George Galloway predicts Scottish Labour's 'tubes and empty jaikets' will help SNP to independence victory

A savaging of Scottish Labour by Galloway. And praise for the SNP - who he has always expressed the most utter contempt for . Is George about to ditch a lifetimes loyalty to Labour and the Union? Ever the opportunist, he does have a keen sense for which way the wind is blowing and as a successful populist politician it helps to know what and when to embrace that which is popular and dump that which isnt... - The REAL Scottish Defence League.

George Galloway predicts Scottish Labour's 'tubes and empty jaikets' will help SNP to independence victory

Controversial politician George Galloway has predicted victory for Alex Salmond and the SNP in the independence referendum planned for autumn 2014.

• By David Clegg, political editor
• Published in the Courier : 24.04.12
• SOURCE: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Politics/article/22354/george-galloway-predicts-scottish-labour-s-tubes-and-empty-jaikets-will-help-snp-to-independence-victory.html

Describing the current crop of Labour MSPs as ''tubes and empty jaikets'', the Respect MP said stopping the SNP's ''inch-by-inch'' campaign to break up the United Kingdom would be ''beyond them''.

George Galloway.

Mr Galloway, who was elected Bradford West MP in a stunning by-election victory last month, hailed the ''amazing transformation'' of the SNP under Mr Salmond, the First Minister.

He said the Nationalists have ''shamed'' Scottish Labour in recent years by taking ''principled positions'' similar to Labour's before Tony Blair took over as leader.

Mr Galloway repeated his personal opposition to independence, highlighting the similarities between a ''young person in Bradford and one in Barrhead''.

But he said the SNP are now in such a dominant position, securing a 'No' vote in the independence referendum looks like ''mission impossible''.

The assessment will worry the pro-Union camp, with many political commentators believing Labour will be key to convincing Scots to vote to remain in the UK.

Writing in Holyrood magazine, Mr Galloway noted that he had unsuccessfully stood for the Scottish Parliament in last year's election.

''If I'd gone to the Scottish Parliament I would have campaigned, of course, against this inch-by-inch to independence, which I've opposed all my political life,'' he said.

''Scottish people hate the Tories but they've largely given up on the hijacked Labour Party and I'm not sure they can ever be won back.''

After praising the changes made to the SNP by Mr Salmond, he added: ''I oppose the split because I don't believe there's a difference between a young person in Bradford and one in Barrhead, but the former will be poorer if it happens.''

Meanwhile, former First Minister Henry McLeish has backed Alex Salmond's plans for a second question on the independence referendum.

The ex-Fife Labour MSP handed a huge boost to the SNP leader by insisting there is an ''overwhelming case'' for the option of more devolution short of independence being put on the ballot paper.

Mr Salmond has said he is ''open'' to the possibility, but all the main unionist parties are against it.

Writing in a magazine this week, Mr McLeish said: ''There is an overwhelming case for a second question to give real choice to the Scottish people and if, as everyone says, the 'Yes' vote should be unambigious, then so too should be the meaning of the 'No' vote.''

Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Wire

Top tory claims England "Would bomb independent Scotland's Airports"

Herald, 13 March 2012

GLASGOW and Edinburgh airports, in an independent Scotland, could be bombed by an English government if it was threatened by an unfriendly country, a former deputy leader of the UK Conservative Party has warned.

Lord Fraser of Carmyllie also warned that SNP policies removing nuclear forces from Scottish bases and reducing Scotland's navy "essentially" to fishery protection vessels could make Scotland a war zone. He said a country with a few fishery protection vessels was "asking to be invaded".

The former Lord Advocate and Solicitor General said he did not see who might have "evil intentions" against England but he had missed "the import of the Balkan crisis and the ramifications of 9/11" and would hesitate "to predict the crises even in the rest of the century".

He foresaw the possibility of an enemy commander ordering the runways at Scottish airports to be cleared because his planes would be landing and "if that were to happen what alternative would England have but to come and bomb the hell out of Glasgow airport and Edinburgh airport".

He suggested one solution would be to base the nuclear fleet, currently based on the Clyde, to Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands.

SNP outlines plans for 'Yes' campaign

Sun, 11/03/2012 - 12:37

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has outlined plans at its Spring Conference in Glasgow for a broad, massive ‘Yes’ campaign for the independence referendum involving sectoral groups across Scottish society.

