ConservativeHome's ToryDiary

Tories must oppose using taxpayers' money to bailout newspapers

Jeremy Hunt MP noted on Thursday that the newspaper industry is in trouble and others have worried that, without a vigorous press, democracy will lose its watchdogs.  But should newspapers join the growing list of industries receiving special government subsidy?

A report in Friday's Scotsman suggested that Scottish Conservatives think the answer to that question is 'yes'.

"Tory media spokesman Ted Brocklebank [MSP] has called on the Scottish Government to re- consider its decision to switch its advertising to the internet in a bid to tackle the financial problems in the newspaper industry."

That's a bad call; bad for taxpayers and also potentially bad for democracy.  We need a free press but we need that free press to be fiercely independent of government.  If the press starts to rely on state-subsidised favours for its survival we are on a very slippery slope.

Tim Montgomerie

Annabel Goldie emphasises the need for a close working relationship between Holyrood and Westminster

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie was in Westminster today to attend the shadow cabinet meeting - something which she will now be doing on a monthly basis. She also briefed Westminster based journalists, and took the opportunity to emphasise the need for her and David Cameron to work closely together, as well as for First MInster Alex Salmond to have a relationship with the UK Prime Minister.

She said:

“I think it is important for David Cameron and I to work closely together and I have decided that attending Shadow Cabinet at Westminster on a monthly basis will help cement what is already a very good relationship. In this digital age it is still important to meet face to face. I have been to Shadow Cabinet at Westminster on a number of occasions and know what a useful experience it is.

"Like David Cameron, I believe that the UK and the Scottish Governments need to work closely together as do Westminster and Holyrood. Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond do not meet with each other to stand up for the people of Scotland. David Cameron and I will.

"Gordon Brown has fallen into the SNP’s trap of gripe and grievance politics and it is threatening the Union. David Cameron and I will not make the same mistake. As Conservatives we are unswerving in our support for the Union and we will not allow the Labour SNP turf war to damage the UK.”

She went on to describe Labour as being "clumsy and inept" in terms of the way is has treated its relationship - or rather lack thereof - wth the SNP administration at Holyrood and siad that the key to a prodcutive relationship was "mutual repsect" between London and Edinburgh.

Scottish Tories attack Alex Salmond's record at Westminster

It's been an interesting couple of weeks in Scottish politics as far as the relationship between the Conservatives and the SNP administration in Holyrood are concerned.

First, the Conservatives were the only opposition party in Edinburgh initially to support the budget proposed by Alex Salmond's administration.

And then, a week ago, David Cameron wrote a piece in Scotland on Sunday in which he talked about the need for co-operation between a future UK Conservative Government and the SNP-run Scottish Executive.

Some commentators - such as Alex Massie here - even talked in terms of there being an outside chance of the Conservatives forging an official coalition with the SNP north of the border in the future.

But there's no doubt now that normal hostilities between the two parties have very much resumed.

Yesterday, Alex Salmond attacked David Cameron for being "at sixes and sevens" over the circumstances in which he would hold a referendum on Scottish independence - a move which I recently suggested could settle the question of Scotland's constitutional status early in a Cameron Government.

And today the Tories have hit back at Scotland's First Minister - who represents Gordon in the Scottish Parliament and Banff and Buchan in the House of Commons - and accused him of misleading Scots by claiming to be "in the top ten hardest-working Scottish MPs" in his Holyrood register of interests.

According to today's Daily Record, Mr Salmond has the worst voting record of any MP representing a Scottish constituency in the Commons for the last two Westminster sessions, during which he has been First Minister.

Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie has called on him to resign as an MP and concentrate on being First Minister.

My hunch is that the charge will not especially resonate with the wider public in Scotland - not least because Mr Salmond is in the habit of ensuring he is in the Commons for the most crucial votes when his absence could have been made into an issue. 

I think the Conservatives' energies would best be used working on the ground in support of Jimmy Buchan, who was recently selected to contest the Banff and Buchan seat for the party come the next election.

Jonathan Isaby

David Cameron announces Economic Recovery Committee

David Cameron used his monthly press conference this morning to announce a new Economic Recovery Committee which will meet fortnightly and review Conservative policy on how to deal with the recession and co-ordinate strategy for reconstructing the British economy.

The membership will comprise members of the shadow cabinet with responsibility for economic and business portfolios and a number of those from the private sector with expertise on which David Cameron wants to call.

