[A-List] Scotland: constitutional deform

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

Labour's ultimatum to its MSPs: you must turn up for the Queen
Party cracks down for parliament's royal event

MURRAY RITCHIE
The Herald, 3 June 2003

LABOUR MSPs have been issued with a three-line whip to attend the Scottish
Parliament today for the visit of the Queen, party managers reluctantly
admitted last night.

At least 15 opposition MSPs, including Nationalists, Socialists, and Greens,
will boycott the ceremony in protest at the monarch's presence, but Labour
appears determined to avoid any potential red faces, even though there is no
vote at stake.

Amid speculation that some left-wing Labour MSPs might also stay away,
embarrassing Jack McConnell, a party spokesman at first said there would be
no whip, but then accepted that, on the party's business notification memo
sent routinely to all Labour MSPs, their attendance was marked with three
squares - the symbol which means a three-line whip.

One square means an MSP's presence is "requested", two means it is
"required", and three means it is "essential".

Today's mood contrasts sharply with the traditional pomp and pageantry in
London yesterday as the Queen and other members of the royal family marked
the 50th anniversary of her coronation. The first minister was among the
congregation at the main event, a service in Westminster Abbey.

Labour's unease about disappearing MSPs became clear after at least 15 from
other parties said they would be missing. The issue caused some disquiet for
Elaine Smith, Labour MSP for Coatbridge and Chryston, who is a left-winger
and who took the loyal oath last month under protest.

When asked if she would be joining the boycott, she said she appeared to
have no choice but to attend because Labour had demanded her presence
through a three-line whip.

Ms Smith said: "It will not kill me to spend half an hour in the chamber,
but I will not be going to the reception. When I am told my attendance is
essential, I suppose I had better attend. I have already made my protest."

Her disclosure, coming after Labour's denial, led to some internal
discussion in the party, which later admitted there was, after all, a whip.
Asked why, a spokeswoman said: "Well, you talk usually about whips for votes
only and this is not a vote.

"It is good for people to be there. This will be a big day for the
parliament. This is no big mystery."

It is understood that some Labour MSPs have said they have prior engagements
and will be absent with permission from Patricia Ferguson, the Labour
minister for parliament.

Those planning to boycott the ceremony include Roseanna Cunningham, the
deputy SNP leader, who is also a prominent republican, and Christine
Grahame, the SNP list MSP for the South of Scotland. Both will be absent "on
a point of principle".

Four other Nationalists are expected to skip the royal visit. Adam Ingram
(South of Scotland) will be attending a nursery nurses' demonstration,
Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) and Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) will be
attending to constituency business, and Shona Robison (Dundee East) has a
medical appointment.

Two Greens, Mark Ballard (Lothians) and Chris Ballance (South of Scotland)
will be absent "because of their views", according to a party spokes-woman.
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) is said to be undecided because "he has
no strong opinion about the monarchy", but the party's four other MSPs,
including Robin Harper, intend to be there.

The six Scottish Socialists, led by Tommy Sheridan, will be absent on
constituency duties. The party is anti-monarchy.

Dennis Canavan, independent MSP for Falkirk West, a long-time critic of the
monarchy, will not be present.

The Queen will be on her third visit to the Scottish Parliament.

-----

A tale of two nations as cheers sound in England and the whip cracks in
Scotland
Mixed emotions as Britain celebrates 50th anniversary of the coronation

JAMES McKILLOP and ALISON CHIESA
The Herald, 3 June 2003

THE virtual summons of Labour politicians to attend the Queen's visit to the
Scottish Parliament today is in sharp contrast to the traditional pomp and
ceremony that marked her Coronation celebrations in England yesterday.

While appearing to lay old ghosts to rest by dining with Camilla Parker
Bowles, the partner of the Prince of Wales, following the festivities to
mark her five decades on the throne, the monarch's reception in the
Edinburgh parliament will be a somewhat frostier affair.

Appearing determined to avoid a potential "no show", all Labour politicians
are on a three-line whip, making it "essential" that they attend her visit -
despite there being no vote at stake. Many opposition MSPs, including
Nationalists, Socialists and Greens, will boycott the ceremony in protest at
the monarch's presence in the Parliament. It is rumoured that some left-wing
Labour MSPs may join the boycott.

The political demonstrations still lay ahead last night as the Queen was
guest of honour at a celebratory family feast hosted by the Prince of Wales
at St James's Palace and Clarence House, his new London residence.

The presence of Mrs Parker Bowles at a service in Westminster Abbey to mark
the 50th anniversary of the Coronation, followed by the private family
dinner, is seen as a thawing in relations between the Queen and her eldest
son's long-time love. Major Bruce Shand, 86, Mrs Parker Bowles father, was
also at the abbey service and the dinner.

It had been a day of mixed emotions for the Queen as, with a fanfare
heralding her arrival, she retraced her footsteps in Westminster Abbey where
she was crowned on June 2, 1953.

Beside the Queen stood Prince Charles, her heir and next to him Prince
William - both princes perhaps contemplating their own future destiny as
monarchs. In the abbey, among the congregation of 2250, were more than 200
people who took part in the 1953 Coronation and 34 "Coronation babies"
celebrating their 50th birthdays.

Also present was Sir Edmund Hillary who, 50 years ago, was on top of the
world, conquering Mount Everest. He was perched in a VIP seat, with Lord
Irvine, the lord chancellor, who represented the prime minister - who was at
the G8 summit at Evian, in France.

About 1000 members of the public attended, chosen by ballot from 5000 who
applied to commemorate the anniversary with the Queen.

Dressed in gold, the sovereign wore the Wattle Brooch of yellow and white
diamonds, a gift from the Australian government during her Commonwealth tour
of 1953 and 1954.

