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Sounds interesting to me !

It's nearly 5 days since the shambles of an election, do I have to put my despair to one side now and just say get on with it - it appears so. I feel outraged that so many people have not had their vote, disappointed too that Scotland has not made a stand.

The greens are pro independence too don't forget, let's just have the referendum as soon as possible it's nearing 5 days now, I'm fed up already with this issue.

Given both parties current stances this seems like the only sensible way forward.

The Lib Dems won't back a multiple option referendum when it's the obvious choice because they want to 'keep their principles'.

The SNP won't drop a referendum when they know they have no chance of getting the bill through parliament - again, for 'principled' reasons.

Both should start thinking of the government that Scotland wants which, by the election results, is a progressive government of an SNP/Lib Dem (and Green) coalition.

Perhaps this approach saves them all face and gets to the most likely result - eventually...

I do not understand why the Liberals are so against a referendum on independece? They must have little faith in the Scottish people who I suspect would give a clear rejection of independence, and if they elected to go for independence who are the Liberals to prevent this taking place?

Whatever one's political leanings, one has to accept that there has been a significant shift away from the last Lib/Lab coalitiion. If that were to continue, ignoring the declared will of the people, however small the majority, it could be disasterous for Scotland. Politics would polarize as never before.
On the other hand, is it not possible to have grown-up, joined politics in which issues are addressed according to their merits unencumbered by Party dogma. Scotland could be the first democracy in the World to achieve this!
PR has done its job, now it is for politicians to learn to live and operate in a new and untried way, in the interests of all the people of Scotland.

Speech by Scottish Party Leader Nicol Stephen MSP to Scottish Liberal Democrat Conference - 17 February 2007

‘And it will come as no surprise to remind you of this. In 1997 the Liberal Democrats saw no need for a referendum before establishing a Scottish Parliament which we strongly supported. So why in 2007 would we support a referendum to establish a separate Scottish state, which we
strongly oppose.‘

Qu - When would the Lib dems support a referendum?

Ans - When the issue is not a significant issue and/or when they are sure the outcome will be option they support. Democratic?

The events of the past few days will have made the Liberal Democrats in general and Nicol Stephen in particular think again; they were surely feeling comfortable in the near certainty that they would share power and office in a coalition especially since the Scottish Conservatives had ‘honourably’ stated they would not coalesce with any other party.

This was and still remains the Liberal Democrats only realistic chance of ministerial office; is this move of Alex Salmond’s a psychological ploy to eventually coerce those power hungry Scottish Liberal Democrats to the negotiating table without them arrogantly setting preconditions?

It's certainly going to be an interesting four political years!

One by-election during that period could swing the Parliament from SNP to Labour.

Or, alternatively, one disenfranchised backbencher could resign from their party, and have an impact on the balances in Holyrood.

Or alternatively, what if a certain Mr Brown does take over Number 10... I wonder if there will be any Scottish Labour followers heading to Westminster to help him out.

Admittedly, a lot of "what ifs", but not completely without their chances.

Is it possible that the Lib Dems are going to vote against Alec Salmond for first minister on Wednesday, rather than abstaining? They are craven enough to do this and it would explain both their current silence and Wee Jack’s hanging on and on…..
Mary