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macnumpty
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We're not playing with youA thought occurs: if Labour, the Tories and the LibDems really are serious about supporting the Union and stressing its benefits, why are they refusing to take part in the 'national conversation' discussing Scotland's constitutional future? Why not engage, and emphasise the positive rather that sit and carp from the sidelines? Remember that positivity (or lack of it) made this election and its aftermath: Labour ran a negative campaign and lost. The SNP put forward their own agenda and came first. The Tories put forward their own programme, and held on. The LibDems threatened to go in a huff with one party, and lost a seat. They then carried out that threat and lost further credibility. Why is it rhat the Tories have opted to emulate the failed negativity of Labour and the LibDems, rather than Labour and the LibDems opting to make the positive case for the Union that they all claim exists? Why is it that they can all talk about that positive case but neer seem to go into detail as to what it consists of?
And as for those in the three parties who don't want independence but do want further powers for Holyrood? The Unionist parties are accusing the national conversation of being a one-way megaphone, but are refusing to use the process to advance the case for further powers within the Union. And if or when they produce their position, there will be no debate, no give-and-take, no discussions on the way forward. It will be their way or no way. Yet still they accuse the SNP's approach of being a megaphone. They claim they will debate the way forward, but don't want the SNP to join their debate as they'll mention independence. They don't want to join the SNP's debate as it will consider independence. In doing so they miss their best opportuinty to advocate the Union. And they undermine their argument that the SNP are talking at people rather than with them: the Unionist parties' approach is now: "don't talk to them, talk to us instead, but only if you agree with us in the first place."
Some debate!
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SLG
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They have already lost the argument. They are saying that if people hear the arguments of the SNP from an open platform, they will 'fall for it'. That is not a credible position.
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