Let us have a more meaningful debate on our future
YOUR article highlighting a poll that found public support for Devo Plus is interesting, but it doesn't tell the whole story ("28% of SNP voters want to stay in UK", The Herald, July 4).
YOUR article highlighting a poll that found public support for Devo Plus is interesting, but it doesn't tell the whole story (\"28% of SNP voters want to stay in UK\", The Herald, July 4).
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Most people feel shut out of the debate about Scotland's future. Your editorial warns that such polls should be treated with care, with the aims and motivations of the commissioning party taken into account – I couldn't agree more.
A contrasting poll, commissioned by the Future of Scotland campaign, a broad-spectrum campaign with no hidden agenda, found that 71% of people think politicians have failed to engage them and 69% have still not had any involvement in the debate about the referendum. Despite this, more than two-thirds of people want a full and open debate that doesn't just talk about powers but about how any changes will impact on the issues that matter to them – whether that be employment, welfare or the environment. We need to address this disconnect.
The Future of Scotland poll also suggested significant support for a second question on more powers for the Scottish Government, with 59% of both Labour and SNP, and 57% of Liberal Democrats, voters favouring a second question.
We don't take a view on a second question ourselves, but we do have a view that the parties need to start listening to voters and kick start a more meaningful debate about Scotland's future.
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Let us have a more meaningful debate on our future
YOUR article highlighting a poll that found public support for Devo Plus is interesting, but it doesn't tell the whole story ("28% of SNP voters want to stay in UK", The Herald, July 4).
Most people feel shut out of the debate about Scotland's future. Your editorial warns that such polls should be treated with care, with the aims and motivations of the commissioning party taken into account – I couldn't agree more.
A contrasting poll, commissioned by the Future of Scotland campaign, a broad-spectrum campaign with no hidden agenda, found that 71% of people think politicians have failed to engage them and 69% have still not had any involvement in the debate about the referendum. Despite this, more than two-thirds of people want a full and open debate that doesn't just talk about powers but about how any changes will impact on the issues that matter to them – whether that be employment, welfare or the environment. We need to address this disconnect.
The Future of Scotland poll also suggested significant support for a second question on more powers for the Scottish Government, with 59% of both Labour and SNP, and 57% of Liberal Democrats, voters favouring a second question.
We don't take a view on a second question ourselves, but we do have a view that the parties need to start listening to voters and kick start a more meaningful debate about Scotland's future.
John Downie,
Director of Public Affairs,
SCVO,
Mansfield Traquair Centre,
15 Mansfield Place,
Edinburgh.
Commenting & Moderation
We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
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