SNP seeks to alter Queen's Speech

Avatar · SNP seeks to alter Queen's Speech

"The Scottish National Party's bid to amend the Queen's Speech to force a vote on withdrawing troops from Iraq has attracted cross-party support.

Former chancellor Ken Clarke, former government minister Claire Short and Labour's John McDonnell have all signed the amendment.

The support increases the chances of it being selected and voted upon in the climax to the Queen's Speech debate.

The amendment demands an exit strategy for British involvement in Iraq.

The SNP and Plaid Cymru MPs will say there is an 80-year-old precedent for the move.

The Liberal Party tabled an amendment to the King's Speech in 1923, demanding withdrawal from Mesopotamia, now called Iraq.

Those who are responsible for this blood-soaked quagmire now have the duty to tell us how they propose to remove our soldiers from this morass
Alex Salmond

Westminster eventually demanded a withdrawal - and the SNP is hoping to achieve a similar feat this week.

However, they are relying on the speaker accepting their amendment, as happened 83 years ago.

Senior party figures argue that after last week's US mid-term elections, a vote would allow MPs to reflect on America's view that Iraq policy must change.

SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "We are now in the extraordinary position where the prime minister has agreed to give evidence via video link to the Baker Commission that is reassessing American policy in Iraq but has failed to spell out to the House of Commons any proposals for extracting British forces from Iraq.

"This amendment will require the government to detail exactly that. Those who are responsible for this blood-soaked quagmire now have the duty to tell us how they propose to remove our soldiers from this morass."

Two weeks ago, the Nationalists helped force a debate and vote on an inquiry into Iraq policy.

However, the SNP and Plaid Cymru motion for an immediate probe was opposed by a majority of 25, despite support from 12 rebel Labour MPs.

The Queen's Speech, to be given on Wednesday, sets out the key measures that the government hopes to implement in the coming session of parliament. "

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6139736.stm

This should be interesting Laughing

SLG

Doomed to failure - but keeps it in the news.

azzuri

I agree, however it is very interesting how the SNP are becoming inventive with old laws and precedents - I'm very impressed with the way they've handled the whole thing.

Avatar

The SNP and Plaid Cymru certainly seem to have become really confident down in westminster recently.

Just an interesting thought I had, If the SNP were in government after independence, would they still be able to have a close relationship with Plaid Cymru?, assuming that Wales was still in Britain - or would that be seen as foreign interference?