Michael Moore’s Quietly Sensible Consultation

Michael Moore’s statement to the House of Commons on the question of how a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future may be held was clear, composed, sensible and modest. In other words it was everything that the last few days have not been. The Prime Minister in particular – as bemoaned here, here and here – has not distinguished himself in recent times. Perhaps it is fairer (it is certainly kinder) to presume this was just as innocent a cock-up as any Prime Ministerial cock-up can be; regardless is was a desperate piece of floundering that made Mr Cameron look something of a chump.

The Secretary of State’s consultation paper makes no provision for differentiating between binding and advisory referendums (sensibly enough since this, though briefed and trailed, was always a nonsense). Nor does it suggest there must any “sunset clause”. Rather, it proposes passing the right to legislate for a referendum to the Scottish parliament.