11/11/2015 Scotland 2015

Where does Scotland stand in the re-negotiation of Britain's

The UK Government wants a new deal for Britain for Europe.

But the Scottish Government thinks David Cameron's edging us out

We speak to the UK's Minister for Europe as he flies into

Edinburgh and ask him where Scotland stands in the negotiations.

And the "catalogue of untruths" that followed the leaked memo.

Alistair Carmichael's opponents' lawyers make

David Cameron is enjoying dinner tonight with his fellow European

leaders as they meet in Malta for talks on the migrants crisis.

The Prime Minister says he's determined to deliver

his reform agenda after setting out his demands.

Today, his Europe Minister came to Edinburgh to update the Scottish

Huw Williams now looks at what the Conservatives want -

David Cameron says he wants to end moves to ever closer union within

Europe, Miss -- make sure the UK does not miss out, and perhaps most

controversially restrict benefits for migrants. But he knows all of

that will not satisfy Eurosceptics in his own party. Isn't the onus on

those that advocate that we should stay in the European Union to

explain why we should put up with being a second-tier country in an

increasingly centralised European Union?

increasingly centralised European and gives us protection with an

business matters. He talks about protections on migration. We have a

more positive approach to migration and think that people who come to

this country have a lot to offer to the Scottish economy. But membership

of the EU is not dependent on reform agenda, we believe reform can be

achieved within the EU. What of the UK wants to leave and Scotland wants

to stay? Should that prompt another Independence Referendum? This is not

a proxy debate for independence. We need to make this case. It is

serious. This means 3 million jobs for Britain. Huge investment in

industry and science research. It means peace across the continent.

That is what the European Union has meant. Doors are bigger things than

the timing of an Independence Referendum. If the UK voted to leave

the European Union there would be bigger problems in terms of clarity

about terms and conditions that Scotland would have as a member of

the European Union. The process of achieving that. We need to work

together with everybody who wants to win the case for a social Europe, a

progressive unit, and for all of us to stay within Europe.

The Prime Minister is promising what he calls a once-in-a-lifetime

referendum on Europe by the end of 2017.

Well, the UK Government's Europe Minister David Lidington met with

Fiona Hyslop at lunchtime to update and

I have been debating Europe with other colleagues who are deeply

sceptical about British membership of the EU for some years. The

comments did not surprise me. There are people in both the Conservative

and Labour parties who are in favour of EU membership and against EU

membership. There are people who quite on hold opposite views on this

subject right across the political divide. As Bernard Jenkin said, is

that it? Do you not think the Primus has watered down his demands source

looks as though he is seeking quite an easy agreements with the other

leaders? Far from it. As I talk to other European governments, you will

see that DC what's the UK is proposing as a pretty significant

challenge to business as usual in the EU operates. We have

consistently argued that that it is in Europe's interest as a whole, not

just butted's, for you look to be more competitive, more democratic

and flexible than a toast today. If you look does not get it right the

British people's support for membership will be at further risk.

There is discontent for European decision-making in many European

countries. If the problems of the economic performance and lack of

democratic accountability is not sufficiently address.

Want are going to spread. It is quite clear the Prime Minister has

objective is to fulfil. He does not have demands. Critics were saying

that the benefits residency core vacation is being watered down. The

Prime Minister has been clear. We do have to have as part of the outcome

to the negotiation effective means to stop the sort of mass migration

of very large embers of people that we have seen in this country over

recent years. -- large numbers of people. People expect border

management of migration. People see the need for that while at the same

time accepting that most of the people who have come here from

central or southern Europe are working hard and all being the law.

But we do need to address the pull factors in the welfare system, one

of the reasons why the UK has become more attractive. Your critics think

the Primus are setting up an easy deal. What is the timetable? When

might this be presented to the British public? The people who say

that it is very easy are not those who have been at the EULA PN

Government negotiations. It is hard to predict. The earliest would be

the summit meeting of European leaders in December. That is an

ambitious timetable not an one. There is now going to be an

acceleration in negotiations which the President of the European

council will meet in Brussels but which will also involve David

Cameron talking to all of the 27 head of Government counterparts

around the EU. If we do not get a deal in December we will go forward

into 2016. The important thing is to get an Agreement of substance and

significance, not any artificial timetable.

