Mrs Margaret Thatcher M.P.
Good evening. I know that everyone is saying that we are going to have an election in the near future. I'm sorry I can't tell you for certain. The actual decision doesn't rest with me, but I hope they're right. Yesterday evening after considering Mr Callaghan 's statement in the House of Commons about devolution, I put down a motion of No Confidence in the government and I want to explain why I did that.
During the long debates on devolution, our overriding aim has been to preserve the unity of our country, that is to keep England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland together. Many times, when the government forced their legislation through Parliament, we called for all-party talks on this question. We put forward a number of alternatives for discussion. Always the government turned us down. Even as recently as last month Mr Callaghan described our proposals as “a sham and a shower” . I think that was a mistake. It seems to me that he only wants talks when he's in difficulties, not when there's time for them to succeed.
As the Bills for Scotland and Wales were debated in Parliament, so the doubts and anxieties about them grew. People in all parties expressed concern, even some of those who had been the keenest supporters of devolution were worried about what they rightly regarded as bad and unworkable bills. So last summer Parliament decided that the people of Scotland and Wales should have their say. Because it would be such a major change, Parliament also decided that unless 40%; of the Scottish and Welsh people voted “Yes” the government should be required to give Parliament the right, if it chose, to repeal the Act.
As it happened, only one in eight people in Wales supported the government's plans. In Scotland, one in three. And if you consider that the reason why many didn't vote at all was because government ministers said that not to vote was the same as voting “No” , its clear that there was substantial opposition to the particular scheme of devolution that was on offer.
In our view, therefore, there is no basis for going ahead with the Act. Parliament laid down the rules by which the referendum had to be conducted. Three weeks ago we had the results. By now Parliament should have been given the opportunity to take a final decision. Instead, the government's trying to buy time.
The devolution issue, and the way its been handled, are the occasion [end p1] for us to put down the No Confidence motion. But they are far from being the whole reason.
I've spoken before of the many other matters we feel strongly about, but they can't be the subject of this talk this evening. We're in a period of great uncertainty. The danger is that measures are considered, and steps are taken with a view to their immediate affect, rather than to what will happen in the long term. Indeed because the government haven't been sure of a majority, we've been living in a hand-to-mouth way for some time now. That's not good for the country, or for the dignity and authority of government.
Even if this Parliament were to run its full span, there are only about three working months left. Any discussions on devolution would inevitably be overshadowed by thoughts of the coming election. I don't think that's the way to consider matters as important as the government of Scotland and Wales and indeed the whole United Kingdom. In terms of practical politics, little can happen before a General Election. Then in a new and calmer climate of opinion we can see if there's a basis upon which the majority of members from all parties can agree.
So the right way to proceed is to have that Election now. Then we can treat these vital matters and many others that are so important to us all with the consideration they merit, with a new Parliament, a fresh mandate from the people, a new Government and a long lease of life ahead.
If as I hope the minority parties join with us next Wednesday, we shall not only be able to set the wheels in motion. We shall also have reasserted the historic right of the House of Commons to say to the Government of the day, “Enough is enough” .