Last weekend, Alex Salmond announced that the Yes campaign will be launched shortly after the local elections (3 May) and close of the Scottish Government's referendum consultation (11 May).

SNP Independence Referendum Campaign Director and Westminster Leader Angus Robertson MP told delegates that plans are already at an advanced stage for the launch.

He gave details of the organisation which will “bring together all supporters of independence" who want to help secure a historic ‘YES’ vote”.

Sectoral campaigns will bring together people with particular interests across Scottish society, including: Business for Independence, Trade Unionists for Independence, Women for Independence, Artists for Independence, Veterans for Independence, Youth for Independence, Senior Citizens for Independence, and many others.

Further plans were outlined for “the most effective campaign in Scottish political history”, including a cutting-edge website, the updated ‘Activate’ campaign data-management system and GPS campaign smart phone technology for effective campaigning.

The details were presented to SNP delegates after a run of more than 20 Independence Referendum Roadshow
events around the Scotland which have been attended by more than 2,000 people.

In his Independence Referendum presentation to the SNP Spring Conference Angus Robertson MP said:

“I am happy to confirm that we are working towards a ‘YES Campaign’launch shortly after the Local Government elections.

“There will be a dedicated campaign structure at national level, providing materials, coordinating activities, research and resources.

"There will be local campaigns directing grassroots activities, from district level to town and community level.

“And there will be sectoral campaigns bringing together people across Scottish society, including: Business for Independence, Trade Unionists for Independence, Woman for Independence, Artists for Independence, Veterans for
Independence, Youth for Independence, Senior Citizens for Independence and many others.

"We will use cutting edge IT and communication technology to run the most effective campaign in Scottish political history.

"All of these innovations are important, but they will not replace the most important element of all in this campaign, which is the involvement of record numbers of ordinary people around country.

“This will be a campaign for everyone. This is about our collective future and future generations. Together we will change Scotland for the better.”

The referendum no one is talking about

NEW STATESMAN

Scottish National Party Leader and Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, addresses the SNP conference. Photograph: Getty Images.

Posted by George Eaton - 25 October 2011 15:43
While Westminster is fixated on the EU, Scotland is moving ever closer to independence.


While the Tories have been warring over whether to hold a national vote on EU membership, Alex Salmond has been quietly devising his strategy for a different referendum. As the SNP leader confirmed at his party's conference last weekend, the ballot paper will contain two questions. The first will be a straight yes/no question on Scottish independence, the second will be on full fiscal autonomy or "devolution max" (devo max).

Aware that he may not be able to win a majority for independence, Salmond is attempting to ensure that the SNP ends up with a consolation prize. But no one should underestimate how radical a step fiscal autonomy would be. Scotland would win complete control over spending, borrowing and taxation, leaving Westminster in charge of foreign affairs and defence. In an ingenious move, Salmond is attempting to turn the SNP into the party of independence and the party of devolution. The distance between the two is smaller than some imagine. An independent Scotland would retain the Queen as its head of state, British military bases (although the Trident subs would go) and the pound until, in Salmond's words, "it was in Scotland's economic advantage to join the euro" (in other words, indefinitely).

However, there is every reason to believe that Scotland will vote for full independence in the second half of the five-year Holyrood parliament. The SNP has already amassed a £1m campaign war chest and the polls are moving its way. A ComRes survey published on 15 October showed that 49 per cent of Scots now favour independence, with just 37 per cent opposed. Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie posed the question: "What if devo max got 99 per cent 'yes' and one per cent 'no' in the vote while the independence option got 51 per cent 'yes' and 49 per cent 'no'?" But Salmond has already confirmed that a slim majority for independence will trump a large majority for devo max. A brilliant politician and strategist, he will wait until discontent with the Westminster coalition is at its height before calling a referendum.

Labour and the Tories, leaderless as they are in Scotland, are not even close to devising a strategy to combat Salmond. After the SNP's remarkable victory in May, David Cameron vowed to defend the United Kingdom with "every fibre in my body". But we've seen little evidence of that so far. As for Ed Miliband, he has largely avoided the subject since forgetting the name of one his party's leadership candidates (Ken Macintosh), even though Scottish independence would automatically strip his party of 41 seats. For now, all the momentum is with Salmond and the SNP. This must change. And soon.