Alex Johnstone the Conservative MP in Scotland says once we know what

is on offer we can make up our minds. Your critics think the Prime

Minister has is mainly made up will campaign to stay in the EU. The

Primus said his objective is to win reforms that will enable him to

campaign heart and soul to the new British membership. It is fair to

say that some of the Primus of's critics are people who made up their

mind on the European Union a long time ago. You were in Scotland today

meeting Fiona Hyslop. She said there has been a lack of communication

with the Scottish governments, you have not been telling her what has

been happening. I had you not been communicating and consulting with

the Scottish Government when you think what is at stake in Scotland?

We have had the EU renegotiation as a matter on the agenda at the

regular ministerial meetings that I cheer involving devolved ministers

of all three devolved illustrations ever since the Conservative

Government was elected in May this year. I had a very good meeting with

Fiona Hyslop this morning. We discussed how we could ensure that

during the negotiations in future the Scottish Government and the

Welsh and Northern Irish governments could feed in their views, their

concerns, to ministers and officials in London negotiating on behalf of

the UK. At the end of the day it is the UK that the member state for the

EU. In the same either France or Germany is stop UK ministers are

responsible for taking those decisions for carrying forward those

negotiations. Scottish members of parliament in Westminster are active

at holding us to account. We want to make sure that devolved

illustrations feel they are properly consulted that the interests have

been concerned. The four areas the Prime Minister

has laid out. The Scottish is saying they are particularly concerned

about workers rights. And if a new deal could endanger workers rights.

What kind of assurances that he performs to the Scottish

Government? Nobody in the UK Government is proposing to make a

bonfire of things like paternity leave or protection of workers. They

have suggested a bonfire of the new U Minh rates legislation. They have

also suggested there strong tradition of human rights before the

Tony Blair Human Rights Act of 1998. The changes also needs to make sure

we retain our ability to create jobs. We look at the record of the

UK in terms of job creation, keeping people in work despite challenging

economic circumstances, we are doing far better than many of our

counterparts elsewhere in Europe. That is in part due to the fact that

we have things like opt out from the working Time directive, we have a

flexible Labour markets, that has bit there are more people in work

here than in most other European countries. Do you appreciate there

is a different feeling in Scotland about the European Union than in

England? A survey today said 55% of Scots want to stay in the EU but 43%

of people in England back leaving. Do you appreciate that? People in

Scotland on the whole have been more favourable than the average in

England for staying in the EU. But there are significant numbers in

both nations and all parts of the UK who hold views on either side of the

argument. One has to conduct the campaign that we will see over the

months and perhaps years to come with respect for one another's point

of view. Fiona Hyslop has been saying that David Cameron's position

risks alienating everyone. People will not be happy with the deal he

proposes and people in the UK might thought to leave the EU, but a

majority of Scots might fought to stay. But the issue is a difficult

position. The UK joined the European Union as a 1 member state. It is a

decision for the UK. In terms of the Primus of's position on this, if you

look at every opinion poll when people are asked what account they

will take of David Cameron's position that has a massive

influence upon hope people then expect that they will thought. A

large number of people say that they would be dated to a certain extent

but what the Prime Minister recommends.

I spoke earlier but what was at stake here. If a majority of Scots

fought to stay in the EU but the majority of people in the UK fought

to leave it could be a change in circumstances, a material change in

circumstances, but could trigger another referendum for independence

for Scotland. What is your take on that?

People took their decision at the referendum. There will be a vigorous

discussion. This is an issue where as far as all be 27 European

governments are concerned, this is a matter for the United Kingdom as a

whole, a decision for the whole of the UK. Do you appreciate that could

happen? I appreciate there is the challenge. I hope very much that we

get the outcome that David Cameron seeks and I believe he can obtain

which is that we get a set of ambitious reforms to the European

Union, we set our relationship with the European Union and we get

support for the successful negotiation in every part of the UK.

