STUC urged to widen debate on independence

ONE of the country's biggest unions will declare this week that it is time for Scottish independence to be considered by all political parties.

The Scottish branch of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCSU) will call for full separation from the UK to be placed on the agenda of the Scottish Trade Union Congress so it can be properly discussed.

The call is a major embarrassment for Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander, who earlier this year set up a commission looking at the Scottish Parliament's powers but insisted that independence be excluded as an option.

Trade union chiefs in Scotland have previously declared that MSPs are "restricted" by the powers at their disposal in the Scottish Parliament. But they have never before called for independence to be placed on the agenda, as they will do this week.

The motion from the PCSU backs the decision by Alexander to set up a constitutional commission to consider more powers for Holyrood.

But it concludes: "It is vitally important in carrying out this work that all options for Scotland's future remain included for consideration."

A spokeswoman for the PCSU said: "We recognise where the debate is and we think that the STUC should take a position to consider all options, including a referendum on independence. We should consider all options."

The call is also expected to be backed by Unison, one of the biggest unions in the country – indicating that it has a fair chance of being approved.

The congress will also see the unions offer a detailed analysis of what powers should be immediately handed over to Holyrood in its current form.

A report to be put before union members states: "The general council (of the STUC] supports in principle the devolution of council tax benefit contingent on the ongoing debate over fiscal powers."

The STUC chiefs say they also support plans to give MSPs the power to set corporation tax and housing benefit.

Aside from fiscal powers, the STUC also believes that Holyrood should be given "limited further powers" over broadcasting – such as authority over the industry regulator, Ofcom. The congress also indicates that it may eventually back plans to hand over all responsibility on broadcasting to the Scottish Parliament.

A spokeswoman for the SNP said: "The STUC's ideas are a very welcome contribution to the debate on Scotland's constitutional future, in particular having all the options on the table, including independence, when discussing our constitutional future.

"It is the absolutely correct view that resources such as council tax benefit – which is integral to the funding arrangements for local government – should remain in Scotland and not be removed by Westminster, and it leaves the London Treasury and the Labour Party increasingly isolated.

"It is simply untenable for them to argue that over £400m of Scotland's money should be swiped by the UK Government simply because we democratically choose to abolish the unfair council tax and replace it with a fair local income tax based on ability to pay, or indeed any other system.

"Even though local government finance is clearly devolved under the Scotland Act, what the Treasury is effectively saying is that you can have any kind of local tax you like in Scotland as long as it is the council tax. The clear consensus view in Scotland is that this is simply wrong and unacceptable."

A Scottish Labour spokeswoman said: "Labour welcomes support for the constitutional commission, which was set up with a parliamentary mandate and aims to review the devolution settlement to ensure it is delivering for the people of Scotland. The vast majority of Scots have consistently rejected independence, therefore the commission will focus on reviewing the settlement within a UK framework."

'Smug' jibe

It is not the type of question he gets asked every day. During a web-chat with the BBC yesterday, First Minister Alex Salmond was forced to answer a query by one online blogger who wanted to know, "Why are you such a smug git?" Another asked: "Why are you such a pompous oaf?"

With a straight face, Salmond replied: "I do wish that my relatives wouldn't contribute to the programme."

He added: "I'll just have to agree to be myself – luckily that seems to be getting pass marks."

Salmond was also asked why he had not yet cancelled student debt, as promised during last year's election campaign.

He said a consultation on student debt was currently running.

Calls for Scotland to run its own elections

THE Electoral Reform Society has said Westminster should be stripped of its power to run Scottish elections.

This latest boost to the SNP comes after last year's electoral chaos, which saw the rejection of 140,000 parliamentary votes.

A subsequent report by Canadian elections expert Ron Gould said control should be in the hands of one body and that the Scottish Government would be the logical institution.

Electoral Reform Society chief executive Ken Ritchie said: "We can see no reason for the Scottish Government not having control of the Scottish Parliament elections.

"Indeed, we believe it would be an affront to democracy if the Westminster Parliament, of whose members less than 9% represent Scottish seats, could impose its will on the Scottish Parliament in this matter without having a very strong reason to do so – and we have not heard a strong reason for the status quo."

A Scotland Office spokesman said: "The Electoral Reform Society is entirely entitled to its view on the future of elections in Scotland, though that view is not universally shared."

Meanwhile, Alex Salmond will fire the starting gun in the campaign for the next Westminster elections today, claiming that a buoyant SNP can win enough seats to hold the balance of power between Labour and the Tories.

The First Minister will tell delegates at the SNP spring conference that he believes the party could claim as many as 20 Scottish seats at the next election, up from the six it now holds.

Many observers expect Gordon Brown to call the vote this time next year. Salmond will tell the party faithful in his keynote speech that, in such a situation, he would use his bargaining power to extract major concessions from Westminster.

Aides to Salmond last night said they would, for example, demand that the increase in whisky duty be cut and that the £400m council tax benefit cash held at Westminster be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.

A source close to Salmond said: "The arithmetic could be very, very tight. We think we could achieve a block of around 20 MPs in Westminster. It is perfectly possible that a block of SNP MPs could be in an important position holding the balance of power."

The source did not rule out using such a position to deal with the Tories.

Salmond will use his speech today to set out how success in running a devolved Scottish Government is increasing support for independence.

However, Labour hit back last night. A spokesman said: "This is wishful thinking on Alex Salmond's part… Given that he's presided over 12 months of broken promises and cuts to public services, maybe he shouldn't take public support for granted.

"The people of Scotland don't want a Government that's more interested in talking about how pleased it is with itself. They want one that tackles the real issues that matter to them."

THE VERDICT: Leading Scots pass judgment on the SNP's first 12 months