They are:

• David Cameron (Chairman)
• George Osborne, Shadow Chancellor
• Ken Clarke, Shadow Business Secretary
• Theresa May, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary
• David Willetts, Shadow Universities, Innovations and Skills Secretary
• Phillip Hammond, Shadow Chief Secretary
• Oliver Letwin, Chairman of the Policy Review
• William Hague, senior member of the Shadow Cabinet
• Sir Christopher Gent (Vodafone founder)
• Sir Peter Middleton (former Treasury permanent secretary)
• Baroness Noakes
• Sir Brian Pitman (former chief exec and chairman of Lloyds Bank)
• Sir James Sassoon (former Treasury envoy to the City)
• Simon Wolfson (of Next)
• Eric Schmidt (of Google) as International Business Adviser

Mr Cameron stressed that this would be an executive body rather than merely an advisory committee and that all the non-politicians were acting in a personal capacity. He said that in these extraordinary times it was right to "look beyond Whitehall and Westminster to draw together top talent" and that they were not merely a "trophy cabinet".

How a Cameron Government would cohabit with an SNP administration in Scotland

David Cameron has discussed in detail for the first time the approach that he would take in dealing with the SNP administration in Scotland if he becomes Prime Minister after the next election.

Writing in Scotland on Sunday, Mr Cameron pledges that whilst he will do "everything in my power to ensure that the SNP will not be able to split up the UK", he would want to be "a prime minister that would work constructively with any administration at Holyrood for the good of Scotland".   

The Tory leader sets out three ways in which he would go about this:

• Firstly, he would back the constitutional settlement of devolution and not seek to control Tory MSPs at Holyrood (with whose leader, Annabel Goldie, he is pictured above).
• Secondly, he would want there to be a good working relationship between him and First Minister, Alex Salmond - which has not been the case with Gordon Brown, who has not met Mr Salmond for nearly a year.
• Thirdly, he would want there to be co-operation "at all levels" between the administrations, with the Scotland Secretary and First Minister having official monthly meetings, Cabinet ministers talking to their opposite numbers in Scotland and civil servants in Whitehall having similar dealings with their counterparts in Edinburgh.  He reveals that members of the shadow cabinet have already been meeting with members of the SNP cabinet and adds: "I want to see more of that".

Were the Scottish Tories right to back the SNP budget?

Politics in Scotland has been thrown into chaos over the last 48 hours.

Yesterday afternoon, the budget proposed by Alex Salmond's minority SNP administration was thrown out after it was defeated on the casting vote of the Presiding Officer. The Conservative MSPs voted with the SNP, whereas Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens opposed the budget.

According to the Herald:

"Labour argued the budget did too little for jobs, the Liberal Democrats rejected it after their call for a 2p income tax cut was dismissed, and Greens said the offer of a £22 million home insulation scheme - upped at the last minute to a possible £33 million - was not enough."

Annabel Goldie (pictured) has said that supporting the SNP budget was right after the Tories secured a variety of concessions from the Nationalists:

“The Scottish Conservatives fought hard to secure nearly a quarter of a billion pounds worth of concessions from the SNP Government to help in these difficult economic times. Through responsible negotiations Scottish Conservatives ensured that 150,000 businesses would have had their bills cut or abolished and town centres across Scotland would have received a massive £60 million cash boost. This was action to tackle Labour’s recession. Labour voted it down. And the real horror of what has happened is that public sector workers will face an uncertain future, council tax could go up by an average of £350, health budgets will be slashed by £650 million, small businesses will pay more tax, there will be fewer police on our streets and there will be less care money for our elderly.

“The Scottish Government has said it will re-present the Budget Bill. If it reflects the concessions we have already won, in these circumstances we will support it but we give no similar guarantees to any variant. The SNP should bring this Budget back to Parliament and face Labour down."

A further attempt at putting a budget through the Holyrood will begin next week, but the First Minister is threatening that if MSPs refuse to pass it at this second time of asking, he will trigger early elections to the Scottish Parliament in a new attempt to seek a mandate.

Such machinations are naturally more likely to happen in a legislature elected by proportional representation where no party has an overall majority.

But in this case, were the Scottish Tories right to back the SNP? Was it that the party didn't want to be seen to be destabilising politics and potentially helping to cause an unnecessary election? Or did they believe that this was the best possible budget deal? And what are the likely repercussions for the Conservatives at the general election north of the border, or at early Scottish Parliament elections, should they be triggered?

