Friends Bearing Gifts
Only problem is that Michael Forsyth - former Secretary of State for Scotland under Mrs Thatcher - was a leading politician more than 20 years ago.
Lord Forsyth's purpose - for he was elevated to the House of Lords many years ago - was to come to Scotland's aid - by arguing for new powers for the Scottish Parliament to control its own destiny.
Specifically to be able to conduct a 'legally binding' referendum on independence - as opposed to just a consultative referendum - which is the case just now.
Lord Forsyth and his unamed backers say they are prepared helpfully to amend the Scotland Bill - which returns to the House of Lords in the New Year.
I foresee two problems with Lord Forsyth's kind offer.
The first of which is that during all the years when Mrs Thatcher and the Tories were in power - the government set its face against devolution and a Scottish Parliament - never mind independence.
Nor did the Labour party - during its 13 years in power at Westminster - have any appetite for holding a referendum - or for encouraging Labour in Holyrood to put the issue to the test.
In fact when Wendy Alexander made her famous 'bring it on' comments - on behalf of Scottish Labour - she was ruthlessly slapped down by the Prime Minister - none other than Gordon Brown.
The second reason to be wary is that Lord Forsyth and his chums at Westminster have form on this issue - whoever they are they're certainly not the Three Wise Men.
In the late 1970's House of Commons ambushed a bill on devolution - by inserting an amendment requiring a 40% threshold in the referendum - with mainly Labour MPs helping to sabotage their own government's legislation.
So any moves to bring Westminster in on the referendum planned by the present Scottish Government - is likely to end in tears.
Because Lord Forsyth and his 'friends' remain implacably opposed to what Holyrood stands for and the truth is that - if they had their way - we wouldn't have a Scottish Parliament.
Let the Scottish Government bring forward a referendum in its own time - the SNP has won the right to do so with its historic election victory in May 2011.
I remain sceptical about independence at this stage - but one thing I do know is that I don't need any help from Lord Forsyth and his cronies - in making up my mind.
