First, ‘Hell in the Pacific’, now ‘Hell in Bute House’; SNP Govt can’t answer 19 key questions on indy, ‘we’ll get back to you’

Dear All

First there was ’Hell in the Pacific’ when Tory Leader Ruth Davidson blew Nicola Sturgeon apart by producing ‘the letter of destiny’ that the SNP Government hadn't contacted the EU about membership.

It was a bad night for nationalism.

Following that car crash which saw Nicola Sturgeon reduced to banging the freedom drum, the unionist parties saw a crack the size of the Grand Canyon in the SNP Government.

Nothing has been done to prepare Scotland for independence, not even asking basic questions, restructuring the government and producing a blue print.

There is nothing but vague promises.

One promise that is ridiculous made by the SNP Government is that independence will end poverty in Scotland.

No one believes that because no independent country has ever accomplished that task, even the rich countries have people living in squalor.

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon can end poverty?

Where’s their blueprint?

It doesn’t exist.

Now that unionist politicians have the bit between their teeth, they are going on the attack against SNP Ministers who are under pressure to answer questions.

Conservative chief whip John Lamont has submitted a raft of queries hoping for “clarity” on a wide range of important issues.

The 19 “key questions” on independence, covering crucial areas such as pensions, banking and the monarchy are important to ordinary working class people.

The response was what many people are now coming to expect from the SNP Government, each one was returned unanswered last week, with seven senior ministers all saying they need more time to come up with a response.

Seven SNP Ministers and they can’t come up with a response.

In ducking the issues and not providing the answers, the SNP Government is now firmly on the back foot, the polls are bad; Alex Salmond is looking increasingly desperate and tired.

This is a Scottish Government that looks heartless and hopeless.

Questions are varied but one asks if Scots would be able to pick up a state pension if they moved from an independent Scotland to England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and which government would pay it.

Surely that is an easy question?

Another questioned how nuclear waste would be stored and disposed of, as Scotland may no longer have access to the Sellafield plant, in Cumbria.

What is the answer Mr. Salmond? He doesn’t know because he hasn't taken the time to think through all the questions and issues.

Too much time is spent on celebrity politics, attending events, watching cartoons and freeloading.

Currently the SNP Government are soaking up the freebies at the Olympics. Tragic, it is like watching a starving man attacking a plate of nosh with a piece of bread soaking up the gravy while making audible noises.

Conservative chief whip John Lamont said:

“It is cases like this where the SNP’s incapacity to see through its vision becomes horribly clear. Within these questions lie some of the most important issues a country could face, and people need answers”.

Voters in Glasgow have already had a taste of ‘I don’t know’ when the former Glasgow SNP leader Allison Hunter stated prior to the Council Election that she hadn’t thought about any policies.

5 years at the council and where was the rolling plan?

Glasgow SNP paid the price of being unprepared.

Lamont also fired into other areas such as banking regulation, Scottish banknotes, the National Grid, benefits and national insurance, vehicle licensing, a North Sea oil fund and the military.

One asked if an independent Scotland would have a written constitution and whether it would include the option to become a republic.

When the replies came back four weeks later after the questions were lodged, each one was returned unanswered. No fewer than seven ministers, including Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Finance Secretary John Swinney, failed to provide any details.

Lamont makes a point when he says:

“Time is rolling on, and still the First Minister cannot provide any real detail for the people of Scotland in critical areas such as defence and the economy. How are the Scottish public supposed to take the most important decision the country has faced in more than 300 years if they are not in possession of all the facts? They need to know what is proposed.”

In reply First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“We will publish a detailed White Paper next year which will set out the structure of an independent Scotland, and will enable people to make an informed choice in the referendum.”

Too late, it seems that the former 79 Group member has run out of time, 79 is definitely out of time.

If the SNP Government think that this 10 to midnight plays with the voters, they have got that strategy incredibly wrong.

The SNP have by their own actions already locked Scotland into a no vote, the sensible move is to cancel the independence referendum until the work is done; June 2018 remains my preferred date for the referendum.

Independence can’t be won by spin and by the time Alex Salmond publishes his white paper, working class Scots will have completely tuned out.

Yours sincerely

George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University