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Call for focus on new vision for Scotland |
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Tuesday, 21 August 2007 |
Journalist and broadcaster Andrew Marr has called for an end to the "rancorous and demeaning" arguments over an independent Scotland.
Speaking at the The National Library of Scotland Donald Dewar Lecture at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Marr said that the debate had become mired in arguments over subsidies, voting systems and who pays for what, with no one concentrating on "a new vision for Scotland".
The former BBC political editor said that the SNP had had a fantastic first 100 days but that neither side had yet won the independence debate:
"The Nationalists have not demonstrated why, and the Unionists have not demonstrated why not."
He said that he was "bemused by the lack of discussion on the new Scotland" and the continuing emphasis on "second-order" arguments when people should be asking why an independent Scotland would be better or different.
Admitting that he was a supporter of devolution, he said that the Scottish Parliament had come about at a difficult time.
"We are in a time when politicians have very low status in society. If I was the dictator of the UK for a couple of days, the first thing I would do is cut the number of MPs at Holyrood and Westminster by half and double the salaries of those that remain," he said.
Marr also said that he was ashamed of the way journalists had covered UK politics in the past decade, with an increasing emphasis on private lives:
"Journalists need to report what politicians say more, and commentate a little less."
Readers have left 2 comments. 1. Call for focus on new vision for Scotland
***Robert Fairnie***, Unregistered O wad that Scotland haed mair journalists an reporters the likes o Andrew Marr. A richt braith o fresh air. 2. Call for focus on new vision for Scotland
David, Unregistered I rather like Andrew Marr and his pithy, sometimes irreverant comments on British political life. However, his recent fawning over Margaret Thatcher on television and his not so covert support for the Unionist case in Scotland is leading me to revise my opinion. He knows, better than most, that the Nationalists have first to demonstrate that they are a serious party, able to run the country in a competent manner, before they can seek to convince people of their arguments. they're doing pretty well so far. He is correct however that the Unionist parties seem to be running around like headless chickens, focussing on minor issues and letting the SNP administration dictate the debate - long may it continue!
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 21 August 2007 )
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