Tories to reinstate Scottish Secretary of State
As Brian Taylor reports, the Conservatives are to reinstate the office of Secretary of State for Scotland:
Firstly, they say they would retain the post of Scottish secretary. Perhaps combined with another office of state, such as transport - but not combined with Wales and Northern Ireland in a department for the territories.
Specifically, if Labour combines liaison with the three devolved governments into a single post, the Tories will shadow that at Westminster - but would restore distinct representation, if returned to power.
For why? For the same reason that the Scotland Office, once near moribund, has found itself somewhat reinvigorated by the election of an SNP government.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint this is an eminently sensible thing for the Tories to do. But there's an immediate strategic benefit that comes from reinstating the office, and one that will most certainly have occurred to the Tories: It guarantees that they have a Scot in cabinet.
Whether it's David Mundell, currently their only Scottish MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, a man of no discernable talent; or Malcolm Rifkind, a Scot in exile, parachuted into a safe English seat; or some Scottish Tory grandee dragged out of the House of Lords; the fact is that they need Scots in cabinet to counter the accusations that will come, that they are an English government.
A look at the comments on this Herald article shows what is in store for the next Conservative administration (and this when Scotland has power over transport and stands to milk it through Barnett consequentials if England starts building high-speed rail links).
The Conservatives were last night accused of "snubbing" Scotland after unveiling an ambitious plan to create a multi-billion pound high-speed rail link from London ... to Leeds.
Brian Donohoe, the Labour MP for Central Ayrshire, accused the Tories of creating a "divisive plan for a two-speed Britain" while Scottish business leaders noted how the Conservative plans suggested they had "forgotten about Scotland".
Brian Donohoe, you are a dick. Read this.
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Tory Gerrymandering
from Toque on Mon, 11/01/2010 - 13:26The Guardian reports David Cameron's plan to reduce the number of MPs at Westminster by ten per cent:
The Tories would not change the number of Scottish constituencies, which were cut at the behest of English cabinet ministers, such as Jack Straw, as the
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This is just another ironic
This is just another ironic consequence of Westminster politicians pretending they're running the UK when in most cases it's just England. It can be construed as discrimination against Scotland only if it's presented as a plan by the (UK) Department of Transport. By contrast, it would be ludicrous to make out this was anti-Scottish if UK-government transport plans were correctly described as always relating to England only. How can an English ministry act to the disadvantage of a nation other than England by just doing its job?
So, this afternoon we heard
So, this afternoon we heard Cameron repeat his pledge that he didn't want to be just Prime Minister of England.
He didn't explain how this would come about without any Tory representation in Scotland.
Is he oblivious to the fact that a Tory win at the next general election will certainly hasten Scottish independence.
I will have to hold my nose when I vote for them come election time, but if it has the desired effect of Scottish independence and an English parliament then I am ready to do the deed, and watch him eat his words.
He didn't however call the gathered party faithfulls "sour little Englanders", funny that !
[...] environment as well as
[...] environment as well as its economy, and you have to go and call it a plan for Britain. No wonder those Scots are complaining that you’re giving preferential treatment to England (are they having a laugh?). Now, if [...]
That is if Mundell retains
That is if Mundell retains his seat in Scotland, otherwise Cameron will have to look for a scotsman in an English seat.
but if we're all british, why not an English mp for scottish secretary?
The Tories must be hoping
The Tories must be hoping that their resurgence converts itself into more Tory MPs in Scotland, but Scotland could be an SNP-Labour battleground and actually squeeze the Tory vote.
It would be hilarious to see a Tory government of the UK with not one Tory MP in Scotland.
I bet they'd try and give the SNP some cabinet seat.
'Firstly, they say they would
'Firstly, they say they would retain the post of Scottish secretary. Perhaps combined with another office of state, such as transport ...'
It's late, or early, and I'm tired, and I've been drinking, and perhaps I've missed something but does Grooovey Dave really propose to make the Br*tish Scotch Secretary of State also the 'U'K minister of Transport (responsible only for transport in England)?
Och Aye M8*
Och Aye
M8*
[...] then the prospect of an
[...] then the prospect of an entirely English Tory frontbench becomes increasingly likely. As I have mentioned before, it’s that prospect that is the armageddon scenario for the Conservatives and the [...]
[...] 2. The Tories want to
[...] 2. The Tories want to ensure they have at least one Scottish MP, and maintaining Scottish representation at Westminster is the surest way of achieving their goal. [...]