Mature Unionism. RIP

So it was a short lived flirtation indeed. David Camerons article in the Scotland on Sunday (which for the life of me I cant seem to locate online, despite a desperate twitter plea, in which a number of commentators noted a new approach by Cameron, promising to engage (and a relatively regular visit to the burgh was mooted, something rarely done now by one G. Brown).


The term mature unionism was coined at this stage and it made sense. Look like you are engaging, while slightly shifting the arguments to include practicalities. If we had mature unionism, we would expect arguments to be held on such things as the NHS, broadcasting and defence, all legitimate points.


My main issue with what I would call fingers in ears unionism is polling data. Or rather selective polling data. They argument is that "scots dont want independence". This is based on fairly consistent polling data showing trends of a 1/3rd supporting. Personally I believe, no matter the veracity of the polls, a third is enough for at least a debate on constitutional change, It might be worth remembering that in 2005 only 39% of the Scottish electorate voted for Labour (not too far off a third). On a less practical level of course, it is nonsense to base an entire argument on polls. If Labours argument on polls is to be consistent, Iain Gray (still to break into double figure approval ratings as far as I know) should chuck the job, Labour should give up on next years election and those awful twins wont win X factor(ok maybe we can take that as read).


Getting back to the Tories, Dave very much seems to have given up on Scotland. Despite some noises they may reach the dizzy heights of 7 MPs (there's no sarcasm there, that would be a great achievement for them) I think 3 is more realistic, although despite calling it for the Tories, I am starting to think Nigel Griffiths may hang on by the morally questionable skin of his teeth. Despite promising to engage, he dismissed the SNP (Scotland's Governing party no less, and unless theres a budget crisis, almost certainly the Government in May 2010) as "an irrelevance".


More telling was Michael Gove's article in the Mail on Sunday (Scottish only, so again unreachable online) in which he uses the phrase "Scottish executive". I think even some bitter enemies of the SNP have agreed the change of name did work, and did give new sleekness and legitimacy to devolution. Is calling it by its old name a sign of future immaturity to come. This is of course, not the rantings of a castratingly right wing anti scottish MP, but one of Cameron's better potential cabinet Minister, and, dare I say it, a fairly consistent media performer. Gove also criticised the Lockerbie decision, saying that such matters could be dealt with better with the British foreign affairs might. I translated it roughly as "you jumped up parish councillors cannae handle it, let the big boys in".


I didn't want to deliver this eulogy, I really didn't, but it seems we are back to the same old tit for tat bitterness. C'est la Vie!

Back the Bid

Coming from a newly re-blogging and nationalist young man, what bid could this be you ask? Alex Salmonds bid to join the TV debate? Getting the Olympics to Greenock? The bid to get Glasgow Council to shoosh about the GARL.


Sit comfortably now... because I believe that every major organisation in Scotland (Government included) should be backing England's 2018 bid. I believe that although a number of detractors will claim, perhaps with some justification, that we wont have an independent scotland by then, but we can, independent or otherwise, still have a mature, and equal relationship with our nearest neighbour. Not as Pauline McNeil once claimed "England won't speak to us after independence". Im sure Mike Russell must be quaking in his boots at the power of his shadow.


Aside from showing that we can be a mature and forward looking party, there are practical advantages. England, were it to host the World Cup, would be one of the smallest sized countries to ever do so, and as a consequence many tourists could find themselves in Scotland. The distance between London and Glasgow is shorter than the distance between Tshwane (Pretoria) and eThekwini, 2 South African host towns. And, if the Mobo's somehow brought in 3 million pounds, what could tens of thousands of tourists do for our economy.


NB: While backing the bid, I don't think Gordon Brown can see we in reference to England, nor do I endorse continued references to 66 or replays of past England glories.

Quote of the Day

"I am sick of inconsistencies with SAAS, not to sound like the Daily Mail sticking up for middle class people, but they simply dont support certain students. They arent getting away with it this year, letters, phonecalls, appeals, blogging, I am going to stop their doublespeak and give them so much arseache they will develop from a two bit box ticking shower into a semi decent and semi helpful Agency."

The Speaker? Guess

Sleep Lightly...

General Election Date Exlusive

Could be wrong but HP sources indicate


4th March 2010

++++++Developing+++++++++


ps my last latest news post was that the tories majority in Norwich would exceed Iain Gibsons majority, same sources, same accuracy, you head it here first

Immersion Therapy

So Gordon, finally used the word. Cuts. In fact he used it rather a lot. If you notice the catchy headline that refers to a psychobabble technique whereby if someone is forced to endure something they find unpleasant like a phobia a lot, they will eventually accept it.


Perhaps, thats why, rather than say Labour will cut, he said Labour will cut X, Y and Z. A number of questions arise from that. One is that do we now have a prime minister who can and will lie to the population? He has stating on numerous occasions he will not cut public spending, and yet here he is doing it. Also his soundbite chasing statements leave him open to criticism. "He says unwanted projects, what about trident?" I can almost hear ringing in my ears.


Another question, one I have been asking for a while is, who is advising the PM. Everyone, mostly, accepted the need for cuts, every papers editorial has gone hard on the theme, and the public do seem to accept it. As the new ConHome video shows, Brown is on record as opposing cuts. And now he has a whole farm of egg on his face. Despite the noises from the media, this is not drawing the dividing lines. As we expected, its now nice rosy red cuts versus evil blue tory cuts. Blurred dividing lines indeed.


As a PS, and for a scottish element, what is the labour hacks plan for when the budget is announced with 500m pound less in it? They are probably annoyed that Browns u turns have rendered them unable to, as Malcom Tucker would say, "walk the f****ing line". So, rather than have a grown up discussion (and Ill concede the SNP maybe overused it) they simply said, you are lying, the budgets increasing, thus the John Smith Spinners will be working overtime to come up with a story that caters for a missing 500million pounds that doesnt involve John Swinney, Alex Salmond, and some mini coopers.

Quote of the Decade

I posted this on Crap Holyrood Chat aswell, but I will still do it here.

"Alex Salmond has no mandate in any form from the Scottish people"

Mike Rumbles

Still "Thirsty" for Exclusives?

Last night, following my own admission that my blog had descended into farce, albeit a hilarious farce, and allegations that I was shaping myself as some kind of Tory Bear fanboy, it was probably not the best time to unearth another, slightly lighter tale.

Yes the photo above, recognisable to perhaps some older readers, is a retro irn bru can, to be unleashed on shelves, if I am not mistake, this very afternoon.

Its all in aid of Homecoming of course, and while there are financial reasons of course (they are not being outdone by those nasty Rabbie Burns coke makers) it is good to see one of our biggest, reputable, and well known brands mucking in.

This also coincides with their clan can gathering, a homecoming event they are sponsoring that is free and on Glasgow Green. For some reason, they also plan to break the worlds biggest can can record.

Not an in depth politcal analysis by any stretch, but its a nice wee story, and in my defence, it is friday.