A Response to the Electoral Shambles

YouScotland.com , Scotland's online Citizens' Rights Movement has just launched a global e-petition on the scandal that is the Scottish Parliament elections. The e-petition can be accessed directly at YouScotland.

YouScotland, on behalf of the people of Scotland - the 100,000 plus disenfranchised in particular - is demanding an Independent International Inquiry into the electoral shambles surrounding the Scottish parliament and local government elections

YouScotland wants no more establishment stitch ups "inquiries", where evidence is taken, but terms of reference limited, and the individuals conducting the inquiries arer either directly implicated or are friends, colleagues or business partners of the accused.

YouScotland wants no more Holyrood Bulding Inquiries, no more Hutton Inquiries.. And no involvement whatsoever (except as witnesses) of the Scotland Office , The Scottish Executive, The Scottish Parliament (SPCB), the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), or the Scottish Executive and Scottish Office funded Electoral Commission.

YouScotland also demands the immediate resignations of Scotland Office Ministers, the Department with direct responsibility for the conduct of the vote, Douglas Alexander, (Secretary of State for Scotland), and David Cairns, (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland). Their culpability is obvious even without an Inquiry. Their ineptitude or complacency has disenfranchised over 100,000 Scottish voters and undermined te entire democratic process. Their inaction alone, plus their already apparent " it wisnae me" response to the disaster, is reason enouigh for their immediate resignations.

Alan Smart of YouScotland.com said: "This is a democratic disgrace. We demand accountability, not a meaningless collective expression of regret,or an inquiry headed upo by one of the main perpetrators. We want a genuinely independent inquiry, one that can only be conducted at an international level. The only domestic action we require is for Scotland Office Ministerial heads to roll, and now."