A London borough came under fire last night after cancelling its full council meeting to join a pro-union march ahead of Thursday’s Scottish referendum.
Camden Council said it took inspiration for the move from David Cameron and Ed Miliband, who last week decided not to attend prime minister’s questions and instead focus their time on persuading Scots to reject independence.
Both Camden’s Labour group and Conservative opposition attended a two-thousand strong rally in Trafalgar Square last night, which saw speakers including comedian Eddie Izzard urge Scotland to remain part of the union.
Responding to the local authority's decision, a Yes Scotland spokesperson told LocalGov : ‘Perhaps these elected members - all of whom are paid from the public purse - might like to explain to their hard-pressed council tax payers quite how Scottish independence is going to negatively affect them.
'Rather than debasing democracy in this way, the councillors of Camden would do the people they represent a better service by bringing a halt to this sort of meaningless political posturing and instead getting to grips with local needs and priorities, such as addressing child poverty, homelessness and the “Bedroom Tax”.’
Green councillor Sian Berry also voiced her disgust at the move, stating that she was planning to use the meeting ‘to argue for community centres’.
‘The union is for Scotland to decide not Camden councillors,’ Berry tweeted early this morning.
A joint statement from council leader Cllr Sarah Hayward and opposition group leader Cllr Claire-Louise Leyland said: ‘The prospect of Scottish independence is an unprecedented constitutional upheaval, and we believe, real threat to our country
‘Taking our lead from David Cameron and Ed Miliband – who cancelled last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions – we have decided that we, and our groups will not attend tonight’s council meeting. It will therefore be inquorate and instead both council groups will be jointly marching to Trafalgar Square to participate in the rally to save our Union.
‘The business to be taken at tonight’s meeting will be rearranged.
‘We urge Camden residents to join us on the march and show Scotland that Camden and the rest of the United Kingdom believe in our great union and want it to continue with Scotland as a vital part.’
