Dear All
England takes Scotland for granted.
Case in point, David Cameron announces a National Citizen Service, a scheme meant to inspire teenagers by way of volunteering.
England takes Scotland for granted.
Case in point, David Cameron announces a National Citizen Service, a scheme meant to inspire teenagers by way of volunteering.
Seems on the surface a good idea.
However, no consultation with the Scottish Government in recognition of the devolved situation, just political diktat from him.
Unsurprisingly the Scottish Government have poured cold water on this idea because of the lack of respect.
The correct way of approaching the problem would have been to say to the Scottish Government by way of negotiation is that they have a scheme which they would like to extend UK nationwide.
The scheme would be funded by Westminster but run by the SNP Government.
It would allow Scottish youngsters if they so desired to travel anywhere in the UK if a particular project took their fancy.
Everyone could have been on a winner; instead the Tories have ham fistedly started an argument so no one benefits.
Volunteering isn’t a new concept; people up and down the country do so each week and in some cases for years.
I can see a strong case for this type of idea.
A Scottish Government spokesman said;
“We listen to ideas. However, our view is volunteers of all ages form a valuable national resource, vital to the success of Scotland, and young people in Scotland already have the opportunity, through a number of channels supported by the Scottish Government, to receive recognised awards for volunteering.”
Maybe both the SNP and Tories need to start again.
The Scottish Government already supports 32 volunteer centres across Scotland with £11.5 million over the three years to March 2011, this is good but it could be so much more.
However, the Tories have reacted with a furious response towards the Scottish Government.
David Mundell, the shadow Scottish secretary, said;
“We are extremely disappointed the SNP Government has refused to even consider the National Citizen Service. Thousands of Scottish youngsters will now miss out on a real opportunity and our society and our economy will also suffer. This is narrow nationalism at its worst. It is another example of the SNP putting petty party politics ahead of the interests of the young people of Scotland.”
Where is the respect agenda from Mundell?
However, no consultation with the Scottish Government in recognition of the devolved situation, just political diktat from him.
Unsurprisingly the Scottish Government have poured cold water on this idea because of the lack of respect.
The correct way of approaching the problem would have been to say to the Scottish Government by way of negotiation is that they have a scheme which they would like to extend UK nationwide.
The scheme would be funded by Westminster but run by the SNP Government.
It would allow Scottish youngsters if they so desired to travel anywhere in the UK if a particular project took their fancy.
Everyone could have been on a winner; instead the Tories have ham fistedly started an argument so no one benefits.
Volunteering isn’t a new concept; people up and down the country do so each week and in some cases for years.
I can see a strong case for this type of idea.
A Scottish Government spokesman said;
“We listen to ideas. However, our view is volunteers of all ages form a valuable national resource, vital to the success of Scotland, and young people in Scotland already have the opportunity, through a number of channels supported by the Scottish Government, to receive recognised awards for volunteering.”
Maybe both the SNP and Tories need to start again.
The Scottish Government already supports 32 volunteer centres across Scotland with £11.5 million over the three years to March 2011, this is good but it could be so much more.
However, the Tories have reacted with a furious response towards the Scottish Government.
David Mundell, the shadow Scottish secretary, said;
“We are extremely disappointed the SNP Government has refused to even consider the National Citizen Service. Thousands of Scottish youngsters will now miss out on a real opportunity and our society and our economy will also suffer. This is narrow nationalism at its worst. It is another example of the SNP putting petty party politics ahead of the interests of the young people of Scotland.”
Where is the respect agenda from Mundell?
There is a right way and there is a wrong way to put across an idea.
This episode demonstrates that the English Tories seem to think devolved issues are open to London Tory diktat.
They are not.
Perhaps in future they should try using a little of the respect agenda they are pushing on themselves?
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
This episode demonstrates that the English Tories seem to think devolved issues are open to London Tory diktat.
They are not.
Perhaps in future they should try using a little of the respect agenda they are pushing on themselves?
Yours sincerely
George Laird
The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University
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