Genie is out

On the night it was close, but clear. Scotland’s voters rejected independence by 55 per cent to 45 per cent with the highest ever turnout in a modern British election, in some areas nine out of 10 people voted.

Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty described the referendum as “a truly historic event that has sparked a civic engagement, the likes we have never seen before.”

The involvement in debates and discussion across Scotland “has been the genuine success story of this lengthy process – a rejuvenation of democracy that we have to sustain and protect at all costs.

“The hallmarks of that activism – democratic, informed, passionate and tolerant debate – now need to be carried forward as we accept the result and look to move forward in the weeks and months to come.”

Getting large numbers of people involved in political debate and voting in large numbers must be admired, said Len McCluskey, general secretary of Unite.

“The vibrancy of this referendum campaign has been breath-taking and can be much admired by the rest of these islands. This will live on in history as a time when the political life of our people was reborn.

“Energetic, inspirational grassroots movements reminded us that politics can be meaningful once more, that it lives on the streets and communities of the people, not in the Westminster chamber or the trading floors of the capital.

And when true change is on offer the people are engaged and will grasp the opportunity to shape their destiny.  “Politics, as the Scottish campaign has shown, must always be about possibilities, about the faith that the common good can triumph. The debates and discussions that have resounded through the halls, homes and workplaces of Scotland speak to a people enthused, alive with optimism for a brighter tomorrow.

“This gives us all hope. For that we must thank the Scottish people.”

While the United Kingdom remains intact, those who voted No have been promised more powers will be devolved to Scotland’s parliament. Voting No was not an acceptance of business as usual.

Len McCluskey, said, “The people of Scotland have decided. In voting No, the Scottish people have declared that they regard the bonds of union as having a continued purpose in their lives.    “However, this is absolutely not a vote for the status quo. Solemn promises of further devolution have been made by the three main Westminster parties; there must be no reneging on those commitments made to the Scottish people.”

Ed Miliband, David Cameron and Nick Clegg all committed their political parties to further devolution in Scotland to a timetable set out by former premier Gordon Brown. It means an official government White Paper including draft proposals put out for consultation at the end of October or November.

This would be followed by a full draft Scotland Bill published by the end of January 2015 and the introduction of a Bill after the general election, regardless of which party forms the government in Westminster.

All three main Westminster parties are committed to significant and faster change than a Yes vote would have given. David Cameron has made the first attempt at muddying the water on the steps of Downing Street today.

Cameron’s so-called “devolution-revolution” now attempts to tie changes in Scotland to change in how MPs vote in the Westminster Parliament. This hinges on only English MPs being allowed to vote on England-only matters.

His current plan is for a cabinet committee chaired by William Hague to draw up proposals behind closed doors. The Tories appear happy for the only devolved powers in England to remain those of the London Assembly, currently headed by Boris Johnson.

Cameron was silent on any clear proposals to ensure greater political engagement with the voters with more people voting in elections and making decisions closer to home. In England his commitment appears little more than “devo-revo-lite”.

But the greater devolution genie is now out of the bottle. London’s Assembly – the only regional assembly in England – has been calling for wider powers for some time. Assembly members in Wales and Northern Ireland are also opening debates as to what they may like.

And the move towards genuine devolution of powers in England is also building a head of steam. Major media outlets across the north west of England have now made a joint call for greater devolved powers for the region.

For now the fresh promises of all three parties are made to the Scots. Len McCluskey set out Unite’s clear views about what those promises mean and the importance of what happened in Scotland during the referendum campaign.

“We stand again with them as they take the next steps towards greater self-governance. In building this new future, Unite will work tirelessly to ensure our movement’s values of respect, equity and fairness, our determination to ensure a better life for working people and their communities, prevail.

“There can be no returning to business as usual after today. The Westminster parties of all hues have witnessed a seismic shift in the political culture of these isles, one that must surely hasten the day we can say goodbye to the ruinous political consensus of the past 40 years which has not served our people.

“My message to the Labour Party is this: time and again you have been warned that the people want change, genuine change. Please listen, understand these calls and heed them.”

The Scots are now looking at what happens next. Pat Rafferty is also clear: “Reprisals and recriminations or misguided triumphalism will benefit no-one and nothing.

“The challenges facing us as a society remain.  We must move forward.  “So as the dust settles, the fight for social justice does not stop and that is where we now need to channel our collective energy.”