I don't know why I'm surprised about the Holyrood opposition parties' carping about today's summit on Trident held in Glasgow.
After their faux pas yesterday, Labour turned South Korea into Zimbabwe. They are irate about the Scottish government 'meddling' in Westminster affairs. This incidentally has not stopped Labour MPs in the past criticising their Scottish colleagues. Indeed, David Cairns MP once described hospital closures as "madness". Those in Edinburgh did not return the favour, even when they shook hands with Mugabe, even when they slaughtered hundreds of thousands in Iraq.
One can understand why Wendy Alexander is keeping quiet on Trident. What is less comprehensible is the Liberal Democrat position. It is Nicol Stephen that has contributed to turning this into a Union vs Independence stooshie. I was at the summit today. This is not what is was about - it dealt with devolved competencies such as jobs and the environment as well as issues such as Scotland's role in the world.
However, Mr Stephen in campaigning for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year made Iraq and Trident key issues in his appeal to voters. This is what he said to his party conference in February:
"Last weekend, we were told local Labour Party branches got a command from HQ to avoid all mention of two subjects.
"The war and Trident. It's a bit like John Cleese in that episode of Fawlty Towers isn't it. "Don't mention the war - I did but I think I got away with it".
"Well they haven't got away with it. Ming Campbell, with his outstanding leadership on this issue has seen to that.
"But let me help the Labour party and suggest a list of a few other words and policies best avoided by them.
"Let's start with the words Tony Blair and George W Bush and move on to cash for peerages, Guantanamo, John Reid and the Home Office.
"Dawn raids.
"If you say those words, it loses Labour votes.
"Have you got that? The war. Trident. Blair. Bush.
"The Liberal Democrats will not keep quiet on these issues Labour should not be allowed to duck responsibility. Labour should stand up and be held accountable - not hide in silence. They will be held accountable to the voters of Scotland on the 3rd of May."
Nice lines, but now it's time for delivery. I was disappointed not to see any Liberal Democrat faces at today's event. There was somebody from the Greens, and even a representative from the MoD (defending Trident naturally). The Lib Dem position on the constitution is that they favour federalism rather than the status quo or independence. Does that mean in their vision of a federal UK, Scotland would have no say on nuclear weapons being placed on their soil? They urgently need to join the National Conversation.
Anyway, I thought today's event was a momentous occasion drawing together the different strands of Scottish society as it did - campaigners, faith groups, trade unions, lawyers, politicians, journalists, academics and others. There's going to be a working group taking forward the ideas that came out of it. The event was only half a day, but with the amount packed into it you could tell that these people had been bursting for a generation to thrash these issues out properly.
Some of the things discussed included:
- The opportunities available at the Faslane base should the nuclear weapons be decommissioned
- The licensing and regulatory options available to the Scottish Parliament if the decision to replace Trident go ahead. Alarmingly, someone mentioned that there have been serious incidents at the Faslane base which have been the subject of secrecy which there actually needs to be public information about
- Having Scotland input into the 2010 NPT conference
- Utilising the best practice of other nations
All in all, this will have a galvanising effect on the anti-nuclear movement. Already things are proceeding apace. The advocate John Mayer presented a fascinating insight into possible legislation to be presented to the Scottish Parliament soon, and the news that he and Michael Matheson MSP will be meeting Taiwanese representatives next week to explore ways we can make common cause in getting a seat at the UN.
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