Wendy ‘disowned’ by brother
Douglas Alexander supports UK Government’s position over vote call
Published:
Overseas Development Secretary Douglas Alexander sensationally disowned his own sister Scots Labour leader Wendy last night in the row over her call for an early referendum on independence.
Ambushed on the issue at the end of an interview on aid for Burma, he made it clear his “entire focus” was on helping those hit by the cyclone but added: “I am a member of the Cabinet. I support the government’s position.”
Prime Minister Gordon Brown – who spent the day touring the south-west of England and visiting the Eden project in Cornwall, almost as far as he could get from Scotland and still remain within the UK – has spent the week insisting that there was no call for a referendum now at Westminster.
Ms Alexander has told First Minister Alex Salmond to speed up the referendum – and those close to her have suggested Mr Brown originally backed her, but bottled it.
Meanwhile pressure mounted on Scottish Secretary Des Browne to spell out where he stands in the referendum row that has engulfed the Labour Party.
Opponents said it is extraordinary that his voice has not been heard over the alleged schism.
Tory shadow Scottish secretary David Mundell said Mr Browne, who is refusing to give interviews on the issue, must explain whether a statement made by Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell in the Commons is the UK Government’s policy.
Mr Purnell said: “It’s for us at United Kingdom level, the Westminster parliament, to say do we want to bring forward a referendum?
“No, because we believe in the union.”
This followed a YouGov poll putting Labour at Westminster at a record low of 23% – 26% behind the Tories.
In a letter to Mr Browne, Mr Mundell, said: “The implication for Wendy Alexander and her MSP colleagues who are giving blanket support to a referendum is staggering.”
He said it was clear the prime minister did not listen to his own party and he did not lead it either.
SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said Mr Browne rejected a referendum on independence a month ago. Mr Robertson, MP for Moray, added: “Amidst all the U-turns and erratic behaviour there is an eerie silence from the Scotland Office.”
A spokesman for the Scotland Office said it stood by the prime minister’s view that “no one is calling for a referendum now” and no decision would be taken until after the Calman Commission on the merits of strengthening devolution has reported.
Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie and Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Nicol Stephen, who support the commission, said Ms Alexander’s new-found support for a referendum has undermined it.
Comment, Page 40
Readers' Comments
No matter what politicians say on all sides. One thing is for sure, if you give the people of Scotland the opportunity to vote for independence from England, then they will take it. Anything to kick them where it hurts, we will do it. This is the over riding fear of the Unionist parties .They know that given the choice, Scotland will vote yes, and dame the consequences .We can work that out later. If you were to put forward a vote to bring back hanging most people in the whole of the UK would vote yes.Thats why we don’t get to vote on it. Like wise, that’s why this Government won’t let us vote on Europe. Most Scots realise that the world is a far smaller place now, and to be heard you have to shout, but as long as we remain the way we are, we will be but one small voice in many. An independent country, like so many of the former eastern block countries enjoy their voices being heard loud and clear.Thats why so many other countries will now stop and listen to them and take stock to what they have to say. This is helped by them either having strategic importance or oil, both by the way Scotland has. I think it is the older generation we have to convince. You now the post war group that were fed better in the Union than out, and by the way here’s the Poll Tax, Nuclear waste and weapons to look after, because we don’t want anything happening down here. I hope like so many of those who have not been asked by the pollsters, we vote for what is right at this time, and our voices are heard over our loud neighbours.
grame tran
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So this is New Labour. Hold onto your position at all cost, even if it means cutting your sister a drift and ending her political career. Some might say she brought it on her self, or did she. We all know Wendy wouldn’t fart with out the say so of Gordon Brown, and we all must remember that her wee brother is one of his key advisers. So it looks more and likely that after Wendy’s and Gordon’s late night chat, about what to do about independence. That Gordon has come off the phone and had second thoughts. Realising that after last week results, and his position in the polls, the last thing he need’s is to hand the SNP the golden bullet. It’s a pity he didn’t confer this with Wendy. Who thinking she had been given the go ahead waded in. It now looks that not only has she given the SNP the golden bullet, but lined her self up for the golden rivet.
grame tran
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Wendy Alexander has to stick to her call for an immediate referendum-or resign.If she has the overwhelming support of her msp,s she can hang onto her position a bit longer.However her track record as Lab leader is woeful and I really cant imagine her colleagues at Holyrood will lay their political lives on the line to save her. As for her call for the Scots Govt to bring forward their bill for a referendum now instead of 2010(as they have pledged to do in their manifesto )is laughable. I trust the P&J is going to follow an unbiased line as the referendum campaigning begins.To do otherwise would be to undermine democracy,and risk a backlash from the people of the North East who want to have a reasoned debate reported fairly in the press before voting on this important issue.
dave north
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Members of the Scottish Parliament can only consult the people of Scotland, the referendum result, whichever is, does not need to be implemented by the British Goverment if they so wish.
Vincent Mc Dee
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Only a referendum ordered by London will have a compulsory result. .
Vincent Mc Dee
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Sorry! c-o-n-s-t-i-t-u-t-i-o-n is still reserved is consider to be a profanity by the P&J filter.
Vincent Mc Dee
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Dave North, unbiased the P&J? When s-o-c-i-a-l-i-s-m is a profanity too how can the debate be reasonable and reported fairly.
Vincent Mc Dee
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Who is Vincent McDee? And what does he know about newspaper reporting? Not very much by the sound of it as the P&J is widely regarded as the most straight down the line paper in Scotland. is there anyway his inane, ill informed comments can be blocked from this site? I have read what he has to say on many stories over the past few weeks and it aint work the space
David Baker
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