Full independence will save Scotland from worst of cuts, says Alex Salmond

First minister says 'bad' cuts – expected to lead to a fall of about £4bn in Scottish budget – are attack on compassion, fairness and social justice

Severin Carrell Scotland correspondent guardian.co.uk,
Sunday 17 October 2010

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/oct/17/alex-salmond-scotland-independence-cuts

Alex Salmond says independence would save Scotland's public services and economy from the worst effects of the spending cuts. Photograph: David Cheskin/PA


Alex Salmond today claimed full independence would save Scotland's public services and economy from the worst effects of the "bad" spending cuts due to be unveiled this week.

The first minister said Wednesday's comprehensive spending review – expected to lead to a fall of about £4bn in the Scottish budget – was an attack on the core principles of compassion, fairness and social justice dear to Scottish voters.

He told the Scottish National party's annual conference in Perth that he would "not be a manager of Westminster-directed cuts nor part of parliament which acts as a message boy for decisions made elsewhere".

In a speech that sought to be ambitious in its vision and scope before next May's Scottish elections, Salmond said: "There is no point in being a pocket money parliament when the pocket money stops.

"We are not the helpless agents of globalisation, but free citizens of a wealthy land. We are not slaves to the banking system or vassals to the lords of high finance.

"I do not want independence for its own sake, but for the sake of the people here and now and those to come."

The Scottish secretary, Michael Moore, has predicted that the cuts would take Scotland's funding back to its level in 2005 – about £25bn, a drop of some £4bn – by 2015.

The Scottish government claims that keeping all Scotland's share of North Sea oil and gas would leave it £1bn a year better off.

Salmond's ministers have begun setting out cuts in public services, including a 25% cut in NHS managers, but the first minister's main aim today was to rally his party for the 2011 Scottish parliamentary elections.

After nearly four years in power, the SNP faces a bruising contest. Early opinion polls suggest Labour is poised to regain power at Holyrood and form its own minority government.

Labour – now the only major party at Holyrood which is not in government – will attack the nationalists for breaking a series of pledges at the last Scottish elections, presiding over higher unemployment, NHS job cuts and a collapse in school building.

During the conference, the SNP has pledged to keep the freeze in council tax for a further two years, costing £70m a year.

Salmond announced that up to 6,000 government and NHS workers would get a "living wage" of at least £7.15 an hour – costing around £3m – and Scotland's seven police forces could be merged.

He did not specify a number, but it is thought ministers believe only three forces are needed.

He also announced that Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel prize-winning economist who has been severely critical of George Osborne's spending plans, would now advise the SNP government on the economy.

Campbell Christie, a former head of the Scottish TUC, will lead a commission inquiry into public services. But Salmond has attempted to sidestep a policy by policy confrontation over spending cuts by accusing all his main opponents of preventing Scotland from achieving its full potential – full independence within the European union.

He acknowledged that the SNP had failed to make its case on independence by assuming voters knew what it meant, and reached out to Labour and left of centre Liberal Democrat voters.

"What I mean by independence is the profound right to enjoy the same equality of opportunity, and to live in more equal communities," he said. "What I mean by independence is jobs – to protect and create them.

"Is this a grand dream? Yes. But that is the difference between us and the other parties in this election.

"We have the vision and we have the means to deliver it ... [I] fight not for flags and anthems, but fairness and compassion. I fight for a generation that is not burdened by the mistakes of this one."

The three main UK parties killed off his bill for a referendum on independence in this parliament and only about 25% of voters currently favour independence.

But the SNP believes the spending cuts will significantly bolster its arguments for autonomy, and plans to make that dispute central to its election campaign.

Iain Gray, the Scottish Labour leader, said: "Alex Salmond is the last man Scotland should listen to on jobs and cuts. [Due] to the Salmond slump, we have lost 50,000 construction jobs and the SNP have also cut 3,000 teachers and 4,000 NHS jobs – all this with a record Scottish budget.

"Now is a time for honesty, tough decisions and protecting and creating jobs. However, Alex Salmond thinks he can get by on election gimmicks, dodge all responsibility and blame someone else for his legacy of failure."