What Do We Want?

An new Ipsos/Mori poll for The Times newspaper - confirms that a big majority of people want a second question on the ballot paper on independence for Scotland.

A big majority of Scottish Labour voters agree - yet party leaders seem to have their heads stuck in the sand as they continue with this crazy stance - that there should be only onw question - a straight Yes or No.

Now for a party that claims to be listening - this seems to me like a mind-bogglingly stupid strategy to be following.

How can Scottish Labour be learning the lessons from its catastrophic defeat - at the Scottish Parliament elections in 2011 - if it is refusing to listen to its own supporters?

Ipsos/Mori say that 59% of Scots think that support for ‘Devolution Max’ should be tested in the referendum.

While only 37% of people think that the referendum should contain a single question - a straight Yes/No - on support for independence.

The inclusion of a second question is particularly popular among women (64%) - young people (70% of 18-24 year olds) - and SNP supporters (66%).

Meanwhile, support for ‘Devolution Max’ has increased.

Among those certain to vote in a referendum - around seven in 10 (71%) now back substantial new powers being devolved to Holyrood - up by 3 points from December 2011.

Whereas only 25% oppose such a move.

According to Ipsos/Mori support remains strongest among young people with 83% of those aged 18-34 backing the proposal.

An overwhelming majority of SNP supporters (89%) support ‘Devolution Max’ - but the majority of Labour and Liberal Democrat supporters are also in favour - at 59% and 62% respectively.

To my mind the Scottish Labour party is all over the place - and is now in real danger of becoming a laughing stock. 

Because the big bold announcement from the new Labour leader - Johann Lamont - today is that it's going to set up a committee to look at the issues in more detail.

Now where have I heard that idea before - I wonder who will sit on this committee - will it just be Labour party people or will there be an attempt to engage with civic Scotland - and the wider public?

I'll bet the best brains from the trade unions are represented - but they'll all be Labour party members anyway - so don't expect anynew or radical thinking.

To cap it all the idea of a committee - to report back God knows when - comes on the back of Labour urging the Scottish Government to bring the date of a referendum forward.

Bring it on they say - but not just now.

Wait until we've had our new committee look at all the issues again - which will take a wee while, as they say.

So I'm not impressed - as you can tell.

Scottish Labour is beginning to look completely ridiculous - like a pantomime horse on roller skates.

Surely someone's going to step forward and tell the party - to get a grip.