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Revision as of 16:04, 23 October 2008 by Breadandcheese (talk | contribs) (Updates, clarifications, removing of factual inaccuracies etc.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)The National Conversation is the name given to the Scottish Government's public consultation exercise regarding possible future changes in the power of the devolved Scottish Parliament and the possibility of Scottish independence, an objective of the Scottish National Party who form a minority government over devolved affairs in Scotland.
It was launched on August 14 2007 by Alex Salmond, the First Minister of Scotland. It consists of a 59 page white paper, titled Choosing Scotland's Future, and a website. The white paper includes a draft bill for a referendum to allow for negotiations with the UK Government on Scottish independence. The website encourages comments to be made on the white paper. Comments are encouraged from members of the public, rather than just interest groups.
Response
On 6 December 2007, the Scottish Parliament voted to create a Commission on Scottish Devolution, chaired by Sir Kenneth Calman, and with the remit:
- "To review the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 in the light of experience and to recommend any changes to the present constitutional arrangements that would enable the Scottish Parliament to serve the people of Scotland better, improve the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament, and continue to secure the position of Scotland within the United Kingdom."
The Commission was supported by the three main pro-Union political parties in Scotland: Labour, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. Wendy Alexander, leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament, proposed the motion, rejecting the National Conversation and an amendment proposed by the Scottish National Party calling for support for the National Conversation was defeated, Ms Alexander associating it with moves towards Scottish independence and making the following response:
- "The SNP amendment predictably calls for us to participate in the National Conversation, but how can the SNP possibly claim to be leading a conversation when it has already decided what the only acceptable outcome will be? Worst of all, it has no parliamentary mandate whatsoever for the conversation. How can the SNP possibly justify the use of taxpayers' money on something that is little more than propaganda?"
Notably the remit of the Commission on Scottish Devolution precludes the consideration of Scottish independence.
Influence
The initiative influenced the Parti Québécois and, in March 2008, shortly before the Parti Québécois National Council, leader Pauline Marois presented the party's plan to propose a conversation nationale to Quebecers as part of Marois' renewal of the party's approach on independence and social democracy. In this case, however, the conversation is to be solely on independence, instead of three options. The expression was met with less enthusiasm in Quebec and arose cynicism in the press and objection with some party hardliners. Shorty after, the Parti Québécois replaced the term with débat sur la souveraineté ("debate on sovereignty").
References
- http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/officialReports/meetingsParliament/or-07/sor1206-02.htm#Col4133
- Logique impériale by François Brousseau, March 25, 2008, Le Devoir