The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland

Going off message

Posted on November 21, 2011 by

An alert viewer draws attention to an interesting historical curio in the Scotsman today. It's a letter to the paper from Labour MSP Hugh Henry, dating from a few days after the 2011 Holyrood election, in which he rejects the idea of an early independence referendum in the most unambiguous of terms:

"Mr Salmond and the SNP clearly stated that any referendum would be held later in the life of this parliament. That's what many Scots voted for, that's what gave Mr Salmond his majority and that's the mandate which the SNP has."

Henry isn't exactly a radical dissident in Scottish Labour – he was Education Minister and Deputy Justice Minister in the second Lab-Lib coalition administration, and was mainstream enough to be the party's nomination for Presiding Officer earlier this year. In the light of Labour's recent threats to back the Westminster government in forcing an earlier UK-controlled referendum over the Scottish Parliament's head, it would be interesting to find out if his position is the same now as it was six months ago.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Category analysis, media
Trackback: trackback from your own site.

Comment - please read this page for comment rules. HTML tags like <i> and <b> are permitted. Use paragraph breaks in long comments. DO NOT SIGN YOUR COMMENTS, either with a name or a slogan. If your comment does not appear immediately, DO NOT REPOST IT. Ignore these rules and I WILL KILL YOU WITH HAMMERS.

←
→

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a thing that exists.

    Stats: 6,900 Posts, 1,240,830 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

    and finally and firstly arithmetic fail braveheart klaxon britnats captain darling cartoons Chris Cairns confused cringe crybabies dateline debates Devo Nano Federalists Unionists and Devolutionists flat-out lies foreigner watch from the archives fundraisers galleries Greg Moodie hamish hypocrisy liars light-hearted banter lizards memogate misinformation one nation perspectives poll project fear project feart qft Scott Minto smears snp accused soapbox the positive case for the union The Vow ticktock toldyouso too wee too poor too stupid unionist of the day vote no get nothing

  • Recent Comments

    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Fat Slag Wilma Flintstone @ 6.08 Hahahaha! Bet the Welsh just love you rocking up Colonist style with your thunder-thighs…” May 5, 18:51
    • twathater on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Oh boy the yoonies are out in force today backed up by the resident 77th brigade fuckwit , keep going…” May 5, 18:35
    • Alf Baird on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Scotti/Gaels assimilation of Picts, followed by English assimilation of Scots: assimilation aye fails when peoples remain, even ‘the dregs of…” May 5, 18:23
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Beggars You forgot to mention snails and puppy dogs tails. Whereas of course the ones made in the west are…” May 5, 18:19
    • Ali on Binfire Of The Vanities: “If Indy preference is at 55% that was done with Swinney in charge. I’m not waking up to gloating unionists…” May 5, 18:15
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Let’s start a poll. Who looks more like Max Hermann, the father of the vampires in the classic Lost Boys…” May 5, 18:12
    • Captain Caveman on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Aww bless YL, you STILL having a meltdown?! 😀 It’s GREAT living rent free in your head. I’ve been enjoying…” May 5, 18:08
    • Mark Beggan on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Made in China with coal,oil and child slave labour.” May 5, 18:00
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “HMcH @ 5.28 No. Nobody is saying that, well except you and yer fellow spoilers on here but you don’t…” May 5, 17:52
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Please don’t tell us it’s an electric one made in China. Then again, how could it be a diesel one…” May 5, 17:37
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “HMcH @ 5.06 Is that it? Lordy, you’re losing it “old boy”, remand coming up again is it? As long…” May 5, 17:33
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““we are to believe that the Alliance to Liberate Scotland Party is to make an immediate impact” FFS, x. Why…” May 5, 17:28
    • agentx on Binfire Of The Vanities: “I see Swinney has been using a great big SNP battle coach for campaigning. It makes you wonder why a…” May 5, 17:24
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““a vote to extinguish the Scots as a people” I thought you’d be in favour of that, Northy. Surely, as…” May 5, 17:23
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““actually 4 to 5 % of indy supporters tend to vote reform” Surely, it’s 4.539 % so why don’t you…” May 5, 17:19
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““It isn’t the religion of peace invading other countries spreading tyranny, hunger, petulance, famine & death” Aw naw, spitting dummies…” May 5, 17:13
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Here ye gang, YL. Today’s one (1) reply from me, in which I validate your pathetic, pointless, dishonourable, existence. In…” May 5, 17:06
    • Jamie on Binfire Of The Vanities: “So many, is actually 4 to 5 % of indy supporters tend to vote reform. The truth is, without independence,…” May 5, 16:59
    • Hatey McHateface on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““piling in like pedos with sweeties at a school gate” Man, 2 days to go! You can almost smell the…” May 5, 16:58
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Beggars Aye very good bumpkin. Didn’t work out very well for you first time round Adolf -“old boy” eh?” May 5, 16:20
    • Young Lochinvar on Binfire Of The Vanities: “James @ 12.33 Aye, auld Hatey gets upset if you don’t refer to his sodomite sins that he considers mere…” May 5, 16:13
    • agentx on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““The SNP was formed in 1934 through the merger of the National Party of Scotland and the Scottish Party, with…” May 5, 16:12
    • Northcode on Binfire Of The Vanities: “All the posturing and analysing and guesswork (tho we already all know the only winner will be England) surrounding Thursday’s…” May 5, 16:11
    • Cynicus on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““ Be under no illusions – The SNP leadership is working FOR the UK.” ========== Absolutely. Any YOON with half…” May 5, 16:10
    • Alf Baird on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Aye Northcode, aw the tricks and deceits o colonialism are in full sway here in the auld colony. Oor supposed…” May 5, 15:35
    • Insider on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Fatso @ 12:38 “looks like it’s newspaper stand business has folded….” Jeezus ! How old are you, Fatso ? Newspaper…” May 5, 15:26
    • lothianlad on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Another brilliant analysis Stu! Unlike the pretendy indy supporter called… goes pop. The SNP are under direct orders to stiffle…” May 5, 14:14
    • James on Binfire Of The Vanities: “Aye, Geri; You would think there’s a colonial election soon or something….. They’e piling in like pedos with sweeties at…” May 5, 14:10
    • Dan on Seven Days Too Long: “And jist what are Aidan’s relevant qualifications and work experience for him to be such an expert on fossil fuel…” May 5, 13:55
    • Northcode on Binfire Of The Vanities: ““Scotland’s colonial ‘condition’ and role of the Kirk” This is letter to The Moderator of The Church of Scotland written…” May 5, 13:43

  • A tall tale



↑ Top