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The gagging clause was voted in by SNP members to ensure their parties policies and values are upheld. It stops their MP's undermining their colleagues or contradicting them. It creates a coherent message for the public. Which is something you don't see down South. Different MP's in the same party saying wildly different things all the time.
Do you actually believe that? You sound like you've just swallowed a set of brand guidelines or something!
On balance I think I'd rather have elected representatives who are free to voice their own opinions.
Call me old fashioned.
(I think you're right by the way and they've quietly ditched the database. Although they should have learnt from the wider UK ID card debacle).
Fox-
In my opinion MP's should be accountable for their opinions. If I vote in a candidate based on their parties policies I'd expect that MP to uphold that parties line. Otherwise I'd just vote for the 'independent' candidate. Who isn't tied into party policy.
Also most of us have a clause in our working contracts that say you're not publically allowed to slate your boss or your company and how they do things. Are MP's any different?
@andyp - just punch them in the face. Wherever you go there's always gonna be a couple of cunts. Though as a brown person I've found Scotland tolerant in a way that England very much isn't. Though everyone will have had different experiences and your experiences are just as valid and important as mine.
I've had the odd bit of anti English racism leveled at me though it makes me laugh. The 'You were born in England so that makes you English'
Perhaps those types of Scots don't understand the connotation of privilidge. If you're white and you're born in England you're English. If you're not white and born in England you should still fuck off home.
bazschmaz
Tell us more about the tolerance element? The gagging clause was voted in by SNP members to ensure their parties policies and values are upheld. It stops their MP's undermining their colleagues or contradicting them. It creates a coherent message for the public. Which is something you don't see down South. Different MP's in the same party saying wildly different things all the time.
As for the ID cards they proposed to combine your ni number, your hmrc tax reference number, your council tax number, your bus pass number and your nhs number.
There were fears that they could have been accessed inappropriately so it's kind of being put on the back burner. I could probably do some reading but I can't be arsed.