It would be especially interesting to hear the thoughts of any readers in Scotland who have been following this saga.

Jonathan Isaby

Should Conservatives back more power for Holyrood?

Lord Forsyth of Drumlean, the former Scottish Secretary, has given an interview today in which he states that those considering giving further powers to the Scottish Parliament are "off their heads".

The backdrop to his comments is the ongoing discussion of this very matter by the Calman Commission, whose first report is to be issued shortly.

The Commission - which is backed by the three main unionist parties in Scotland - has the following remit:

"To review the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998 in the light of experience and to recommend any changes to the present constitutional arrangements that would enable the Scottish Parliament to serve the people of Scotland better, improve the financial accountability of the Scottish Parliament, and continue to secure the position of Scotland within the United Kingdom."

Among the proposals it could make would be to give Scotland greater powers over taxation, a suggestion to which Lord Forsyth gives short shrift:

“I think it's amazing when the house is on fire that people are wondering if it might be a good idea to raise more taxes in Scotland."

When it was put to him that this could mean the Scottish Parliament having power to reduce taxes north of the border, he expressed incredulity at this ever happening.

The Scottish Parliament already has the abilitiy to vary the basic rate of income tax by 3p in the pound. But given that it has not yet used even that power, is it fanciful to be thinking in terms of passing yet more responsibilities to Holyrood?

Or is it that more significant powers are required if devolution arrangements are to be meaningful, since current powers only allow politicians to tinker at the edges?

Should Conservatives be thinking about making Scotland fiscally autonomous or do you believe that would be a step too far on the road to separation?

Jonathan Isaby

Scottish Tories claim "romantic dream of independence [has] crashed to the ground"

Has the economic crisis scuppered Alex Salmond's ambitions to break up the United Kingdom?  The Telegraph's Alan Cochrane and Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie are thinking it might have.

Cochrane penned this for today's Telegraph:

"An astute politician, Salmond has always pitched his appeal to the voters by combining the emotional as well as the economic cases for independence. Both, however, are now looking as bust as the banks. Only a few weeks ago, he was calling on Scots to emulate countries such as Ireland, Iceland, Norway and Denmark in what he termed an "Arc of Prosperity" surrounding Scotland. Now all are either in recession, heading that way or, in Iceland's case, paying a horrendous price for financial irresponsibility. Hence their new nickname - the "Arc of Insolvency", of which Scotland is now also a part."

Annabel Goldie has delivered the same message in a letter to the voters of the Glenrothes by-election:

"Every vote Alex Salmond gets, stamps his passport to independence. He claims every  SNP election victory is another part of Scotland wanting separatism.  I think the recent financial turmoil has sent shockwaves running through Scotland. This was the week when for thousands of people in Scotland, the romantic dream of independence crashed to the ground against the reality of ferocious global pressures. Pressures which have been devastating for small countries like Iceland and Ireland and Norway.  Voting for the SNP in this by-election is not change, it’s not progress, it’s a cop out."

Scottish Tories campaign against plans to criminalise under 21s who use off licences

Scottish Conservatives are direct mailing the postcard below to 10,000 18 year-olds in target seats, highlighting SNP plans to stop under 21 year-olds from purchasing alcohol from off licences.

Murdo Fraser MSP described the Scottish Government’s proposals as "ludicrous, discriminatory and not addressing the fundamental issue." He continued: “Every 18 year old deserves to know what the SNP thinks of them.”

Scottish Tories offer £150 council tax cut

With the hugely under-reported decision by the Conservatives to stop matching Labour's spending plans we may soon see tax cuts back on the UK-wide agenda (or at least a decisive attempt to get borrowing under control).  Annabel Goldie has made a decisive move today to put tax cutting on the Scottish political agenda.

A little while ago we published an excellent Platform piece by Derek Brownlee MSP on the great muddle of the SNP's costly plans for a local income tax.  Ms Goldie has today announced that she would divert the £281m subsidy that Alex Salmond plans for the introduction of SLIT (Scottish Local Income Tax) to a £150 council tax cut.  Here's the Scottish Tory leader's full statement:

“The £281 million that Alex Salmond says he can find to subsidise the SNP’s unfair, unworkable and totally discredited new national income tax would be much better used to cut the Council Tax bills of every one of the two million households in Scotland.

“Today I can announce the cornerstone of Scottish Conservative plans to reform and reduce council tax. We would use the government’s efficiency savings to cut the council tax bill of every Scottish household by £150 meaning two million households - 100% of council tax payers - would be better off and we would still plan to go even further with bigger cuts for our older pensioners.

