Letter to Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland

Dear Colleagues

Scottish Independence Referendum 18/9/14

I write as an Independent Councillor for Kinross-shire, having been first elected in May 1999 as a Liberal Democrat (a party I left in 2008 over lack of support on community planning issues) and served my constituents continuously since then. I support, along with the Independent Group on Perth & Kinross Council, the ‘Better Together Campaign’ to oppose the separatist policies of the SNP and keep Scotland part of Britain and the UK. I campaigned for a devolved Scottish Parliament and my continuing liberal political philosophy supports the Federal solution for the British state, with a sterling interchangeable currency zone from the Channel Islands to Scotland (I enclose a joint letter written in December 2006 by the Liberal councillors in Kinross-shire then, which I suggest is still very relevant to this Referendum).

The SNP are extremely well organised and formidable opponents in this Referendum. They are also very centrist, controlling and corporate at both national and local level; in particular I would say in relation to promoting a national fire and police service (very clearly primarily a cost-saving exercise), planning controls with a local democratic deficit and a seemingly indefinite (9 years by the end of the present Government’s term) council tax freeze virtually imposed on local authorities, with resultant related cuts in services. I note also that although arguing for greater fiscal autonomy, they have never used the varying tax powers they currently have under devolution.

My experience to date of the ‘Better Together Campaign’ leaves something to be desired and I have had difficulty in liaison and acquiring campaign material for the team I have in place to help. I feel it is incumbent and urgent for the ‘No’ campaign to get better organised nationally and locally, if they are to win. The SNP play up their ‘positive future’ message and the apparently seamless transition from a 300 year old union to independence against the ‘project fear’ of the ‘No’ campaign, tending to label anyone who doesn’t share their agenda for independence as somehow unpatriotic towards Scotland.

Surely it is time to be more positive about the benefits (both past and present) to Scotland of being part of the UK. I would also urge the unionist parties to have discussions on a ‘home rule package’ they could agree to put on the table and deliver if a ‘No’ vote is secured. I believe this would be the best and wisest outcome for Scotland’s future.

Yours sincerely

Councillor Mike Barnacle
Independent Member for Kinross-shire

ps I also run an accountancy practice with clients on both sides of the border and do not wish to see separate financial services regulations applying.

cc
Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of Conservative & Unionist Party in Scotland
Johann Lamont MSP, Leader of Labour Party in Scotland
Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of Liberal Democrats in Scotland
Gordon Banks MP (Ochil & South Perthshire)
Councillor Dave Cuthbert, Independent Member for Kinross-shire
Councillor Willie Robertson, Scottish Liberal Democrat Member for Kinross-shire

The following letter dated 19 December 2006 was sent by Mike Barnacle and colleagues.

Open Letter From Scottish Liberal Democrat Council Members for Kinross-shire

Dear Editor

Liberal Federal Model Way Forward for Britain

If recent opinion polls in England and Scotland are to be believed, it would seem there is a majority in favour of Scottish independence and the subsequent break up of the British state. We suggest this may indicate an element of sleep walking towards a conclusion that would not be in the best interest for our islands.

Since Gladstone’s time the Liberals have espoused the concept of home rule for the four nations (five, if the Cornish aspiration is included) that make up the British state. The loss of Ireland and its arbitrary division was the first casualty of not bringing the home rule concept fully into play earlier. We now have degrees of devolved administration in place for Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales but they all have differing powers and all depend on block grants from Westminster. England currently has no parliament of its own where only English MPs make law and policy relevant to their country. This constitutional shambles results from the Labour Party’s piecemeal approach to necessary change that is long overdue.

We believe it would be a serious mistake to dismantle completely the concept of the British state but this could conceivably be the outcome from the present situation.

We believe it essential to retain unified British armed forces to defend our islands and a unified foreign policy. One may, as we do, fundamentally disagree with the Labour Party’s slavish endorsement of the USA’s disastrous middle east policy and unwinnable war on terror (tackling the seeds of terrorism through early dialogue is required), not forgetting their recent decision to endorse a replacement for the trident nuclear deterrent at a time when our conventional forces are ill equipped for their expanded role, but British Government foreign policy should be changed through the electoral process!

Meaningful devolution and the creation of home rule parliaments for England (preferably outwith London), Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales with full tax raising powers to fund domestic programmes is the way forward, with a reformed Westminster merely retaining control of foreign affairs, macro-economic policy, currency matters and the welfare state. House of Lords reform appears as far away as ever with this Government.

All main taxation should be based upon the principle of ability to pay, determined upon income, a figure known for each UK resident by the tax authorities. We suggest therefore that there is a strong irrefutable argument for the British state, the devolved home rule parliaments and local authorities to be funded by tiered levels of income tax to be ascertained once the known policy programmes/budgets and areas of responsibility have been finalised.

This proposal is the kernel of the Liberal approach to a federal system of government for Britain and we strongly suggest that the other political parties should engage with it and enter into dialogue upon it now.

The people of Britain want change to our present arrangements and the parties have a duty to respond and reach a majority consensus on the way forward, using referendums if necessary to ascertain views.

Yours faithfully

Cllr Michael Barnacle Cllr Willie Robertson Cllr George Hayton
Scottish Liberal Democrat Council Members for Kinross-shire