Devolution a dynamic, not an event - debate must cover
all options
by John Stevenson
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Mike Kirby
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While welcoming the Scottish Government's ‘National
Conversation' on Scotland's future, the STUC will take
a lead in calling for a broader Constitutional Convention
- like the one that led to the Parliament in the first
place - to try to build the greatest consensus between
political parties and civic society.
Civil Service union leader Eddie Reilly
warned that there was no longer a "settled will of
the Scottish people" in terms of how they should
be governed and all options had to be up for debate.
This was backed by UNISON Scottish Convenor
Mike Kirby. "Devolution is a dynamic, not an event",
he said. "There is mounting evidence of an appetite
for change wherever your starting point is in this debate."
"For UNISON, we have a current policy
of opposition to separation and we would make that argument.
But we would also encourage review and debate after 10
years."
"What is clear is that the success
of the 1997 referendum demonstrated that real constitutional
progress can only be achieved when parties work together",
added Mike.
"But it is too important to leave that
to politicians. We need the full engagement of civic society".
Mike stressed the differing views on issues
like fiscal autonomy. This was a key issue because UNISON
members' jobs were funded by the public sector.
"We would have to ensure that fiscal
powers - with a complex mix of various forms of taxation
and benefits - would deliver the public services we demand",
warned Mike.
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