Brown "promises" To Powers Will Be Delivered ?

[mikey4444]

I'm not sure if I have this right or not. Gordon Brown is no longer in power. He is just like any other Scottish MP. So how exactly is he able to "promise" anything ? dave is on the only one who can make promises and have the wherewithal to bring them about...well at least until next May of course.

So why is so much been staked on Browns promise ?

[Jomlett]

Because the former Labour leader, who remains an MP, said that a resolution for a new Scotland Act signed by the three party leaders and himself after Thursday's vote would be placed in the House of Commons on Monday.

"We have set down a timetable that is absolutely clear. That a command paper will be published by the end of October, that the heads of agreement between the parties and further devolution will come in November and that the draft legislation, the laws that will form the Scotland Bill and eventually the Scotland Act, will be ready by the end of January," he said.

[kylesmum]

Cannot wait for this coming from the man who broke the banks and sold our gold bullion. In him we have trust. Anyone got a spare sleeve I can laugh up ?

[Gromit]

The all party backers of the 'No' campaign promised more powers would be devolved to Scotland. Cameron authorised the message, and Brown was sent to deliver it.
Brown will now work on a Bill which will be presented to parliament ASAP and will be voted on by ALL MPs.

[naomi24]

I saw that - and wondered "how?"

[youngmafbog]

He cannot promise anything other than a bill to be debated. Unless there is something for tge rest of the uk especially England it may not get through. If Cameron and Milliband are not careful Farage may well have tge last laugh.

[mikey4444]

ymb...what on earth has Farage got to do with this ? He might win the By-Election in Clacton next week but that will only mean that UKIP has one seat at Westminster, the same as the Greens.

[Just-Jude]

It won't happen! By the time the Scots realise this, there will enough English planted in Scotland to stop any future independence vote. Alex and Nicola knew it would have be now or never, and have been badly let down by the voters who believed what the dark forces from London were telling them. A nation once again sold into slavery!

[mikey4444]

Aren't you due a lie down JJ ?

[jourdain2]

I echo naomi's reaction. Thanks for the explanation.

[New Judge]

Unfortunately, because of the pernicious influence of party politics, Mr Brown may well be able to deliver on his promises.

All three main party leaders (and the LibDems are still a "main" party, at least until next May) have agreed to deliver on the promises, made in haste and in panic, to provide further goodies for our friends north of the border (and it now seems the main poll which promoted much of their panic was flawed). The Whips will be out in force and the MPs (even the English ones) will have no doubt towards whom their loyalties lie, and it will not be towards the people who elected them to their exalted positions.

The continual and increasing disregard for the majority of the UK's population in this matter is an utter disgrace. There needs to be an urgent review of the entire ridiculous devolution project and powers should be restored to the UK government to enable it to govern the UK - the entire UK - in a consistent, fair and non-discriminatory manner.

[ludwig]

That's not what you said before the vote NJ. You said the leaders would all be shafted because the back benchers wouldn't agree to the rash promises made without their consent. Thought no-one was paying attention eh?

[New Judge]

Glad you were, ludwig.

I made that assumption because I thought, at the time, that there would be the usual split in the H of C and that a few "Honourable" members might just vote in the best interests of their constituents. However, it has become clear in the last few days that 90% of the Commons will be under instructions to toe the party line as all the leaders speak with one tongue.

Quite why this should be is completely beyond me. I cannot understand why so much benefit should be given to less than 10% of the UK population
especially as this is likely to alienate a large proportion of the electorate. But this is where yougmaf's contention that UKIP may have a part to play in this comes into its own. in the same way that UK voters who want to see the UK out of the EU have effectively nobody (except UKIP) to vote for, neither have they on tjis issue. Those wishing to see devolved powers for Scotland restrained or even reduced also have nobody (except possibly UKIP) to represent their interests. There is a huge gap in democracy for 90% of the electorate. They are being forced to subsidise the other 10% to a degree which allows them to enjoy benefits which they themselves are not afforded.

Something has to give.

[Gromit]

The Bill will be passed in the Commons by a huge majority, but expect a few bonehead Tory MPs to rebel.

[lady-janine]

I would trust brown's promises as much as I believe blair will bring peace to the middle east.

[jomifl]

'A nation sold into slavery' ... at least 800,000 of them have managed to escape to England.

[youngmafbog]

Why is an MP that votes on behalf of his constituants rather than a diktak from a party a bonehead Gromit?

Thanks for explaining my UKIP point for Mickey NJ.

[Quizmonster]

Brown didn't promise anything; he was just the messenger used by the three leaders. If you click
http://i4.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article4265480.ece/alternates/s615b/1.jpg
you will find a picture of the front page of the Scottish newspaper, the Daily Record, dated 16th September. It shows the letter and the signatures of the three main Westminster party leaders. THEY were, quite manifestly, the ones making the promise.

[youngmafbog]

I think you will find he was heavily involved in the drafting and after in its promotion. Quite a bit more than a messenger.

[Quizmonster]

Is HIS signature at the bottom or isn't it?