“Unlike Labour, who are long on rhetoric and short on solutions, this is a totally costed, entirely workable plan. It can be done as soon as the SNP finds the money, which they say they can. Indeed, as soon as they can find even some of that money, we can start cutting bills. This is real help in these hard pressed times.

“So it is time for the truth on the Scottish National Income tax plans. They say that 80% of Scots households would be no worse off under their plans. But to make this claim the SNP has to pump £281million pounds in subsidy into the scheme. The real comparison is not between a subsidised LIT and an unsubsidised council tax, but between both bills cut by the same subsidy. As the enclosed study shows, which is based on the SNP’s own data, the tables have been turned.

“Alex Salmond says he can find the money; Scottish Conservatives can spend it better. In these pressing economic times we don’t need a new tax on work – we need a tax cut for all.”

Congratulations Annabel!  Yesterday Essex Tories announced plans for a £200 council tax rebate for low income families and pensioners.  It's your turn soon Mr O...

Conservatives now unlikely to make large changes to UK-wide funding settlement

Another big news day for the TaxPayers' Alliance.  See, for example, the BBC, The Telegraph and The Sun.

The reason for today's news coverage is a TPA report on the Barnett formula that governs the public expenditure settlement between the different parts of the UK.  Here are the main findings in the report from author, Mike Denham:

Mr Denham recommends that the formula is abolished as part of giving Scotland 'fiscal autonomy'.

Speaking to Conservatives in Westminster, Edinburgh and Cardiff yesterday, however, it seems that the Conservative Party is unlikely to make more than modest reforms to the formula.  These were the political reasons given:

1. The party now enjoys a large opinion poll lead.  Polls had suggested that reform of the Barnett formula could have an electric effect on voters - similar to last year's inheritance tax cut - but that the risk was no longer necessary.  Ridley Grove made the case on Monday that large opinion poll leads are discouraging radicalism in Tory policy.
2. Reform could jeopardise talks with the Ulster Unionists. The focus is often on Scotland but as the graphic above shows, the biggest beneficiary of the current settlement is N Ireland.  David Cameron has high hopes for Owen Paterson's co-operation talks with the UUP and unpicking the Barnett formula could greatly undermine the appeal of UUP-Tory candidates in their first General Election campaign.
3. Reform could be a gift to the SNP.  Alex Salmond believes that reform of Barnett would be a massive gift to his hopes for independence.  A poll earlier this week found that - regardless of Barnett - a quarter of Scots would be more likely to vote for independence if there was a Tory government.
4. Reform could hurt the Conservatives' Welsh revival. Although the party may not win many more seats in NI or Scotland there is a real chance of big gains in Wales.  Conservatives in Cardiff fear that reform of Barnett could kill those chances.  As part of the Tory commitment to Wales the Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan has already defended the continuation of the Welsh Office.

This is not to say that there will be no reform but any ideas will be very gradual and focus on benefiting poorer communities in all parts of the UK.

Annabel Goldie denies secret talks with SNP

This is the front page 'exclusive' in today's Scottish Daily Mail:

The story - not online - alleges:

• A Tory plan to "hugely increase the powers of the Scottish Executive" in return for keeping Scotland in the Union.
• A "senior Tory insider" told the Mail's John Robertson of a "warm and friendly relationship" between the SNP and Tories "with an eye to mutual political advantage".
• The Mail says the gain for an incoming Tory government would be that they could claim to have saved the Union.  Alex Salmond would be able to claim extra powers and avoid a referendum on independence that polls suggest he would lose.

The Scottish Conservatives have denied that secret talks are taking place.  Annabel Goldie issued this statement:

"No such talks have taken place. A review of devolution is currently being conducted by the Calman Commission.”

Editorial comment: "The plan doesn't appear to make much sense.  Extra powers for Holyrood may win a temporary accommodation with the nationalists for a few years but would only take Scotland one step closer to independence.  We hope there is no truth in the story and in other rumours that the Conservatives are willing to dilute plans for English votes for English laws and reform of the Barnett formula in return for a 'peace deal' with the victors of Glasgow East."

