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SNP draws up petition for independence

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Published Date: 23 June 2007
THE SNP is set to launch an independence petition in a bid to force MSPs to agree to a referendum.
The party's National Council was expected to agree to the plan as it met in the Capital's Our Dynamic Earth today.

Activists are said to believe the parliament would be left with no choice but to accept the referendum plan if the petition was signed by 100,000 people or more.

The SNP government is committed to introducing a bill paving the way for a referendum but it does not have the support of enough MSPs from other parties to secure its passage through parliament.

The resolution for the National Council has been tabled by the party's Merchiston and Morningside branch. It calls on the SNP's National Executive Committee to "explore ways of engaging with the public", including a "citizens' initiative".

A senior SNP source was reported today as saying the resolution was almost certain to be passed.

The highlight of the National Council, which meets at least twice a year and is the SNP's main policy-making forum between annual conferences, will be Mr Salmond's first speech to a party audience as First Minister.



The full article contains 201 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

Liam,

23/06/2007 13:56:22

The SNP seem to enjoy trying to force things on MSPs when they don't have a majority on the issue in Parliament. They are increasingly in contempt not only of parliamentary democracy but also of the Scottish people.

Get on and govern, Alex, and stop this constitutional fudge.

2

frank mcbride,

lusitania 23/06/2007 15:54:13

Liam.

A petition to the Scottish Parliament is in no way anti-democratic. It is a legitimate device as approve in the Scotland Act.

Also remember that any soundings taken about a referendum showed a substantial majority in favour.
All Parties, except NuLab at the last election were advocating either Independence or more powers for the Parliament. It is,therefore, the other Parties, not the SNP and the Greens, who are responsible for this impasse.

3

frank mcbride,

lusitania 23/06/2007 15:56:09

Liam,

In the meantime, that is exactly what the SNP government is doing. Getting on with the good governance of Scotland.

4

Chaplin,

23/06/2007 15:56:29

I'm not sure where the SNP intend to go with this.
From the four main political parties the Nats are the only ones who want Independance and as they are only a minority government it follows that only a minority of Scots are interested in Independance.
Also its been stated on thes forums that a proportion of SNP votes at the last election were protest votes against Labour. who when push comes to shove might not vote "yes"
Surely it might be better for this administration to show the voters over a few elections what a success they can make of government and then go for a national vote.

5

Boy Wonder,

23/06/2007 16:30:58

Maybe the EN can find the GHootsmon's pen that was being used this morning and pass it around??

6

izzie,

dundee 23/06/2007 17:01:55

Great move turns all the other parties
into naught for Scotland parties

7

deirdre catt,

23/06/2007 18:23:29

This is a non- story. It comes from Alec Orr whose sole aim is to get himself high up on the list of SNP euro candidates.He has no chance of that. The said Mr Orr (or should it be Miss) has been writing letters to every paper under the sun (including the P&J) on any subject which he thinks will endear him to SNP members.

8

Lady inwaiting,

23/06/2007 19:15:01

yes it is very important for Scotland to become inpdence and my father told to keep the scotland !!!!

9

Lady inwaiting,

23/06/2007 19:18:06

sorry for wrong spell above and it should be spell "independence"

10

livilion,

livingston 24/06/2007 17:32:24

Could somebody from the Labour party please come and claim Gorgie_Tony before he gives you anymore of a showing up.

11

livilion,

livingston 24/06/2007 17:46:54

1. Liam
In contempt of the Scottish people how exactly?
By asking them to petition the Public Petitions Committee?

Convener: Michael McMahon Lab
Deputy Convener: John Scott Con
Jackie Baillie Lab
Helen Eadie Lab
Rosie Kane SSP
Campbell Martin Ind
John Farquhar Munro Lib Dem
Mike Watson Lab
Sandra White SNP

The Public Petitions Committee provides one of the key avenues for public involvement in Scottish Parliament. In doing so it plays a key role in realising the Parliament's core principles of openness and accessibility.

Any individual, group or organisation may petition the Parliament and the Committee may invite petitioners to speak in support of petitions.

As such, the petitions process provides an opportunity for the people of Scotland to raise issues of public concern directly with the Parliament.

The Parliament also provides an e-petitions system which both allows petitioners to attract support for their petitions on the parliament's website and an online discussion forum.

Then shockeroonie!
If all of that's no bad enough, they want to put the issue to the electorate of Scotland in a public vote(a referendum).

I know, what was wrong with just asking the Prime Minister what to do, and just doing what we've been told?

After all its what we've always done, isn't it?


 

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