Labour will be keen to undo a lot of the damage as quickly as possible and to take advantage of the SNP's loss of it's leader and the referendum. Given Gordon Brown's current rise in popularity and influence, I expect him to become their focal point in Scotland, especially if he can tie it to Devo Max. He'll probably need some more charismatic allies around him to have any real impact, though.
"Snp to replace labour, ukip to replace the Tories. A new era of government" It happens. 90 odd years ago there was no Labour party as the second party of UK politics. IMHO, government of any time is all about getting the blend of capitalism/socialism/communism/ nationalism spot-on to make your nation and the world a better place.
Ed milliband has come out and said although Gordon brown was useful for the No campaign he doesn't think he will return to front line uk politics. Seemed to be distancing brown from labour. Obviously they are still worried his image could hurt them and so aren't getting him in on the action. Tbh I think labour would do better with brown at the helm than milliband!
I think that Miliband's position is rather tenuous at best, so he's probably trying to lessen the influence of anyone that could challenge him. Brown would be extremely unlikely to though, so he's making a mistake and I think it's one that'll be picked up on.
People IMHO were not dismissing Trousers Brown in the referendum debate because of the mess he partly caused as Chancellor. He may have found a new niche as someone capable of engaging the UK electorate on the issue of politics in a devolved UK. More fool Labour not to use him so. Especially as I could see Cameron making an offer to Brown to be part of the Parliamentary process for the new devolved UK.
People are already assuming that it will not be asked again for a generation because Cameron said this. That's what he wants but it's not what's going to happen. They are already going back on the promises made to the No voters from the very day after the vote. As they fail to deliver, 25% of the No vote will switch to YES. Labour will be routed at the next election in Scotland and the SNP will be stronger. This does not point to this issue going away, quite the opposite.
Your totally delusional if you think Scotland will be given another referendum anytime soon. It'll be another generation.
"This does not point to this issue going away, quite the opposite." The issue not going away does not mean that referenda will be frequently offered. The issue of the EU doesn't go away. But I don't see governments offering referenda on that every 10 mins.
Scotland isn't GIVEN referendums because Westminster thinks it's a nice thing to do. It is because they believe it is politically expedient. The UK as an entity is under pressure, the austerity will create further pressure, the debate has started and 45% of Scotland has found itself and its voice, this is just the beginning not the end.
"the debate has started and 45% of Scotland has found itself and its voice, this is just the beginning not the end." All very nice, but still nothing there to mean another referendum is due anytime soon.
Indeed, but if the promises which were made fail to appear there will be an outcry and recriminations, all 3 main political parties could be dead in the water when it comes to the General Election.
"Indeed, but if the promises which were made fail to appear there will be an outcry and recriminations, all 3 main political parties could be dead in the water when it comes to the General Election." And rightly so. But again, not a yes/no referendum.
The intention is to create the conditions that will make it happen, and as Dev says Westminster will help us in this. Already many Tory MP's are baulking at the idea of more powers to the Scottish parliament and there is no appetite in England to give the Scots more powers. That! is the corner that Cameron is in and naturally he will go with his party. That will mean a wake up call for many Scottish No voters who voted No on the basis of more powers for Scotland. The can of worms is open and the Labour party has to take the first spoonful, followed by the Tories trying to tidy up the mess. Ugh!
Who would have predicted a referendum on Independence 5 years ago? I'm not saying it will happen anytime soon, but if the No voters are stabbed in the back they will be the most vocal critics, if they withdrew their support at the next GE and we got a poltical map which was dominated by SNP the calls for another vote would begin. In the right political circumstances, who ever knows what can happen?