SNP overtake Labour, but only a third of Scots want independence

Less than two weeks before the Glasgow East by-election, the SNP are polling ahead of Labour on voting intentions for Westminster elections for the first time. A YouGov poll for the Telegraph puts them at 33% to Labour's 29% in Scotland, with the Conservatives on 20%. Anthony Wells calculates that:

"These figures - if repeated at an actual general election - would represent a massive switch in support. On a uniform swing it would produce 31 seats for Labour (down 10), 14 seats for the SNP (up 8), 10 for the Lib Dems (down 1) and 4 for the Conservatives."

The poll also shows however that 48% to 36% of Scots are against independence.

3pm: Statement from Annabel Goldie:

“This poll confirms two trends which are increasingly evident in Scotland – firstly, that the Liberal Democrats have become an irrelevance. Scottish politics is now a three horse race, and whilst we are still currently the third horse, Scottish Conservatives are closing the gap on Labour. Secondly, and Alex Salmond should look away now, this is yet more decisive confirmation that Scots do not want independence, in any shape, way or form. No matter how the question is put, the separatists never win the vote. Hardworking Scots, in Glasgow East and throughout the country, want to focus on the issues and problems of today, not imagine tomorrow’s nightmares posed by risky constitutional upheaval.”

Rifkind calls for amendment of Ken Clarke's answer to the West Lothian Question

Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP has just issued a statement explaining why Ken Clarke's answer to the West Lothian Question is inadequate.

This is the key section of his argument:

"By leaving the Second Reading to be voted on by all MPs this will mean that legislation that only applies to England could receive a Second Reading and be approved in principle even if it was unacceptable to a majority of MPs representing English constituencies. Thus the legislation on tuition fees, foundation hospitals or fox hunting would still have been approved.  Such legislation, under the Clarke proposals, would now be subject to amendment to meet English wishes which is very much to be welcomed. However, these amendments could not reverse the basic objective of such a Bill which had been approved by the House of Commons as a whole, as any attempt to do so would be designated a “wrecking amendment” and ruled out of order."

He then proposes this solution:

"There could be a requirement that at Second Reading and at Report stage, for a vote to be carried on amendments to an England-only Bill, the vote, to be declared carried, would need a majority both of the House as a whole and of MPs representing  English constituencies."

Here is a PDF of Sir Malcolm's full response.

Cameron likely to accept Clarke answer to West Lothian Question

More than two months ago we reported that Ken Clarke was set to recommend that MPs from all parts of the UK should retain the final say on laws only affecting English constituencies.  Mr Clarke confirmed that that was his Democracy Taskforce's conclusion during a 7.35am interview for this morning's Today programme.  We understand that David Cameron is minded to accept it.

Mr Clarke does, however, propose that only MPs from English seats will be able to amend legislation that is introduced in the normal way by the UK government.  There will then be a Convention that at the final stage of Commons scrutiny all MPs will either endorse or reject the amended legislation as a whole rather than picking and choosing the amendments made by MPs from English constituencies.

Mr Clarke confirmed his view that the Conservatives were wrong to oppose devolution in 1997 and that this diluted (our word) version of 'English votes for English laws' was a necessary step to prevent a crisis in the Union that could be caused if MPs from outside of England sided with a minority of English MPs to impose legislation unwanted by the majority.

Mr Clarke's proposals do seem to meet the principal concerns of Sir Malcolm Rifkind.  Sir Malcolm had proposed a more radical answer to Tam Dalyell's West Lothian Question but had said that two things were needed for Mr Clarke's idea to be acceptable: (1) At Committee and Report stages MPs from English seats would need to be represented in proportion to all MPs from English seats and (2) 'English amendments' could not be undone at the final stage of Commons voting.

Mr Clarke's recommendations come at a time when the heavily Scottish identity of the Labour Government has been questioned by its own MPs.  Stephen Ladyman has called for more 'English voices' in Government and Frank Field has discussed the "fiscal discriminations" facing the English.  The Barnett formula - that lies behind the "fiscal discriminations" - is overwhelmingly opposed by the next generation of Conservative MPs.  A survey by ConservativeHome found that 83% of adopted candidates want it to be substantially reformed.

Alex Salmond intends to break up the Union by encouraging Scots to vote against Tory plans on welfare, Trident and Barnett

The Scottish party - backed by Conservatives in London - has decided against an early referendum as favoured by former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth and Scottish Labour leader, Wendy Alexander.

One of the reasons Lord Forsyth favours an early referendum is that he doesn't want Alex Salmond, SNP First Minister, to be in charge of timing.  Alex Salmond hopes to turn his planned 2010 referendum into a verdict on what may be a new Conservative government in London - supported only by a handful of Scottish Tory MPs.

