This piece was published originally in the December 2013 Newsletter.
I have written to Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State
for Scotland, and Alistair Darling MP, ‘Better Together
Campaign’. A copy of the letter is below.
15 November 2013
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 f or 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 f ire
and police service (very clearly primarily a cost-saving
exercise), planning controls with a local democratic deficit
and a seemingly indefinite (9 y ears 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
y ear old union to independence against the ‘project fear’ of
the ‘No’ campaign, tending to label any one who doesn’t
share their agenda f or 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). Cllr
Dave Cuthbert, Independent Member for Kinross -shire. Cllr
Willie Robertson, Scottish Liberal Democrat Member for
Kinross-shire.