After the service, Louisa Harrington, nine, who has a life-threatening heart
defect, presented the Queen with flowers. The girl, from Clevedon, was with
the Queen at 12.30pm - the precise moment she was crowned half a century
ago.

Next, it was the turn of Britain's unsung heroes to meet the Queen who, with
the Duke of Edinburgh, presented the first golden jubilee awards for
voluntary groups working in the community.

Representatives of 14 of the winning 200 groups were at Buckingham Palace to
receive their royal accolade.

The 14, chosen by ballot, comprised one group from each part of the UK. The
other winning groups will receive their awards from their local lord
lieutenant on behalf of the monarch.

After a private lunch at Buckingham Palace, the Queen was given a replica of
the Coronation bouquet by the nephew of the man who presented the original.

Tom Gough, whose uncle was the late Martin Longman, of Longman's florists,
presented the replica on behalf of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

The all-white bouquet was made up of orchids and lilies-of-the-valley from
England, stephanotis from Scotland and carnations from Northern Ireland and
the Isle of Man, with additional orchids from Wales.

Then it was time for some children's fun at a party in the palace garden.
She was more familiar with Windsor Castle than a bouncy castle, but the
Queen joined in the fun - not that she or the Duke of Edinburgh took turns
bouncing. About 530 youngsters, aged six to 12, were given the treat of a
lifetime when they were the Queen's party guests.

"It's really very nice to see you all here," she told them.

There were pop stars, Capital Radio DJs, a circus big top, clowns, a
110-year-old classic carousel of 36 hand-carved galloping horses, a 1950s
Austin toy car track, funfair hooplas, stilt-walkers, swing boats,
children's entertainers and military bands. The children included some with
special needs, orphans and 100 from families involved in the Iraq war.

Unlike Coronation Day in 1953, when it poured with rain, the weather stayed
fine for the party.

As the Queen and the other royals said goodbye, the youngsters headed into
the big top for a circus show with Zippo the Clown.

The Queen knew when to make her exit - when the custard pies started flying.

Today's timetable

3.25pm The Queen will be welcomed to the parliament by a police piper. The
royal party will be conducted by George Reid, presiding officer, to the
assembly hall to meet Jack McConnell and other party leaders. The mace will
be taken to the chamber before the Queen and there will be a fanfare from
her state trumpeters.

After speeches by Mr Reid, the Queen and first minister, the Inverness
Gaelic choir (Coisir Gh'idhlig Inbhir Nis) will perform in the parliament's
quadrangle. The National Youth Choir of Scotland will entertain guests in
the chamber.

6pm The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will give a reception for MSPs at
the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

-----

I'll be there: Constitutional stability and links to history deserve respect
Opinion

By ROBIN HARPER
The Herald, 3 June 2003

THE Queen's visit highlights an important constitutional issue, but it would
be impolite to personalise it in the form of a discourtesy to the Queen
herself, who has worked quite extraordinarily hard and effectively for us
for 50 years.

This is why I shall officially represent the Scottish Green Party throughout
this afternoon and evening.

Our policy is that the hereditary principle has no place in modern
government. The Queen, meanwhile, is our constitutional head of state, who
has a purely formal role in government, and represents the people, who are
sovereign, rather than herself.

While I am in total agreement that the oath to the Queen should be replaced
by a simple affirmation of loyalty to the people of Scotland, I recognise
the oath of loyalty to the Queen as effectively being an oath of loyalty to
the people, the monarch being an intermediary.

However, many people do not see it that way, and the prevalence of this
perception dictates that the oath should be the next thing to be changed in
our evolution towards a fully democratic constitution.

In considering the next steps, it is crucial to put aside passing concerns
such as costs (these are minimal compared with some elected presidencies)
and the personal record of some members of the extended royal family.

The institution of limited constitutional monarchy, as it has evolved, has
served us well for three-and-a-half centuries, providing political
continuity - the Queen has seen off every British prime minister since
Churchill and every American president since Truman and has provided
constitutional stability, pageantry, celebration, a sense of occasion, and a
continuous link to our history.

These contributions are of inestimable value and should be retained through
whatever further changes we make. The institution deserves respect. I shall
be there.

-----

I won't be there: She has no place in politics and my jeans are in the wash
Opinion

By ROSIE KANE
The Herald, 3 June 2003

I AM a socialist. I believe in democracy and feel very strongly that the
monarchy has no place in this modern society and certainly no place in
politics.

The reason is simple. HRH is unelected and unaccountable, yet a couple of
weeks ago she patted Jack McConnell on the head and allowed him to take his
place as first minister.

I know that there are some who will say it's only a ceremony, a party, and
that our objection is a little strong. Sorry, but from where I'm standing,
that is simply not the case.

As a new MSP, I have had to learn the ropes and the system. I have had to
learn in a short space of time how our laws are made and how our government
works.

We are given a little map of how a bill makes its way through the parliament
and into public life. It is a lengthy process, but the point I am attempting
to highlight is that, at the end of it, the final comment lies in the lap of
the Queen - unelected, unaccountable and, as far as I'm concerned,
unnecessary.

The monarchy has the final say. Again, there are those who will say "well,
she has this power, but is not likely to use it".

Well, maybe that's because she has never had to. Maybe government after
government has played right into the hands of the fabulously rich,
protecting them and legislating in their favour.

But progressive parties like the Scottish Socialist Party would most
definitely clip the wings of HRH and her pals. If that day comes, do you
really think the ruling monarch will give way and allow us to go ahead with
our policies designed to tax the greedy and care for the needy?

No, sorry ma'am, today I'll be at court with a woman who needs support, and
then I will be preparing for a week in the debating chamber.

But don't let my absence spoil your party. Anyway, my jeans are in the wash
and won't be dried in time.