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PM defends Union | Quote: | TONY Blair marked the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union yesterday by warning that it would be "crazy" for Scotland to break away from the UK.
The Prime Minister's defence of the Union came as politicians north and south of the Border marked the anniversary with fresh wrangling over Britain's constitutional future.
There has been some disquiet over the failure of the government to organise any formal commemorations or celebrations to mark the tercentenary of the signing of the act in Edinburgh.
But Mr Blair said: "The most important thing is not fireworks but argument, and giving a coherent reason as to why the Union of England and Scotland is good for today's world and the future."
He insisted both countries benefited "enormously" in areas such as jobs and security, and he said it would be "crazy for Scotland to be wrenched out of the United Kingdom".
Mr Blair also stressed the benefits to England of the Union, a change from the past when he has simply emphasised how much Scotland gets out of the deal. "In commerce, in trade, in security and above all in shared values, the Union of England and Scotland continues to be good for England, good for Scotland and right for the future of Britain, so we should celebrate today with pride," he said.
Setting up a separate English parliament would be "unworkable" and "unnecessary" he said, despite a BBC Newsnight poll which showed 61 per cent of people south of the Border supported an English parliament - a higher level of backing than a fully independent Scottish parliament receives in Scotland.
Mr Blair also dismissed calls for Scots MPs to be banned from voting on English-only legislation. "There is a UK parliament. There should be one class of UK MP. It's a completely unworkable situation to have two different classes of MP," he said.
Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, elaborated on this theme on BBC Radio 4, claiming there was no mood in Scotland to break up the Union.
He said: "I think when people focus on the real choice, they will recognise that the combination of economic links, family ties and shared values that have served this union well will actually serve Scotland and England well in the future."
It emerged yesterday that, within a month, Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, are to lead a new offensive against the SNP and its plans to break up the Union. Mr Blair, Mr Brown, Mr Alexander and Jack McConnell, the First Minister, are understood to have decided on the strategy at a meeting in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister is becoming increasingly worried by the SNP's ongoing success in opinion polls. |
http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=85252007
Im looking forward to their new strategy - I wonder what it'll be this time...
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Reluctant Hero
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| Quote: | Douglas Alexander, the Scottish Secretary, elaborated on this theme on BBC Radio 4, claiming there was no mood in Scotland to break up the Union.
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Just another example of Labour being completely out of touch.
| Quote: | | It emerged yesterday that, within a month, Mr Blair and Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, are to lead a new offensive against the SNP and its plans to break up the Union. |
It just keeps getting better for the SNP. Nobody believes a word TB says, so why are they going to believe him on this?
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bratachdubh
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| Reluctant Hero wrote: | | Nobody believes a word TB says, so why are they going to believe him on this? |
It's all to the SNP's advantage. As long as Salmond can keep the momentum going, the more ridiculous and frantic all these attacks are going to seem.
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