More Insight from Brian Taylor

More insight into the rapid unravelling of Wendy Alexander’s leadership from the peerless Brian Taylor. He’s updated his blog post PMQs.

At PMQs Brown said that the work of the Calman Commission would be complete before Labour would bring a bill to the Scottish Parliament for a referendum (which as Brian points out and others have picked up on is out of the question due to the standing orders of the Scottish Parliament).

Brian Taylor has spoken to Wendy and despite the clear difference between what she has been saying and what Brown said at FMQs she is insistent that they are singing from the same hymn sheet. Given that Wendy is now clearly involved in fantasy politics why don`t we give it a go too.

So no introduction of Bill until after the Calman Commission reports which is expect in Autumn 2008 (as Brown says). For arguments sake let’s say it will report by Mid October of 2008.

Labour could start the process of introducing a bill at the start of November 2008, again just as an example. There would be a standard 3 month consultation for a members’ bill I suspect. So we’re in February 2009 before the bill ends the consultation and comes before parliament at the earliest.

Wendy then says it will be at least 12 months passing through the Scottish Parliament...so the bill passes in February 2010. Then a couple of months to organise the practicalities (such as having an up to date electoral register that will be getting updated around the Feb of 2010 for the UK general elections possibly in May of 2010). Because of this you are looking at April or May 2010 going by a combination of Wendy’s 12 month rule, Gordon’s statements today and the poll clashing with the UK General election.

Different scenario... Calman Reports in Mid-September 2008. Labour brings a bill in October 2008. The have no consultation phase and cite that national conversation in its place. The bill takes the 12 months that Wendy says and we are in October 2009. The bill gets royal assent and all the logistics are put in place at speed (including the refreshed register) and we’re looking at December 2009 at the earliest.

For Wendy this means that at best having it in 2009 and starting the process after Calman means she’d be going for a December 2009 Referendum – hardly going early is it?