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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MSPs vote to support UK election | MSPs vote to support UK election |
| (about 22 hours later) | |
| The Scottish Parliament has voted in support of calling a UK general election, amid concerns over the current Westminster government. | |
| The SNP and Liberal Democrats combined to back a Tory motion at Holyrood, after the party said the move was needed to restore faith in democracy. | The SNP and Liberal Democrats combined to back a Tory motion at Holyrood, after the party said the move was needed to restore faith in democracy. |
| But Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray dismissed the call as having nothing to do with Scotland. | But Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray dismissed the call as having nothing to do with Scotland. |
| The vote was symbolic, with the prime minister free to ignore it. | The vote was symbolic, with the prime minister free to ignore it. |
| During a debate in parliament, Scottish Tory leader Annabel Goldie said the Westminster expenses scandal had tainted all parties, adding: "Until there is a general election, a cloud will hang over politics. | |
| The only thing which has saved any Tories in Scotland is this parliament Iain GrayScottish Labour leader | The only thing which has saved any Tories in Scotland is this parliament Iain GrayScottish Labour leader |
| "What we have at present is such a weak and pitiful excuse for a government that it is not worthy of the name." | "What we have at present is such a weak and pitiful excuse for a government that it is not worthy of the name." |
| Bruce Crawford, minister for parliament, said the UK Labour government had lost the trust and confidence of the public, adding: "It is a government that has run out of ideas, run out of time, and is fast running out of supporters. | |
| "It is presiding over the worst economic downturn in generations - and we are living with the consequences of decisions taken by this UK government during their age of irresponsibility." | |
| 'Smoking ruins' | 'Smoking ruins' |
| The Liberal Democrats' Ross Finnie questioned the UK government's track record on the economy, adding: "We need an election to ensure that financial structures are rebuilt on sustainable lines, not pumping up the existing failed model." | |
| But Mr Gray dismissed the Tory motion - passed by 78 votes to 42 - as "florid, melodramatic guff". | But Mr Gray dismissed the Tory motion - passed by 78 votes to 42 - as "florid, melodramatic guff". |
| "This debate has nothing to do with the interests of Scotland - and everything to do with the perceived interests of the Tories," he said. | "This debate has nothing to do with the interests of Scotland - and everything to do with the perceived interests of the Tories," he said. |
| "The Tories dare to talk of broken Britain and smoking ruins, when they scarred Scotland, tore its heart out and set it against itself. | "The Tories dare to talk of broken Britain and smoking ruins, when they scarred Scotland, tore its heart out and set it against itself. |
| "The only thing which has saved any Tories in Scotland is this parliament." | "The only thing which has saved any Tories in Scotland is this parliament." |
| On Wednesday, an SNP and Plaid Cymru motion to dissolve the UK Parliament, paving the way for an immediate general election, was rejected by MPs. | On Wednesday, an SNP and Plaid Cymru motion to dissolve the UK Parliament, paving the way for an immediate general election, was rejected by MPs. |