David Liddington, thank you. Now the former

Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael told a "catalogue

of untruths" after launching an "un-guided missile" in the form

of that infamous leaked memo. That's what the QC said who's

representing four of his But Mr Carmichael's defence lawyer

urged the Election Court to refuse the campaigner's petition on this,

the last day of evidence. Cameras were allowed in court to

enable Alistair Carmichael's constituents in Orkney and Shetland

to follow the case live. The hearing focused on a memo about Nicola

Sturgeon leaked to a paper in the run-up to the election. Alistair

Carmichael denied involvement but it emerged he had sanctioned its

release. In court it was claimed he misled the public. The image he

presents to the court is that he is putting his own reputation on the

line for the good of his party. Ultimately he takes a hit on this.

Although, as he said, it never occurred to him that he would get

caught. The constituents bring the case claimant Mr Carmichael broke

election law which forbids anyone making false statements about the

conduct or character of a candidate. Mr Khan Michael's lawyer

said this was a political league and his false statement about his

involvement was a political matter. A false denial of what one new...

Does not relate to personal character or conduct at all. The

leak was political in its entirety. The case has been crowd funded and

those who brought it believe it is an important legal landmark. Nobody

has done this before, not in living memory and we would not have been

able to do it without 7000 people who put real money in to make this

happen. It is worthwhile because democracy is worthwhile. The judges

at this rare election court must now consider the evidence and they will

give their judgment to the House of Commons at a later date. They have

to decide whether or not Alistair Carmichael broke election law and if

his election as MP for Orkney and Shetland should stand or be declared

void. Joining me now from our Dundee

studio to discuss this, is Andy Nicoll, the political editor

of The Scottish Sun. Thank you for joining us. It is a

complex case, can you, get to the nub of what they are looking at?

Well, I am not a lawyer and happily this case is not in front of a jury

so anything I say will not influence a jury but my understanding is that

as we heard in the package if you make false claims about a candidate

during an election it can invalidate the election, at an earlier hearing

Mr Khan Michael's defence solicitor suggested that that did not apply to

him, only false statements about... Their Lordships said, they would

like to hear more. The case continued past the first hurdle. Now

he is in court and he has been forced to say yes, I lied and I lied

and I lied and I lied but all these lies were purely political lives and

not personal lives. And that is his final shield. If he had lied

personally then that would be a bad thing but if you live is politically

he can get away with it because when the whole thing blew up, Sir Malcolm

Bruce went on the wireless and pointed out if you pat sack all the

adulterers in the House of Commons there would be no one left. So, they

have retired and are considering their verdict. Wind you think we

might hear that and inform the House of Commons? Yes, these elections, as

I understand, are the property of the House of Commons, it is for them

to rule. The lordships will present their opinion and say what the law

is in the hands in the hands of the House of Commons to decide if you

need a rerun of the election. Everything seems to point to it

being a slim chance. That the election will be overturned. It is

almost unheard of. But the damage to Alistair Carmichael has been done.

