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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Scottish Independence: Call for pro-Union devolution plan | Scottish Independence: Call for pro-Union devolution plan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander is to urge all pro-Union parties to agree to a joint approach to Scotland's constitutional future. | Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander is to urge all pro-Union parties to agree to a joint approach to Scotland's constitutional future. |
| He will say the parties should offer a "shared commitment" to draft a "new vision" for Scotland in the event of a No vote in the referendum. | He will say the parties should offer a "shared commitment" to draft a "new vision" for Scotland in the event of a No vote in the referendum. |
| Mr Alexander argues the constitutional debate has become "arid". | Mr Alexander argues the constitutional debate has become "arid". |
| Nationalists have called on the Unionist parties to offer their plans for Holyrood before the 2014 vote. | Nationalists have called on the Unionist parties to offer their plans for Holyrood before the 2014 vote. |
| In a lecture to be delivered later, the senior Labour MP will make the case for all the parties opposing independence to agree to help form a national convention which could look at the powers of the Scottish Parliament. | In a lecture to be delivered later, the senior Labour MP will make the case for all the parties opposing independence to agree to help form a national convention which could look at the powers of the Scottish Parliament. |
| Mr Alexander will re-state his own opposition to independence, which he claims runs counter to the concept of forming and retaining close links with neighbours. | Mr Alexander will re-state his own opposition to independence, which he claims runs counter to the concept of forming and retaining close links with neighbours. |
| In that context, he believes an agreed approach by the parties committed to the Union would be a "tangible answer" to the question of what happens if Scotland votes No to independence. | In that context, he believes an agreed approach by the parties committed to the Union would be a "tangible answer" to the question of what happens if Scotland votes No to independence. |
| He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I believe a national convention, taking place after the issue of independence has been resolved, offers us the opportunity - not just as politicians, but for a cross-section of civic society - to discuss, deliberate and decide together what the vision for Scotland could be over the next decade. | He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I believe a national convention, taking place after the issue of independence has been resolved, offers us the opportunity - not just as politicians, but for a cross-section of civic society - to discuss, deliberate and decide together what the vision for Scotland could be over the next decade. |
| "If there is one certainty it is that after the issue of the independence question is resolved next September there will be discussions about how devolution can be improved. | "If there is one certainty it is that after the issue of the independence question is resolved next September there will be discussions about how devolution can be improved. |
| "My plea is that we can actually broaden that conversation, so that we're not just talking about democratic renewal, we are talking about democratic, social and economic renewal. | "My plea is that we can actually broaden that conversation, so that we're not just talking about democratic renewal, we are talking about democratic, social and economic renewal. |
| "A national convention is a very practical answer." | "A national convention is a very practical answer." |
| 'No more powers' | |
| SNP MSP Linda Fabiani said: "Douglas Alexander discussed this same idea earlier in the year, on the anniversary of the 1979 devolution referendum - when a failure to achieve a Scottish parliament delivered absolutely nothing for Scotland apart from 18 years of a Tory government we didn't vote for. | |
| "In reality, only a Yes vote in next year's referendum will put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands, giving civic Scotland, the political parties and above all the people the opportunity to build a solid, progressive constitutional platform for an independent Scotland. | |
| "The reality is that a No vote is a vote for no more powers - which is one reason why we are confident of achieving a Yes vote next September." |