The possible battlelines are clear from an interview given by Mr Salmond in The Sunday Herald:

"The SNP leader says his administration, as well as civic Scotland, will resist Cameron's plans to cut welfare benefits, replace Trident and slash the country's funding settlement - and oppose any attempt by future Tory ministers to set fisheries and marine policy."

Eddie Barnes of Scotland on Sunday also imagines how Alex Salmond will react to the election of a Conservative government and reaches similar conclusions.  Salmond, he writes, will ask the Scottish people to vote for independence on the basis that he rather than David Cameron should take the big decisions for Scotland.

Speaking to Scottish Conservatives in Ayr, on Friday, David Cameron said that as Prime Minister he would not frustrate SNP initiatives in Holyrood but he would never risk the Union.  Although he said that a review of the Barnett formula for the distribution of public funds across the UK was "essential" he would not support a reform that endangered English-Scottish relations.

We're making a difference, say Scottish Tories

On the eve of their annual conference Scotland's Conservative MSPs, led by Annabel Goldie, have issued a brief report - claiming to be 'making a difference' for the people of Scotland.  Their leaflet (a PDF of which is here) highlights '12 solid achievements in 12 months'.  They include:

• 1,000 extra police officers and lower business rates for smaller enterprises, as part of the price for voting for the minority SNP administration's budget;
• Supporting a freeze in council tax;
• Securing a greater emphasis on "abstinence" within Scotland's drug recovery strategy;
• A campaign to encourage public sector institutions to buy local produce for the sake of Scotland's economy and the wider environment.
• The introduction of Bills that would produce a National Register of Tartans and another, from Murdo Fraser, that would protect rural schools.

David Cameron will address the Ayr gathering tomorrow.  David Cameron has a positive approval rating of +19% in Scotland compared to Gordon Brown's negative rating of -41%.  This 'Cameron effect' has yet to boost the Scottish party's overall standing, however.  Scottish Tories are at the same opinion poll rating as last May. We're told that the party's opinion poll standing has improved!  The source for this is the SNP!  A study of four UK-wide opinion polls from May suggests Tory support in Scotland is now 21% cf 16% in 2005.  That could produce six extra Tory Westminster seats.

Alan Cochrane reviews the Scottish party's performance in The Telegraph.  He pays tribute to four MSPs, in particular: Derek Brownlee, Liz Smith, Ted Brocklebank and Alex Johnstone.  But he calls for Annabel Goldie to spend less time dealing with the Nationalists and more time battling them.  Former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth recently expressed support for an early referendum.  He believes that the Unionist parties shouldn't be following Alex Salmond's timetable that would see Scotland vote on the Union in 2010.  He - unlike the Scottish Party and Sir Malcolm Rifikind - wants a vote next year.

PS We'd like to compile lists of the best Scottish and Welsh Tory blogs.  Please email us if you can help.

Scottish Tories lead calls for inquiry into last night's violence in Manchester

The ITN video above records how Manchester police were seemingly attacked by angry supporters of Glasgow Rangers.  Murdo Fraser MSP of the Scottish Tories has called for an urgent inquiry:

“Recent CCTV footage, which was not available this morning, shows the situation was far more serious than any of us at first suspected. The attacks on police officers and paramedics are deplorable and have to be condemned without reservation. The perpetrators need to be brought to justice and dealt with by the courts and Rangers Football Club should ban those who have played any part in these despicable acts.  This new footage only serves to underline the need for an urgent inquiry. I am pleased such a measure has now been announced. It may be a minority of Rangers supporters who were involved, but their behaviour is inexcusable and it has heaped shame upon their club and country.”

The violence flared after a big screen - set up for ticketless supporters - failed to work.

Lord Forsyth: England and Scotland should vote on the future of the Union in May 2009

Lord Forsyth was interviewed last night by Andrew Neil for BBC News' Straight Talk.  In a wide-ranging interview in which he attributed his political conversion to the Adam Smith Institute and urged the party to cut taxes for low income workers, the last Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland urged David Cameron to join with Wendy Alexander and other Unionists and hold a vote on independence next May, 2009.

Alex Salmond's agenda is quite clear, Michael Forsyth told Andrew Neil.  The SNP leader expects - "rightly" - that the Tories will win the next General Election but won't have many MPs from Scotland.  He calculates that that situation will maximise the chances of Scotland voting 'Yes' to independence in 2010.  Following Alex Salmond's timetable, Lord Forsyth argues, won't be in the interests of the Union.  Delay and uncertainty on this issue is "debilitating", bad for business, he says, and the Unionist parties should come together now and "lay the issue to rest" once and for all.  A referendum should ideally be held next May and both the English and Scottish should be able to say whether they want the Union to continue.  [Presumably the Welsh and Northern Irish, too?].

