The Scottish Government created a stir recently, especially in America, over the controversial release of the Lockerbie Bomber.
Now it's at the centre of a storm again over allegation of rigging a referendum over Scottish independence.
In 1999, devolution was partially introduced to Britain. Scotland got a new "parliament" for the first time in almost 300 years, and Wales got a new assembly. Northern Ireland had had its own assembly since 1921 when Ireland was divided into two and the southern part seceded from the UK. This parliament was in operation until 1973, when it was abolished. Another Northern Irish parliament came into being in 1982, and was again abolished in 1986. The modern Northern Irish parliament dates from 1999.
Devolution in the UK is only partial because devolution has been denied to England by the UK's Scottish-dominated government (you could say that the British are anti-English). There is no English Parliament . Westminster is the British Parliament, which ultimately has power over the whole of the UK - complete power over England (with 52 million people, England is the largest nation in the world without its own parliament, and - with the break up of other multinational states such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia - the only nation in Europe without its own parliament) and power over the Celtic nations in areas where their parliaments have no power (such as defence). Even so, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England (especially England), are less independent than each US state or Canadian province.
Currently in power in Scotland are the Scottish National Party, a group of Scottish nationalists. The SNP hold 47 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, but they are a minority government. They failed to gain the support of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats or the Scottish Tories (all of whom are unionist parties) as a result of its pro-Scottish Independence policy, preventing them from forming a majority government.
In November 2010, the SNP are to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.
However, Scotland's First Minister (almost similar to a US state governor) Alex Salmond wants to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16, allowing Scottish 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the referendum.
Youngsters in Scotland are more likely to support Scottish independence from the rest of the UK that older Scots. However, independence-supporting Scottish youngster are still in the minority - 47 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds would back independence, compared with 38 per cent of those aged 55 to 84.
Naturally, the Unionist parties (which is most parties) have accused Salmond of rigging the referendum.
If Scotland gains independence, it will be the first time since 1921 in which a nation (in 1921 it was what is now Republic of Ireland. The British wanted to give the northen part of Ireland independence, but kept it in the Union in line with its people's wishes) has seceded from the UK. Though, unlike the Republic of Ireland, the SNP wish Scotland to remain a Constitutional Monarchy (especially with the Queen having Scottish descent) and a member of the Commonwealth.
However, independence for Scotland seems unlikely any time soon.
A 2007 poll found that only less than a third of Scots in total want independence, though the SNP are hoping that the Tories win the 2010 British General Election, as they think this might increase support for independence in Scotland (the Scots still haven't got over Thatcher). And the Referendum Bill stands almost no chance of being passed at the Scottish Parliament, with the three main Opposition parties pledging to unite to vote it down.
Alex Salmond accused of rigging independence referendum by lowering voting age
Alex Salmond has been accused of trying to rig his planned independence referendum after announcing that 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to participate.
By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
20 Sep 2009
Daiy Telegraph
Alex Salmond: 'You might argue that 16 or 17-year-olds have more invested in the future of the country than anybody else' Photo: GETTY
The First Minister argued the 125,000 extra teenagers should be allowed a vote because they have the largest vested interest in Scotland’s constitutional future.
But opinion polls have shown younger voters are more sympathetic to separation, prompting Unionist claims that Mr Salmond is again trying to manipulate the voting system to achieve separation.
Last year, he suggested a three-option referendum that could mean Scotland becoming independent despite less than half the population saying this was their first choice.
Meanwhile, Sir Tom Hunter, formerly Scotland’s richest man, called on the First Minister to rethink his priorities and postpone a referendum until the recession is over.
Mr Salmond’s Referendum Bill stands almost no chance of being passed at Holyrood, with the three main Opposition parties pledging to unite to vote it down.
Recent opinion polls, conducted in the aftermath of the Lockerbie bomber’s release, found less than a third of Scots support the break-up of Britain.
But he has vowed to press ahead with his referendum plans and this month promised Scots they will be allowed to keep British citizenship following separation.
Mr Salmond yesterday denied that by lowering the voting age, he was “casting about” for any votes he can in favour of separation.
He said: “I think 16 and 17-year-olds will be looking askance at the Labour Party, who want to stop them having an interest and a say in the constitution of the country.
