Quote:
Originally Posted by Osem
I agree to an extent but the SNP will spin whatever is said and done by the 'Auld enemy' to their advantage. That's what spin is after all. I think the Tories are simply hoping that a healthy economy (if we ever achieve one) will prick the SNP's balloon and show up their promises for what they were - irresponsible pipe dreams. Right now the Scots have no reason not to vote SNP because they'll be hoping to get a bigger share of the pie by so doing. If there's another referendum it'll be much more about how credible the SNP is and what's happened to oil in the interim.
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The SNP's plans for another referendum are either to say the Tory government doesn't represent Scotland and to use an EU referendum as a pretext for another Scottish one. Alternatively to spend the next 5 years propping up a Labour government to both make Westminster seem dysfunctional to Scotland and to enrage England and stir anti-Scottish sentiment which they can then use as evidence to break away from the Union.
The SNP are nationalists and they'll never give up plotting for Scottish Independence. They're playing to do this already. This is why Sturgeon has been pushing so hard to get Miliband to commit to an agreement because she knows it hurts Labour in England as well as Scotland.
Whoever wins needs to take them very seriously. We need to take the wind out of their sails. We could devolve power to more regions, including Scottish ones, so that a degree of power bypasses Holyrood.
If Labour win they should offer a coalition deal with many things that appeal to Scotland but make it clear this is a coalition deal. Hitch the SNP up to central Government or let them vote not to and miss out on the benefits for Scotland. That way they can't portray themselves as the outsiders to the Westminster establishment sticking up for Scotland. Either they're part of it or it's clear they value politics over Scotland.