Thatcher and devolution

I have a story in today's Scotsman gleaned from an interesting release of Mrs Thatcher's Scottish files from her papers as Leader of the Opposition from 1975-79. It concerns a proposal from the Tory peer John Boyd-Carpenter to extend the vote in the 1979 referendum on a Scottish Assembly to England and Wales.

There's also a second story about an approach from the SNP to forge a 'working arrangement' with the Conservatives in late 1976. What it doesn't mention (cut from my original article) is that the SNP MP in question, Hamish Watt, is the father of Maureen Watt, currently an MSP and the Minister for Schools and Skills.

You can see the full release of papers by visiting the Margaret Thatcher Foundation website.