[ANALYSIS] BUSINESS AS USUAL IS NOT AN OPTION Scotland did NOT vote for the Status quo The Herald 05 Oct 2014 If there is one unarguable fact that emerges from the independence referendum result it is that Scotland did not vote for the status quo. And yet this is the one message from the millions who voted which the Westminster parties simply do not understand. Those who attended meetings all over the country, those who registered to vote for the first time in their lives, those who became engaged in political debate from which they had for years felt excluded ... these Scots wanted anything but a return to business as usual. Yet that is exactly what we are being offered by political parties more comfortable with cynical manipulation than representing the people to whom they are answerable. We can see that cynicism in the transparent twisting of the much-lauded vow of more powers to Scotland for crass party political gain by David Cameron.And we can see it in the Conservatives rush to drop their patently false Were all in it together mantra and instead ramp up their efforts to make the poor pay for the effects of the financial crash at the same time as awarding tax advantages to those earning a comfortable salary. As we report today, Scotlands charities have reacted with fury to plans announced by Chancellor George Osbourne to freeze benefits for two years. The charities argue that these measures will force many more families and children into poverty, and undo all the advances which have been made to tackle inequality over the past decade. The Tories proposals are all the more depressing coming as they do just weeks after Scotland was engaged in an electrifying discussion which placed social justice and fairness at its heart. The Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives Coalition partners, are now keen to distance themselves from Cameron and Osbornes latest cruelties. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander yesterday tried to claim that the Conservatives had changed since the Coalition deal, that they had moved from a more caring Conservativism to an altogether more brutal approach to austerity. Of course, Alexander was less forthcoming about his feelings while campaigning with the Conservatives to defeat independence in the referendum. heraldscotland/comment/sunday-herald-view/business-as-usual-is-not-an-option.25509545
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 20:23:47 +0000
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