IraGlacialis
05-06-2007, 06:32 PM
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Nationalists start tricky coalition talks in Scotland
by Robin Millard
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond speaks after hearing the result of the Gordon constituency ballot in Aberdeen, 04 May 2007. The pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), the largest bloc in Scotland's parliament after winning last week's election, has received a boost from a potential coalition partner.(AFP/File/Paul Ellis)
LONDON (AFP) - The Scottish National Party, which backs pulling Scotland out of the UK, held talks on forming a coalition government Saturday but faced an early setback in its search for a willing partner.
The SNP won a landmark victory, overtaking British Prime Minister Tony Blair (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/afp/brand/SIG=ofqlv2;_ylt=AplkhYQdorttGigZ48b.VInjOrgF/*http://www.afp.com)'s Labour Party by one seat in Thursday's elections to the Scottish Parliament, the first time Labour has been runner-up in one of its traditional heartlands since 1955.
But the Liberal Democrats, the SNP's most obvious coalition partner, dealt them an early blow when they unanimously agreed not to support a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom -- the SNP's raison d'etre.
Following a meeting of the Lib Dems' parliamentary group, Nicol Stephen, the party's leader in Scotland, said: "The group agreed that the largest party has the right to seek to form an administration either through a coalition or as a minority."
But he added: "The result of the election shows there is no demand or mandate for independence ... Therefore the group agreed unanimously that we will not support a referendum on independence."
A coalition between the SNP (47 seats), the Lib Dems (16) and the Greens (two) would secure the 65 seats needed for a majority in the 126-member Edinburgh parliament, which has powers over areas including health and education.
With limited room for manoeuvre, the Labour-Lib Dem coalition which has ruled Scotland for the last eight years could continue as a minority government if the SNP fails to find willing partners.
"Scottish Labour stands ready to work with others who want to make devolution work," the party said in a statement.
If no agreement on forming a new Scottish government is struck by May 30, a new election will have to be held.
SNP leader Alex Salmond told reporters: "We are still to have discussions over the next few days and we'll approach them constructively.
"We've had conversations informally, but there's been no formal negotiation sas yet.
"During the election we expressed a preference for a coalition and that's certainly my preference."
If the SNP forms the next Scottish government, it may create a headache for Gordon Brown, if, as expected, he takes over from Blair within a few months.
Brown, a unionist Scot, could face an awkward cohabitation as he has vowed not to work with a Scottish leader who wants to end the 300-year-old union with England and Wales.
But Salmond stressed his willingness to cooperate with Brown.
"If I'm elected as first minister, then I'll work constructively and in the best interests of Scotland and I'm certain that if Gordon becomes prime minister then he'll want to do that as well," he said.
MPs representing Scottish seats in the British parliament can vote on affairs that affect England only, such as health and education, as the Edinburgh parliament decides on those matters for Scotland.
Labour's former British welfare reform minister Frank Field said that anomaly could wreck the premiership of Brown, who represents a Scottish seat.
"He must know he can't stand up in the House (of Commons) and announce a major reform programme as prime minister that will not apply to his constituents but only English voters.
"If he tries, the next election is over bar the counting," Field wrote in The Independent on Sunday newspaper.
"SNP MPs already refuse to vote on exclusively English matters.
"If Gordon thinks he can continue to allow Scottish Labour MPs this exception he risks being run out of Downing Street. "But for him, of all people, to say that only English MPs will decide English legislation would ensure a political earthquake both sides of the border."
[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070505/wl_uk_afp/britainpoliticsvote_070505213830
Nationalists start tricky coalition talks in Scotland
by Robin Millard
Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond speaks after hearing the result of the Gordon constituency ballot in Aberdeen, 04 May 2007. The pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP), the largest bloc in Scotland's parliament after winning last week's election, has received a boost from a potential coalition partner.(AFP/File/Paul Ellis)
LONDON (AFP) - The Scottish National Party, which backs pulling Scotland out of the UK, held talks on forming a coalition government Saturday but faced an early setback in its search for a willing partner.
The SNP won a landmark victory, overtaking British Prime Minister Tony Blair (http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/afp/brand/SIG=ofqlv2;_ylt=AplkhYQdorttGigZ48b.VInjOrgF/*http://www.afp.com)'s Labour Party by one seat in Thursday's elections to the Scottish Parliament, the first time Labour has been runner-up in one of its traditional heartlands since 1955.
But the Liberal Democrats, the SNP's most obvious coalition partner, dealt them an early blow when they unanimously agreed not to support a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom -- the SNP's raison d'etre.
Following a meeting of the Lib Dems' parliamentary group, Nicol Stephen, the party's leader in Scotland, said: "The group agreed that the largest party has the right to seek to form an administration either through a coalition or as a minority."
But he added: "The result of the election shows there is no demand or mandate for independence ... Therefore the group agreed unanimously that we will not support a referendum on independence."
A coalition between the SNP (47 seats), the Lib Dems (16) and the Greens (two) would secure the 65 seats needed for a majority in the 126-member Edinburgh parliament, which has powers over areas including health and education.
With limited room for manoeuvre, the Labour-Lib Dem coalition which has ruled Scotland for the last eight years could continue as a minority government if the SNP fails to find willing partners.
"Scottish Labour stands ready to work with others who want to make devolution work," the party said in a statement.
If no agreement on forming a new Scottish government is struck by May 30, a new election will have to be held.
SNP leader Alex Salmond told reporters: "We are still to have discussions over the next few days and we'll approach them constructively.
"We've had conversations informally, but there's been no formal negotiation sas yet.
"During the election we expressed a preference for a coalition and that's certainly my preference."
If the SNP forms the next Scottish government, it may create a headache for Gordon Brown, if, as expected, he takes over from Blair within a few months.
Brown, a unionist Scot, could face an awkward cohabitation as he has vowed not to work with a Scottish leader who wants to end the 300-year-old union with England and Wales.
But Salmond stressed his willingness to cooperate with Brown.
"If I'm elected as first minister, then I'll work constructively and in the best interests of Scotland and I'm certain that if Gordon becomes prime minister then he'll want to do that as well," he said.
MPs representing Scottish seats in the British parliament can vote on affairs that affect England only, such as health and education, as the Edinburgh parliament decides on those matters for Scotland.
Labour's former British welfare reform minister Frank Field said that anomaly could wreck the premiership of Brown, who represents a Scottish seat.
"He must know he can't stand up in the House (of Commons) and announce a major reform programme as prime minister that will not apply to his constituents but only English voters.
"If he tries, the next election is over bar the counting," Field wrote in The Independent on Sunday newspaper.
"SNP MPs already refuse to vote on exclusively English matters.
"If Gordon thinks he can continue to allow Scottish Labour MPs this exception he risks being run out of Downing Street. "But for him, of all people, to say that only English MPs will decide English legislation would ensure a political earthquake both sides of the border."
[URL]http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070505/wl_uk_afp/britainpoliticsvote_070505213830