January 12.
One of the most depressing features of Scottish politics is the
tendency for events to move full circle with few if any lessons being
learned from the previous cycle.
Recent events, including the latest Labour slippage on its devolution
pledges and the re-emergence of Canon Wright, suggest Scotland is lining
up for another action replay on the home rule front.
Only time will tell but the facts in this cycle will remain largely
unchanged. Since Keir Hardie, contesting a parliamentary by-election in
mid-Lanark in 1888, said, ''I am strongly in favour of home rule for
Scotland, being convinced that until we have a parliament of our own we
cannot obtain the many and great reforms on which I believe the people
of Scotland have set their hearts'', the Labour Party has been
supposedly advancing this vital demand of the Scottish people.
Now the cycle begins again, with the English Labour Party waking up to
Labour's devolution plans and the opposition once again beginning to
mount.
Watching Tony Blair sell out Labour tradition after tradition in his
drive to win Tory votes in the South of England, does anyone seriously
believe that the Tory move to win the ''little Englander'' flag, which
already has Labour activists in the South clamouring to join in, will
not result in Scottish aspirations once more being consigned to the
dustbin?
The fact remains the same: to win home rule a majority of Scots need
to vote for it. In Scotland that means voting SNP. Sadly to date this
has not happened and equally sadly Scotland has no parliament for this
reason and no other.
Iain M Lawson,
SNP National Executive Member,
6 North Charlotte Street,
Edinburgh.
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