Marching forward in hope of a separate future

Parties Unite on Devolution

The Scottish Secretary, Donald Dewar, shared a platform in Edinburgh with the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), Alex Salmond, and the Liberal Democrats' spokesman, Menzies Campbell. Together the three parties form the Scotland Forward group.

But rather than dealing with the issue of devolution the press conference was dominated by questions about the Labour Party's problems in Renfrewshire.

Salmond, Dewar and Campbell

All three parties are backing the Scotland Forward campaign for a double 'Yes' vote in the referendum on September 11: voting 'yes' to a parliament being established and 'yes' to it having tax raising powers. Only the Conservatives will boycott the event.

The Conservatives will use the unity of their rivals to help make their case against devolution. It can't, they say, both strengthen the United Kingdom, as Labour argues, and weaken it fatally as the Scottish Nationalists contend.

Pro: Menzies Campbell, Lib Dem and Brian Monteith, a campaign leader . Dur: 4'20"

Labour says devolution will strengthen the United Kingdom. The Liberal Democrats believe the planned proportional voting system will transform politics north of the border, and the SNP see a Scottish parliament as a stepping stone to eventual independence.

But the Conservatives and the 'No' campaign - called 'Think Twice' - believe popular support for devolution is weakening, especially over the issue of the parliament's powers to vary taxes.

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