With the ever increasing possibility of Mr B becomiing PM will it piss the English off having a Scottish PM, or can he become a beacon for friendship and promote alliances? Personally I can't stand the idea but then I hate New labour but waht does everybody else think.
2007-01-14 08:07:02 · 14 answers · asked by Bailey P 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
I don't think it'll make much difference. It won't foster any friendships because none need fostering - Scotland and England are closer now than they ever have been, with almost every Scot having English relatives and friends. Can anyone really imagine Glasgow and Liverpool being foreign cities? Despite what some people claim the vast majority of Scots are not in favour of completley dissolving the Union, all separatist parties combined only get about 30% of the total vote and some of their supporters are mainly only voting for environmental reasons (green party), left-wing reasons (socialist party), or increased powers for devolved government (Scots Nationalists). Often it's a protest vote against Labour, who dominate Scottish politics (few Scots will vote Tory).
I'm a Scot and most people up here think our MPs at Westminster shouldn't vote on English-only issues. It is the British Parliament but when dealing with issues that the Scottish Parliament controls in Scotland it's only fair we allow England's representatives to decide exclusively English issues for themselves. It's not Scots who want to vote on English affairs, it's the Labour government - they don't have a majority without the Scottish Labour MPs so they oppose them abstaining.
But even when (it's not a case of "if") English MPs do finally get to pass laws on their own for England, no British MP should be blocked from any office of the British Government. Maybe if a Scottish/Welsh/N.Irish MP becomes Prime Minister then they should create an office of First Minister or Secratery of State for England who directs the governments exclusively English policies. Prime Minister Brown will annoy a lot of people on both sides of the border, but his tax policies might be a far bigger factor than his nationality.
2007-01-14 08:37:40 · answer #1 · answered by mark 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Can I just start by saying almost every Scottish person agrees that the Scottish PM's should not be able to vote on English matters? I'm a Scottish woman living in England so my concerns are with what's happening in England as this is what will affect me and my husband. I don't want Labour in charge but if that's whats going to happen then I'll take Gordon over the rest (not because he's Scottish but he's the best of a bad bunch)
2007-01-14 17:25:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I doubt it. He's campaigning for 'Britishness' because he wants to be PM of all of Britain; ironically the Scottish Parliament which he helped to create is his Achilles heel. It is perfectly reasonable that England and the English do not want Scottish Westminister MPs voting on matters that they get no say in North of the border. As a Scot ... well it isn't fair is it ? I have to agree. The Scots cannot have it all ways. There has to be a fair resolution of the issue. It certainly has some bearing on how they will feel about another Scottish PM.
2007-01-14 16:20:45 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Er ... we have a Scottish PM now! Tony Blair may represent an English constituency, but he is Scottish. One day the Scots will choose to rule themselves
2007-01-14 18:03:02 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
He will be in a difficult position and that is why he is trying to smooth the waters now. The problem is that the Scottish don't want the English to have anything to do with their policies but still have members in parliment able to vote on English matters. That is wrong.
2007-01-14 16:13:44 · answer #5 · answered by Bexs 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I think he may find difficulties, particularly if Scotland gains independence. After all, he represents a Scottish constituency.
2007-01-15 12:01:43 · answer #6 · answered by Beau Brummell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Personally, I hope he wont become the next PM. I'd much prefer John Reid, who seems to have a little more guts to speak out.
Can't see it happening though.
2007-01-14 16:18:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, i don't think it will make a blind bit of difference!! It is irrelevant that he is Scottish for either nationality
However, maybe it will make more people want an independent nation - cos they have someone of PM material???? Maybe!
2007-01-14 16:11:56 · answer #8 · answered by elephantemg83 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
its possible, but i wouldn't hold your breath. the scots really hate the english. which is strange, because the english are fairly ambivalent towards the scots. its the welsh they hate.
2007-01-14 16:15:57 · answer #9 · answered by stephizzal 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Tony Blair is Scottish, did he change anything? :-/
2007-01-14 23:21:25 · answer #10 · answered by Butterscotch 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