Lord Forsyth said that he was confident that the Union would be affirmed in any such vote.  The SNP, he said, didn't come to power because of their opposition to the Union but simply because it was the party best placed to end Labour rule in Scotland.

Cameron presses Brown again on his split with Wendy Alexander

We don't often do this but the letter that David Cameron has just sent Gordon Brown about Wendy Alexander's referendum u-turn is worth reading in full:

Labour's Scottish nightmare

One of the great difficulties for the Tories in 1997 was that the party faced challenges from both Labour and the Liberal Democrats.  The challenge facing Labour at the next Election could be just as serious.  Research for The Guardian from last Thursday's results suggested that voters have abandoned voting tactically against the Conservatives and are now ready to vote tactically against Labour.  In Scotland this may mean voting for the SNP and Alex Salmond is aiming to win twenty seats.  Scottish Labour have not recovered from last May's defeat and their leader, Wendy Alexander, has both poor approval ratings and has been beset by ethics questions.  Her U-turn on an independence referendum (this video records her previous position) was a desperate attempt to turn things round and she has been dubbed 'bendy Wendy' by amused observers.  More serious for Labour is that she hadn't cleared the u-turn with Gordon Brown.

At Prime Minister's Question Time yesterday Gordon Brown pretended that Wendy Alexander hadn't switched position but David Cameron asked what her "bring it on" remarks could possibly mean?   In a letter, he challenged the Prime Minister to clarify the position:

"Anyone who listened to Wendy Alexander’s remarks could be in no doubt that she meant a referendum should be held – and it shouldn’t be delayed.  To pretend otherwise is once again treating people like fools.  The Conservative Party north and south of the Border has been clear in opposing a referendum.  We do not want to break up Britain.  In contrast, not only do you appear unable to lead your Party in any one direction on this issue of vital importance to the whole of the UK, but you also seem unable even to acknowledge what the Scottish Labour Leader is calling for.  So is there going to be a referendum or not?"

SNP leader Alex Salmond told The Herald: "I don't know whether Wendy Alexander is trying to get rid of Gordon Brown or Gordon Brown is trying to get rid of Wendy Alexander or they are both trying to get rid of each other, but the effect it's having is to destroy each other."

Tories accuse Wendy Alexander of "knee-jerk panic" after she supports early referendum on Scottish independence

"Enough of huff, puff and bluff - bring it on."

Those are Wendy Alexander's latest words in her challenge to Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond to hold a referendum on Scottish independence.  Ms Alexander, leader of Labour in Scotland, made her surprise call for a referendum at the weekend - one year after the SNP became Scotland's minority government.  Many see her call as a desperate attempt to boost her poor ratings and to distract from the question marks that still hover above the funding of her 2007 leadership campaign.

A Tory spokesman told The Herald:

"Scotland's future should be the subject of calm and considered debate, not knee-jerk panic by a Labour Party in political meltdown. The Calman Commission should be left to get on with its health check on devolution."

The Calman Commission is an official inquiry into the devolution settlement, involving the Scottish Tories.  Scottish Labour say that they wouldn't support an independence referendum for one year, by which time Calman will have reported.

Most recent polls suggest that a referendum on independence would be won comfortably by Unionists but the consensus amongst Conservatives is that a vote would be unhelpful.  Sir Malcolm Rifkind worries that the nationalists would claim the very fact of holding a referendum as a major victory - a sign that there really was a serious risk to the continuation of the Union.  And they wouldn't accept a 'no' vote, he fears.  A process of "neverendums" would begin until the "right result" occured.

Conservative opinion is not united, however.  Tory candidate Richard Cook has favoured a referendum in order to end the uncertainty that, he believes, is undermining business confidence: "I'm personally in support of a referendum bill at the earliest possible opportunity, to remove the uncertainty already being created to business.  There are plenty of business people who are delaying taking business decisions at the moment, and that is jeopardising Scottish jobs and wealth creation in Scotland."

