 | 'Labour MPs on both sides of the Border have been making it clear to us that there is by no means unanimity on the Labour side that devolution should go
ahead.' Conservative MP for Woodspring, Dr Liam Fox, 8 th July 1997 |  |
| 'Labour MPs on both sides of the Border have been making it clear to us that there is by no means unanimity on the Labour side that devolution should go
ahead.' Conservative MP for Woodspring, Dr Liam Fox, 8 th July 1997 | |
THE Tories' Scottish spokesman last night revealed that he had been urged by
Labour MPs from both sides of the Border to launch an effective campaign
against a Scottish Parliament.MP for Woodspring, Dr Liam Fox, made the claim as Labour's veteran anti-devolutionist MP Tam Dalyell called for the devolution referendum to be postponed following reports - published in The Herald yesterday - of details of Cabinet differences.
Dr Fox insisted that several Labour MPs had impressed himself and Tory colleagues of the need for a well-run, concerted No campaign. He said that the Labour rebels were not prepared to be publicly identified for fear of reprisals.
"Labour MPs on both sides of the Border have been making it clear to us that there is by no means unanimity on the Labour side that devolution should go ahead," he said.
"Many of them who speak to us see it as a monster which will be either an eternal source of friction between Edinburgh and London, or will sideline Scottish MPs to also-rans in the Scottish political environment. Several MPs have spoken to us about the need to get an effective No vote."
A senior Labour source who acknowledged the uphill struggle Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar had within the Cabinet committee, said that at the end of the day all committee members had to co-operate to produce a coherent White Paper, because the Prime Minister expected nothing less on such a central pledge of his election campaign.
Mr Dalyell, regarded by many in the Labour Party as an irritant on the devolution issue, would ideally like to see the referendum postponed until the Bill for the Scottish Parliament had proceeded through the House, but since that has been ruled out he argued that it should be postponed until the spring, at the earliest.
Meanwhile, although a Downing Street source made clear the responsibility for abortion law in Scotland would not be devolved to a Scottish Parliament, the Scottish Office dismissed yesterday's reports as mere speculation.
A Scottish office spokeswoman said: "We do not recognise this account. It is pure speculation and should be treated as such. The Government is united on the need for a powerful Scottish Parliament firmly within the network of the UK.
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Jim Wallace, criticising the Cabinet committee's decision to retain the the legislative power over abortion at Westminster, said: "Abortion should be a matter for the Scottish Parliament. Scotland has a distinctive legal system and I don't see why we shouldn't make our own decision."
SNP leader Alex Salmond, who called for the White Paper to be published immediately, accused Labour of being at "sixes and sevens" over its devolution policy. - July 9
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