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azzuri
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 3797
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 Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 2:59 am Post subject: Reid move could raise difficult questions |
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see - http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=680422006
Reid move could raise difficult questions
JAMES KIRKUP
JOHN REID's appointment as Home Secretary yesterday confirms the continuing influence of Scottish MPs in the Cabinet, but could also raise some difficult political questions.
Douglas Alexander's rise to full membership of the Cabinet brings to five the number of Scots MPs with seats at the government's top table.
Gordon Brown, the Chancellor, remains the most senior. Alistair Darling moves to run the Department of Trade and Industry and Des Browne replaces Dr Reid at the Ministry of Defence.
Dr Reid's new post - his seventh senior government job -- may attract controversy because so many of the Home Office's powers do not apply to Scotland, having been devolved to Holyrood.
Many Conservative MPs and even some Labour members believe that the West Lothian question raised by devolution must still be answered.
"Can a Scot run the Home Office? We will definitely be asking the question," one Tory frontbencher said last night.
Downing Street dismissed such questions, saying: "We are one country, one United Kingdom."
But even Dr Reid may be aware of the potential for controversy. Earlier this year, at a party for senior military officers, he joked that the Home Secretary's job was perhaps the one Cabinet role he would not be awarded, because his constituency is north of the Border.
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SLG
Born Again..........and still Scottish!
Joined: 16 Sep 2005
Posts: 5515
Location: Dùn Eideann
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 10:31 am Post subject: Re: Reid move could raise difficult questions |
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| rs_azzuri wrote: | | Downing Street dismissed such questions, saying: "We are one country, one United Kingdom." |
Could they sound any more like the new Tories?
I think he'll be fine as long as he doesnae f**k up. Just like he managed to get away with being minister for English Health. |
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Aventinian
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 4431
Location: Broadcasting From An Anonymous Location Within the United Kingdom.
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| Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject: Re: Reid move could raise difficult questions |
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| rs_azzuri wrote: | | Dr Reid's new post - his seventh senior government job -- may attract controversy because so many of the Home Office's powers do not apply to Scotland, having been devolved to Holyrood. |
This is a load of bull. The sheer number of functions the Home Office carries out in Scotland is tremendous. It is certainly no English department of state.
| Quote: | | Many Conservative MPs and even some Labour members believe that the West Lothian question raised by devolution must still be answered. |
Certainly it should - but then again people in glass houses should not throw stones - how often is the SoS for Northern Ireland an Ulsterman, or indeed any of the direct rule ministers?
What needs to be found is an answer - and neither Labour or the Tories are giving one, but just throwing the occasional bit of dirt. If one of them bothers to find a solution, let the people of England vote for it. |
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Reluctant Hero
Collecting my 'Our Scotland' Pension!
Joined: 17 Sep 2005
Posts: 2432
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| Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Reid move could raise difficult questions |
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What an arrogant, patronising, Tory, w*****. If he/she had any guts, they would own up to making those comments.
The Tories couldn't run any department in the government the last time they tried it, I seem to recall.  |
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Aventinian
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 10 Dec 2005
Posts: 4431
Location: Broadcasting From An Anonymous Location Within the United Kingdom.
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| Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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Perhaps not the last one (Major's government) but I certainly think Maggie did a good job of it.
The Tories may be far from perfect, but they have nowt on New Labour. |
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azzuri
'Our Scotland' Fossil
Joined: 12 Sep 2005
Posts: 3797
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| Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 9:49 pm Post subject: |
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That's true - after the way the Major Government was totally shafted by the media for 'sex scandals', I'm amazed New Labour get away with so much.
10 years ago there would have been rioting in the streets at new Labour's behaviour, now there is a sense of nothing but apathy.
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"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub
Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/ |
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frank rizzo
Nationalist
Joined: 04 Apr 2006
Posts: 149
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| Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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Probably down to Murdoch and The Scum still backing Tony. Although from a far less erse licking perspective now.
Tabloids control the lemmings in the Uk when it comes down to important issues now.
I blame Davina McCall personally.
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wisnaeme
This is Ma' Life!
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 646
Location: Coventry,England
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| Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 1:01 am Post subject: |
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| frank rizzo wrote: |
Tabloids control the lemmings in the Uk when it comes down to important issues now.
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Aye,right enough and meanwhile meltdown of New Labour continues.An article in the North Brittish Persons rag referring to an interview of Labour MP Frank Field on BBC 2's Newsnight programme in which when asked about the Bliar verses Brown spat he solemnly said that John Reid MP,Minister fer something or other would 'certainly' be among those to challenge Mr Brown for the top job.  Mair Spin and disinformation or at least I bluidy hope it is.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=716082006
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