Labour government considered a referendum on Scottish independence
JIM CALLAGHAN'S Labour government considered a referendum on Scottish independence as part of its constitutional reform package in the 1970s. Ministers were urged to "meet the SNP challenge head on" by offering, and defeating, separation in a poll that included the option of devolution. But the plan was shelved after Callaghan, then the prime minister, said English voters would have to be included in any plebiscite on breaking up the UK. The discussions are contained in government papers released by the National Archives.
Debate within the government on independence referendum
The files cover 1977, the year when the Labour government was putting together its plan for a referendum on a Scottish assembly. Papers show a debate took place within the government on whether independence should also be put on the ballot in order to defeat it. A meeting took place in February 1977 between Callaghan, his officials, junior minister John Smith, and Labour MPs Robin Cook and Norman Buchan, in which the idea was studied in detail.
Buchan's support for the plan
Buchan, an advocate of the plan, was noted in the minutes as saying an independence referendum would help "settle the issue", adding: "There was now a public expectation that there would and should be an independence question." He is also recorded as saying: "The Labour Party needed an opportunity to meet the SNP challenge head on."
Callaghan's skepticism
However, the records show Callaghan was skeptical. He said an independence question could not just be voted on by Scots, but that the English were also "entitled to vote on the dissolution of the UK". Callaghan concluded the meeting by stating his opposition to the plan: "The UK government could not be seen to put to one part of the UK a question about its break-up in the absence of any real demand."
Civil service's resistance to multi-option poll
The files also reveal the civil service's resistance to a multi-option poll on constitutional change. Michael Quinlan, then a key figure at the Cabinet office, criticized the idea in a briefing note ahead of the summit. Although he predicted an independence referendum would produce a "big majority for staying in the UK", he laid out several reasons for not including separation on the ballot paper. He believed an independence question would mean "giving the SNP the limelight" and reinforcing the view that "devolution and separation were somehow connected".
The SNP's current position
The current SNP Holyrood government's policy is to stage a referendum on independence before 2011, a plebiscite first minister Alex Salmond believes could include other options, including more powers for Holyrood. An SNP spokesman said: "Thirty years ago, those opposed to independence and equality for Scotland ultimately didn't have the confidence to put it to the people in a referendum - and it is clear that nothing has changed since. "The recent poll in the Scottish Sunday showed support for independence at 40% and on a rising curve - much higher than in the 1970s. The big difference is we now have a Scottish parliament and government with the ability and initiative to take Scotland forward."
The Role of Hotels in Iraq
In a week filled with bombings, gun squads, and burials, hotels in Iraq play a crucial role in providing safety and comfort to both locals and international visitors. Despite the challenging security situation, hotels function as necessary establishments for accommodation and serve as meeting places for various individuals and organizations involved in the country's redevelopment efforts.
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Despite the challenges, hotels in Iraq remain resilient and committed to supporting the country's progress. Their role in providing safe and comfortable spaces for both local and international individuals contributes to the ongoing redevelopment efforts and serves as a testament to the resilience of the Iraqi people.
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