The replacement of Michael Moore as Scottish Secretary with Alasdair Carmichael is being promoted by the party as a toughening of the party's stance against Alex Salmond.
If this is indeed the case then it is a mistake. Taking a tougher line against the most popular politician north of the border is self defeating and futile. As I have written previously, Moore's and the party's constitutional conservatism on independence has marginalised the party in Scotland and given it nothing distinctive to say on the major issue in Scottish politics.
I hope Carmichael uses the opportunity before him to take a more nuanced stance on independence - perhaps working with the Scottish government to define more clearly how the relationships with a post independence Scotland might work - rather than parroting the simple scaremongering of the Labour dominated 'Better Together' campaign.
Scotland deserves a grown up debate on the real pros and cons of independence, not more sloganeering and name calling.
If this is indeed the case then it is a mistake. Taking a tougher line against the most popular politician north of the border is self defeating and futile. As I have written previously, Moore's and the party's constitutional conservatism on independence has marginalised the party in Scotland and given it nothing distinctive to say on the major issue in Scottish politics.
I hope Carmichael uses the opportunity before him to take a more nuanced stance on independence - perhaps working with the Scottish government to define more clearly how the relationships with a post independence Scotland might work - rather than parroting the simple scaremongering of the Labour dominated 'Better Together' campaign.
Scotland deserves a grown up debate on the real pros and cons of independence, not more sloganeering and name calling.
As the Sec of State for Scotland is he not supposed to put forward a Scottish perspective and not bully , fight ,wheedle and lie in support of the union?
ReplyDeleteJust asking.