 | 'We have got to signal that Scottish politics can't go on as they are.' Alex Salmond MP, 25 th July 2004. |  |
| 'We have got to signal that Scottish politics can't go on as they are.' Alex Salmond MP, 25 th July 2004. | |
Scots will be able to pick the topics
debated at Holyrood under new plans from
SNP leadership hopefuls Alex Salmond
and Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Salmond compared the plan to Big Brother,
where millions regularly phone in and then watch as
the most popular choice carries the day.
The proposal forms part of a campaign manifesto to
be launched by the pair.
Ms Sturgeon said the plans aimed to reconnect the
Scottish Parliament with the public.
The
manifesto
will
contain
more
than
30
pledges
including
a commitment to set up more specialist schools, such as sports academies.
If elected Mr Salmond, who wants to become leader, and Ms Sturgeon, who is vying for the deputy
post, would seek to make the pledges party policy and then try to get them through the Scottish
Parliament.
Ms Sturgeon said: "We are going to put forward a package of ideas to re-connect the parliament with the
public, including democracy days when the public can nominate topics for debate at Holyrood."
She said the pair would probably demand a change to the parliament's rules to guarantee special slots for
the debates and make sure it did not eat into the time for Scottish Executive or opposition party
business.
The manifesto, which will be published on 2 August, will break the pledges down into three themes -
tackling inequality, dealing with economic underperformance and boosting national self-confidence.
Ms Sturgeon said the plans were designed to show
not just what they could do for the SNP but "what
the SNP has to offer Scotland".
Commenting on the 'democracy days' plan, Mr
Salmond said: "If you can get two million people
voting for Big Brother why not have a system where people can demand a parliament debate and get it?
"If MSPs have to work an extra couple of hours, so what?"
He added: "We have got to signal that Scottish politics can't go on as they are.
"We have got to take a leap forward into a more enterprising, radical and exciting politics and the SNP
has to lead the way.
"This manifesto is going to show that Nicola and I have big ideas to take the country forward."
'In the doldrums'
He described the joint ticket bid as a "dream team" since between them they represent the north and
central belt of Scotland and offer a combination of male and female as well as experience and youth.
A Labour party spokesman said of the Big Brother style approach: "If Alex Salmond thinks that's all
there is to Scottish politics he has obviously been away for far too long.
"Alex Salmond is the SNP's Michael Howard. He is yesterday's man and will do nothing for the SNP."
Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan dismissed the idea as a gimmick.
He said: "If this is the best that Alex and Nicola can come up with it's no wonder the SNP are in the
doldrums."
And Scottish Green Party leader Robin Harper said it was an interesting idea, but unnecessary.
Former MSP Mike Russell and former deputy leader Roseanna Cunningham are the other contenders in
the leadership race.
The new leader will be announced on 3 September.
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