'Scots should decide on referendum'
The people of Scotland should be allowed to decide whether the independence referendum has multiple questions or is opened up to 16-year-olds, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
Ms Sturgeon recalled a 23-year-old constitutional declaration - which the SNP did not sign - to insist that "civic Scotland" has the right to design its own referendum.
In a motion before Holyrood on Thursday, she called on the Scottish Parliament to affirm the principles of the Claim of Right for Scotland.
The document, drawn up by a cross-party steering group in 1988, stated: "We do hereby acknowledge the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of government best suited to their needs." It was signed by all Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs, apart from Tam Dalyell.
The SNP did not sign the document as the Scottish Constitutional Convention, which followed on from the cross-party group, did not consider independence and the Nationalists have been criticised by opposition parties for reviving the Claim's principles in the independence debate.
Ms Sturgeon said: "There has never been a more important moment to recommit ourselves to that principle. The SNP always supported the sentiments of the Claim of Right. The SNP were actually involved in the initial work to draft the Claim of Right.
"The reason that the SNP weren't in the Constitutional Convention are well documented. But that is history. It's a rather childish argument to say, 'You didnae sign it then so we'll not sign it now'."
Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson questioned why Labour should reaffirm its support for a declaration it signed 23 years ago.
She said: "The Labour Party are already signatories to the Claim of Right. We have no need to repeat it. We signed it in 1989, and we've never had reason to resile from it - unlike others."
Tory David McLetchie argued that the Claim of Right was "totally misconceived". The former Conservative leader argued that any partnership - such as the Union between Scotland and England - could not be changed by one side alone.
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2012, All Rights Reserved.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Inverurie
Thursday 23 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 5 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 11 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: West