Mixed news from Scotland

Before we get our live blogging underway later today let's have a quick look at one important part of the UK where there are no elections: Scotland.  The latest YouGov survey of voting intentions has mixed news for our party:

• In terms of General Election voting intentions the party remains subdued.  The Cameron effect may be spreading throughout the north of England but we're stuck on 17%.  The more difficult news for Labour is that its own support is down 6% on its 2005 support.  Scotland may have a Scottish Prime Minister but they are warming to the SNP.  The SNP got 18% in 2005 but are winning 30% now.
• Annabel Goldie, leader of the Tory MSPs, is impressing Scottish voters, however.  Just 21% thought Labour's Scottish leader Wendy Alexander was doing a good job.  Ms Goldie's positive rating was 41%.
• The best news of all appears to be declining support for independence.  According to The Telegraph: "Only 19 per cent of Scots would support independence in a three-option referendum. Nearly three quarters backed keeping a devolved Parliament, either with its present powers or with more responsibilities."

Meanwhile David Mundell, Shadow Scottish Secretary, is in hot water.  An article has appeared in the Scottish edition of The Telegraph (not online) suggesting that Mr Mundell has been trying to lobby for George Kynoch in the election of the Scottish Party's Vice Chairman - the most senior position representing activists.  Mr Mundell, it is said, wants the incumbent Bill Walker ousted.  Mr Walker has been a sometime critic of Project Cameron and the central party may prefer Mr Kynoch, a former Scottish Office Minister.  David Mundell has denied intefering in a contest that Annabel Goldie has said should be for grassroots members to determine.

Rifkind: Unless we address the West Lothian Question the United Kingdom is in great danger

At the Centre for Policy Studies yesterday evening Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP gave an unscripted address entitled The Unfinished Business of Devolution.  In his wide-ranging remarks he explained why his proposal for an English Grand Committee was superior to that reported to be Ken Clarke's preferred answer to the so-called West Lothian Question.  His key messages (not verbatim) are summarised below:

It is wrong to see this as Scotland V England.  The "unfinished business of devolution" is more complex than that.  Wales and Northern Ireland MPs also have an ability to vote on laws that only apply to the English.  When it comes to reviewing the Barnett formula it is important that it is not portrayed as providing justice for England as against Scotland.  There should be a more sensitive analysis of how different parts of Scotland and different parts of England need to be treated differently than now.  Sir Malcolm contended that, in some respects, the Home Counties have more in common with Edinburgh and Liverpool has more in common with Glasgow.

Devolution has changed a lot but far from everything. At least half of what is relevant to Scotland is still determined by the UK Parliament.  Public expenditure, social security, foreign policy, EU policy and immigration are still determined at Westminster.  What is more: the UK is not a federal state but power has been devolved - meaning that the Westminster parliament can at any time, in extremis, over-rule Cardiff, Edinburgh or Belfast - or even revoke devolution completely.

Scotland and Wales are not moving remorselessly to independence.  Every poll showed that support for independence was in the minority and relatively flat.  The SNP are a minority government in Scotland - outnumbered by unionist parties.  Scots voted SNP for a variety of reasons last year and in the same way many opponents of the euro voted for Tony Blair in 1997, many opponents of independence voted for the SNP.  Alex Salmond knows that his best hope for independence is a breakdown in English-Scottish relations.  That is why he opposes proposals like an English Grand Committee because such proposals tackle the injustices that, unmitigated, could eventually produce a breakdown.

Ken Clarke to recommend that MPs from Scotland and Wales should retain final say on English laws

Philip Johnston writing for The Telegraph suggests that Ken Clarke's Democracy Taskforce hasn't only, as expected, rejected an English Parliament but it has also rejected Sir Malcolm Rifkind's plan for English Votes for English Laws.

What will emerge from the Taskforce, Johnston predicts, is "a compromise" that will retain a final say on laws that only affect England for MPs from non-English constituencies.  MPs from English seats will have an exclusive right of amendment but nothing more:

"It is a compromise between those who want English votes for English laws and those who would leave things be.  Legislation affecting only England, an education Bill, for instance, would receive a second reading by the entire Commons; but its committee stage, where the measure is subjected to line-by-line scrutiny and can be amended, would be for English MPs only.  When the Bill came back to the Commons for its report stage and third reading, all MPs would again have a vote. But the Government would be bound to accept amendments agreed by the committee, or risk losing the legislation."

At the end of last year there was Scottish Tory relief when David Cameron appeared to emphasise "Unionism" rather than Englishness.

Related link: On today's frontpage there are links relating to Alex Salmond's ambitions for the SNP to hold the balance of power after the next General Election.