“You might argue that 16 or 17-year-olds have more invested in the future of the country than anybody else and therefore to deprive them of the franchise I think would be quite wrong.”
Despite the SNP’s current popularity, opinion polls have shown that support for independence is no higher than it was when the party took power two years ago.
The separatists believe lowering the voting age would give them a better chance of success, citing an opinion poll on the issue conducted in 2007.
This concluded that 47 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds would back independence, compared with 38 per cent of those aged 55 to 84.
Mike Russell, the Scottish Constitution Minister, confirmed the voting age policy in a letter to Aileen Campbell, a SNP backbencher.
“We will continue to work with electoral registration officers to ensure that as many 16 and 17-year-olds are able to vote in the referendum on Scotland's constitutional future as possible,” he wrote.
He admitted that power to change the voting franchise is reserved to Westminster, and said this hurdle would be addressed in the Referendum Bill, due to be published shortly.
But Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour’s constitution spokesman, claimed the SNP’s proposal to lower the voting age was borne of “desperation”.
She said: “They have lost the argument on independence, the polls are running at less that 30 per cent support and now they come up with yet another scheme to try to manipulate the result they want.”
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Tory deputy leader, said: “The issue of voting age limits in a referendum is irrelevant. It is quite clear that the Referendum Bill has no parliamentary support and is going nowhere.”
Sir Tom, the tycoon and philanthropist, said he had not withdrawn his previous support for a referendum, but Mr Salmond should postpone it.
“Debating constitutional reform when our economy is teetering on the edge is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” he said.
“We have to address the urgency of our economy first.”
But the First Minister said he does not want a referendum until next year, when Scotland is coming out of recession.
Mr Salmond has previously supported a ballot paper containing three options – the status quo, more powers for Holyrood and full independence – with voters asked to number them in order of preference.
The least popular option in the referendum would then be discarded, and the second preference votes of those who backed it distributed among the remaining two choices.
This system, used in Scottish council elections, could mean that even if a third of people named independence as their first choice, it could still win through thanks to the second preference votes.
telegraph.co.uk
Now it's at the centre of a storm again over allegation of rigging a referendum over Scottish independence.
In 1999, devolution was partially introduced to Britain. Scotland got a new "parliament" for the first time in almost 300 years, and Wales got a new assembly. Northern Ireland had had its own assembly since 1921 when Ireland was divided into two and the southern part seceded from the UK. This parliament was in operation until 1973, when it was abolished. Another Northern Irish parliament came into being in 1982, and was again abolished in 1986. The modern Northern Irish parliament dates from 1999.
Devolution in the UK is only partial because devolution has been denied to England by the UK's Scottish-dominated government (you could say that the British are anti-English). There is no English Parliament . Westminster is the British Parliament, which ultimately has power over the whole of the UK - complete power over England (with 52 million people, England is the largest nation in the world without its own parliament, and - with the break up of other multinational states such as the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia - the only nation in Europe without its own parliament) and power over the Celtic nations in areas where their parliaments have no power (such as defence). Even so, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England (especially England), are less independent than each US state or Canadian province.
Currently in power in Scotland are the Scottish National Party, a group of Scottish nationalists. The SNP hold 47 of the 129 seats in the Scottish Parliament, but they are a minority government. They failed to gain the support of Scottish Labour, the Scottish Liberal Democrats or the Scottish Tories (all of whom are unionist parties) as a result of its pro-Scottish Independence policy, preventing them from forming a majority government.
In November 2010, the SNP are to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.
However, Scotland's First Minister (almost similar to a US state governor) Alex Salmond wants to reduce the voting age from 18 to 16, allowing Scottish 16 and 17 year olds to vote in the referendum.
Youngsters in Scotland are more likely to support Scottish independence from the rest of the UK that older Scots. However, independence-supporting Scottish youngster are still in the minority - 47 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds would back independence, compared with 38 per cent of those aged 55 to 84.
Naturally, the Unionist parties (which is most parties) have accused Salmond of rigging the referendum.
If Scotland gains independence, it will be the first time since 1921 in which a nation (in 1921 it was what is now Republic of Ireland. The British wanted to give the northen part of Ireland independence, but kept it in the Union in line with its people's wishes) has seceded from the UK. Though, unlike the Republic of Ireland, the SNP wish Scotland to remain a Constitutional Monarchy (especially with the Queen having Scottish descent) and a member of the Commonwealth.
