the independence vote is an issue for the Scottish people.
21

Truely English,

07/05/2008 00:42:14
The English need a vote in this referendum also as we are all one nation. Why should the Scots who share our culture, language, way of life and money be the only ones who decide.
22

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 07/05/2008 10:02:06
#19, Dragonlord

I think you are wrong. If a referendum supported by Labour results in independence, then Labour will be a damaged force in Scottish politics. If the SNP deliver independence, then there is no reason why they should not continue in power. They have shown over the last year that they are most definitely not a one issue party. It is just further wishful thinking on the part of labour supporters to suggest that the SNP would miraculously disappear.

 

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