Devolution Minister calls for joint effort to achieve Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Devolution Minister Henry McLeish has appealed for all political
parties to unite behind Labour's plans for a parliament in Edinburgh.
He said it was time to soar above political differences and work together
to achieve a "yes, yes" vote in this autumn's referendum, because Scotland's
future was far more important that squabbles between parties.
Mr McLeish called on Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond and Scottish
Liberal Democrat leader Jim Wallace to "put the interests of the country before
the interests of your party."
"Scotland works better when Scotland works together," he said.
He was addressing a rally of five hundred people in the Scottish capital to mark the formal launch of "Scotland Forward" - a group backed by a wide range of political and civic bodies in Scotland which will campaign for a "yes, yes"
vote.
Nationalist support can be harnessed
The Scottish National Party said its approach to the campaign
would be determined by the contents of the White Paper on Scotland's
parliament.
SNP chief executive Mike Russell said nationalist support could be harnessed,
provided the Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar's plans were "constructive".
He went on: "The SNP and all of Scotland want change. Assuming that the White
Paper does not place anti-democratic obstructions in the way of the Scottish
people and their right to determine the form of government they wish, the SNP
can take a positive view of this campaign.
The launch comes two days after the Queen's speech in which Labour promised an
autumn referendum followed by legislation for the introduction of a Scottish Parliament.
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