However, independence for Scotland seems unlikely any time soon.
A 2007 poll found that only less than a third of Scots in total want independence, though the SNP are hoping that the Tories win the 2010 British General Election, as they think this might increase support for independence in Scotland (the Scots still haven't got over Thatcher). And the Referendum Bill stands almost no chance of being passed at the Scottish Parliament, with the three main Opposition parties pledging to unite to vote it down.
Alex Salmond accused of rigging independence referendum by lowering voting age
Alex Salmond has been accused of trying to rig his planned independence referendum after announcing that 16 and 17-year-olds should be allowed to participate.
By Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor
20 Sep 2009
Daiy Telegraph
Alex Salmond: 'You might argue that 16 or 17-year-olds have more invested in the future of the country than anybody else' Photo: GETTY
The First Minister argued the 125,000 extra teenagers should be allowed a vote because they have the largest vested interest in Scotland’s constitutional future.
But opinion polls have shown younger voters are more sympathetic to separation, prompting Unionist claims that Mr Salmond is again trying to manipulate the voting system to achieve separation.
Last year, he suggested a three-option referendum that could mean Scotland becoming independent despite less than half the population saying this was their first choice.
Meanwhile, Sir Tom Hunter, formerly Scotland’s richest man, called on the First Minister to rethink his priorities and postpone a referendum until the recession is over.
Mr Salmond’s Referendum Bill stands almost no chance of being passed at Holyrood, with the three main Opposition parties pledging to unite to vote it down.
Recent opinion polls, conducted in the aftermath of the Lockerbie bomber’s release, found less than a third of Scots support the break-up of Britain.
But he has vowed to press ahead with his referendum plans and this month promised Scots they will be allowed to keep British citizenship following separation.
Mr Salmond yesterday denied that by lowering the voting age, he was “casting about” for any votes he can in favour of separation.
He said: “I think 16 and 17-year-olds will be looking askance at the Labour Party, who want to stop them having an interest and a say in the constitution of the country.
“You might argue that 16 or 17-year-olds have more invested in the future of the country than anybody else and therefore to deprive them of the franchise I think would be quite wrong.”
Despite the SNP’s current popularity, opinion polls have shown that support for independence is no higher than it was when the party took power two years ago.
The separatists believe lowering the voting age would give them a better chance of success, citing an opinion poll on the issue conducted in 2007.
This concluded that 47 per cent of 18-to-24-year-olds would back independence, compared with 38 per cent of those aged 55 to 84.
Mike Russell, the Scottish Constitution Minister, confirmed the voting age policy in a letter to Aileen Campbell, a SNP backbencher.
“We will continue to work with electoral registration officers to ensure that as many 16 and 17-year-olds are able to vote in the referendum on Scotland's constitutional future as possible,” he wrote.
He admitted that power to change the voting franchise is reserved to Westminster, and said this hurdle would be addressed in the Referendum Bill, due to be published shortly.
But Pauline McNeill, Scottish Labour’s constitution spokesman, claimed the SNP’s proposal to lower the voting age was borne of “desperation”.
She said: “They have lost the argument on independence, the polls are running at less that 30 per cent support and now they come up with yet another scheme to try to manipulate the result they want.”
Murdo Fraser, Scottish Tory deputy leader, said: “The issue of voting age limits in a referendum is irrelevant. It is quite clear that the Referendum Bill has no parliamentary support and is going nowhere.”
Sir Tom, the tycoon and philanthropist, said he had not withdrawn his previous support for a referendum, but Mr Salmond should postpone it.
“Debating constitutional reform when our economy is teetering on the edge is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,” he said.
“We have to address the urgency of our economy first.”
But the First Minister said he does not want a referendum until next year, when Scotland is coming out of recession.
Mr Salmond has previously supported a ballot paper containing three options – the status quo, more powers for Holyrood and full independence – with voters asked to number them in order of preference.
The least popular option in the referendum would then be discarded, and the second preference votes of those who backed it distributed among the remaining two choices.
This system, used in Scottish council elections, could mean that even if a third of people named independence as their first choice, it could still win through thanks to the second preference votes.
telegraph.co.uk
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