Published and promoted by Robert Brown, Liberal Democrat Councillor for Rutherglen South Ward (South Lanarkshire Council), 4 Clifton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5DR
Rutherglen
Joined November 2011
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We regularly test this in our local surveys and canvassing. Federalism regularly gets supper of about a third of voters - most of them people who would otherwise go for separation.
Why don’t you try to bring about a federal solution? It is the answer arrived at by countries across the globe notably Canada and Germany.
I voted No in 2014 - I never bought the ‘Better Together’ pish. I argued the @RedPaperScot line for a federal UK - I am one of many in the labour movement to be convinced of Indy - I advise nationalists their bitterness against the likes of me really don’t help your cause
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Comes to something when your European colleagues are distancing themselves from you.
Our statement on the recent Green Party of England and Wales motion 'Zionism is Racism'.
europeangreens.eu/news/egp-p…
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Someone’s overlooked that Theresa May’s Govt was elected under first past the post, not PR. Funny sort of argument?
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It works like that - and works well - in Scotland under the reforms introduced by the Liberal Democrats in government here from 1999-2007. I think that was what was recommended by the Sutherland Commission (a UK Commission pre Devolution)
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For most of the 20th century it was the other way round - I don’t recall any complaints from the Conservatives then nor any moves to reform the voting system.
The Right (Conservative/Reform/RESTORE) is forecast to receive 49% of the vote, yet they are projected to receive 40% of the seats across GB.
The Left (Labour/LibDem/Green/Nationalist) is forecast to receive 49% of the vote. They are projected to receive 60% of the seats across GB.
The Right in Britiain has never been more divided.
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Robert Brown retweeted
Trump: Hitler was from Germany.
Merkel: No, Hitler was from Austria.
Trump: Then why are there no photos of him with kangaroos?
Merkel: That's Aust,...
Trump: Or boomerangs?
What a nightmare. But please don’t misquote people to support your neverendum argument.
This quoted post is unavailable.
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I must say I could feel Stephen Flynn squirm in the face of this very effective forensic questioning by Willie Rennie MSP.
I had Donald Dewar as a guest at a game. Only me and him. I said I feared Holyrood would never attract the real intellects and talents.
He said have faith and give it a generation.
Well here we are. Donald was a decent man. But he was wrong. Holyrood and devolution has failed.
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Robert Brown retweeted
The state of political power in Scotland: top-down, centralised and concentrated in Holyrood & WM:
"Local communities have NO political power over their own affairs despite the people of eg Cupar being best placed to make decisions about Cupar."
Just your regular reminder that Scotland had the most concentrated pattern of “local” “government” anywhere in Europe. It abolished the equivalent of French, German, or Norwegian communes in 1930 and 1974.
Local communities have NO political power over their own affairs despite the people of eg Cupar being best placed to make decisions about Cupar.
Scotland needs more local government and not less. xitter.cf/paulhutcheon/status/20…
I've just signed "Tell Andy Burnham to launch a National Commission on Electoral Reform" - Will you support the campaign too? actionstorm.org/petitions/na… @action_storm
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I agree entirely. You could also go for a more federal UK - offered by Gladstone as long ago as 1886!
English 'devolution' long overdue, but I think there should be more effort to present them as 'revivals' of historical entities where pos. to help English folk buy in, & also actual sovereignty that the next centralizing Westminster govt can't take away with legislation or judges
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Good one
Matt on the defence troubles of the Starmer government and resignation of John Healey. HT @MattCartoonist
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Seems to me like a fact not an opinion
BBC Scotland reporter Jenny Davidson has stated that because the SNP has fewer MSPs that in 2021 and a lower vote share then it "undermines" any call for a second Indyref. We thought BBC reporters weren't allowed to present their own political opinions as fact.
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Robert Brown retweeted
This is fairly reductive thinking. It's well known that the most consequential nationalist of all, Alex Salmond, for one, much preferred Westminster to Holyrood. And there are clearly many non-nationalist MSPs who are in politics to make a difference at Holyrood.
“The unionists want to be at Westminster”
@akmaciver reacts to the news that Douglas Lumsden is set to run in the Aberdeen South Westminster by-election, just a few days after being re-elected to The Scottish Parliament. The seat will be vacated by Stephen Flynn who is leaving the House of Commons for Holyrood.
Does this sum up the attitudes of Unionist and Nationalist politicians towards both parliaments?
@CalumAM | @geoffaberdein