And the big problem is how far that explosion will scatter out the

detritus against other candidates. Alistair Carmichael as the MP for

Orkney and Shetland is the southernmost Lib Dem MP. I was going

to say we have seen extraordinary things in Scottish politics this

year alone and this has been one of them. Quite a fall from grace and

something we have not seen for 50 years. It is a dreadful thing. As

you say, Alistair -- Alistair Carmichael, finds himself in a

position whereby his only defence is to completely blacken his own

character. The only way he can cling onto his highly paid job for 4.5

years is to say, yes, I am a scoundrel which does not make things

very hopeful for him to hold on to his seat. OK, thank you very much

for joining us. A weather warning has been upgraded

from yellow to amber as the country The Met Office says winds could gust

up to 90mph in parts of Scotland Storm Abigail is set to make quite

an entrance tomorrow, the Met office has issued an amber be prepared

warning for the far north and north-west well because he gusts of

80 or 90 miles an hour. Across the rest of the North and central

Scotland, gusts of 60 or 70 miles an hour. Expect disruption to travel

and potentially to power supplies. To start the day, a benign note,

Sunshine in the east but soon clouding over, rain in the North and

central Scotland, gusts of 60 or 70 miles an hour. Expect disruption to

travel and potentially to power supplies. To start the day, a benign

note, Sunshine in the east but soon clouding over, rain in the gusts so

you can see we are at gale force around many of the coasts and survey

gusts of 60 or 70 miles an hour for the Western Isles, Northern Isles

and north-east coast. The wind will increase as we go through the

evening and overnight and the deep low tracks to the north-west. In

addition, the evening rush-hour will see heavy rain pushing eastwards so

more problems for traffic on the roads, poor conditions, the wind is

the main feature, gusts of 60 to 70 miles an hour to Central Scotland,

and in the far north parts heavy squally showers, thunder at times

and showers falling as snow above 400 metres. Friday, you will notice

the cold feel, strong winds, plenty of showers, thunder at times and

wintry on the hills. With me in the studio this evening

is the journalist and author Peter Geoghegan and Cat Stewart

from The Herald. It is Armistice Day today, millions

of people, hundreds fell silent across the UK. Many did on

Remembrance Sunday as well. You are not wearing a poppy. What do you

feel about poppies? Do feel pressurised? I didn't until right

now! I was thinking back, everyone on TV is wearing one, maybe I put it

on without recognising. My issue is it has become a big political issue,

we are talking more and more about did Sienna Miller wear a poppy or

someone else not? Poppies on the newspapers and football shirts. I

feel it is a fixation. We talk less and less about the causes, not just

World War I but we do not talk much about the conflicts and we do not

talk about what weather causes of World War I and the residences

because if you look at what happened after World War I, we are currently

seeing a huge huge congregation across these areas in the Middle

East and read about the wars now. Yeah, that is a huge problem with

having the poppy as a moral symbol and being hugely critical of people

who choose not to where it. A big part of the day is about reflection

and looking at identity and if you compel people to do something you

are not giving them the opportunity to reflect or give them a choice.

Some people were criticised on ITV News who does not wear the poppy and

a footballer was not wearing a poppy and I suppose the pressure is put on

them. With social media as well, it changes things. Yeah, social media

has many many benefits but one of its big downfalls is it creates two

moral camps and you are in one or the other and there was no space for

new ones. There are great reasons for not wearing a poppy, I wear one

because I had a great uncle who died in the war and I feel a connection

to him. But, you No, Peter quite equally have a choice not to wear

one. Peter, has remembrance changed, there is more of a focus on Iraqi

and Afghanistan and the focus was on the veterans of the Second World War

and the Falklands. Yes, interesting because the poppy focused on the

poppy was recent in some regards to not having as much remembrance in

the 80s and 90s, it was the British Legion bringing back a much more

remembrance, two minutes on a Sunday and Armistice Day and remembrance

changes. What is important is the focus remains on remembrance rather

than focus remains on remembrance rather

News of the day, cuts to tax credits. Gordon Brown was making the

news today. He accused the government of turning its fire on

the working poor and children. If these tax credit reforms go ahead,

and all the other changes that are being proposed by the Conservative

government that affect job poverty, then not only will the numbers of

children in poverty rise faster than at any time in the last 50 years but

they will reach a peak in 2020 at a level that is higher than at any

time during the recessions of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

Gordon Brown, the architect of tax credits. Do these interventions

matter from an expert minister. credits. Do these interventions

pages over 4000 Corporation Tax One Direction but paid a point to ?4

million Corporation Tax. Great, well done to one Direction. I am loathe

to give them the thumbs up for doing what they morally should be doing

and morally and legally should be doing. But perhaps we need to sit

them down with George Osborne and get them to swap tips. Of course

Facebook can do that. I guess the big question is is it possible to

get international agreement and we have not been able to do it. There

was a big question for some of these... Amazon play tax last year,

almost as much as it got from the Scottish government just for their

plants in Dunfermline. Similar grants down south, I do not know if

governments are doing enough, there are other avenues. OK, thank you.

I'll be back at the same time tomorrow night.

From all of us and the team, have a good night.

I'm here today to tell you the truth.

Are you sure you want to continue down this road?

Lots of people think they have nothing to lose.

They just haven't thought it through.

You have the very particular stink of a man out of his depth.

You blunder further into a situation you simply do not understand.

Tonight, a year from the US elec ions, we are ive ?n0NewJO 000

Hamp?hire - the first pzi ary ? qtu to cast its ballot for president,