The Referendum Debate
by Yes Orkney - 22:09 on 03 July 2014
It seems to be a feature of the Referendum Debate, that as the polls get closer, hyperbole, scaremongering and totally over the top comments appear.
Younger people may ask “Who is Lord George Robertson”? He was a Labour shadow Secretary of State for Scotland in the 1990s. After the 1997 General Election, won by Labour, the more consensual Donald Dewar became Scottish Secretary of State. An immediate consequence of this was the Labour, Lib-Dem, SNP joint parties Referendum campaign for a Scottish Parliament, which won the day. This could not have happened with the divisive George Robertson present.
In 1997 there was no repeat of Labour and the Lib Dems being split down the middle, on devolution, as happened in 1979, followed by Thatcher. Lord George is now tarnishing his reputation and his past links with NATO, with his utterances. Anders Rasmussen, from Denmark is the retiring NATO leader. The next leader will be Social Democratic Jens Stoltenberg, until recently, Prime Minister of Norway.
Northern Europe was not prepared to elect Manuel Barroso, a divisive E U figure, from Portugal. Rasmussen and Stoltenberg are highly respected people from small independent, outward looking neighbouring countries, the so called “ Arc of Prosperity”.
Ireland came out of recession at the end of 2013 and is beginning to prosper again. Many of their mistakes, in banking and the property boom, were similar to those made by the UK. Ireland now has a higher GDP than that of the UK. Icelanders changed their Government, threw out many culpable politicians and jailed the guilty bankers, unlike UK and USA. Iceland is recovering bit by bit.
The YES supporting groups, locally and nationally contain people from SNP, Labour, Lib-Dem, Tory, Green, Socialist and no party at all. It is a grass roots group who believe that the people of Scotland are best placed to make the decisions. This has already been shown in education, health in the Scottish parliament. None of this is about First Minister, Alex Salmond, however competent he may be. He is 59 years old and will not always be around.
Important decisions, in the future, on the economy, welfare, and taxation need to be taken, here in Scotland, not in London. Why would anyone not welcome more powers for the Islands too? The debate is about issues, not individuals.
JRM
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