Dear reader, the Brits have a Scottish problem.
The SNP victory, along with the Greens, means that there is a clear majority in the Holyrood regional assembly for a second independence referendum.
I’m reminded that my family was creating some problems for the British Empire a century ago.
“You will never get to the bottom of this most perplexing and damnable country,” wrote Prime Minister Asquith to his wife soon after the Easter Rising in Ireland in 1916.
It was a feature of British rule here that they had no idea of this place or its people.
Now, Fair Caledonia looks to be shaping up to be the part of this archipelago that most perplexes the ruling tribe in Westminster.
The Brit media has been in overdrive since Sunday.
They’re putting out the narrative that the people of Scotland somehow haven’t really voted for a second independence referendum despite returning a majority of MSPs elected on precisely that platform.
In the North East of this island, there is a distinctive subculture of folk who culturally identify with Scotland.
You might think then that they would be delighted that their ancestral homeland across the North Channel was finally stepping back into the family of nations.
Apparently not.
Thankfully, my Maroon mate Matt Leslie was on hand to assist this Loyalist intellectual.
I would recommend this timely anthology to the chap from Béal Feirste.
Indeed, it should be required reading for anyone who wants to know how the UK got into this constitutional mess.
This brilliant contribution from Neal Ascherson is the pick of the bunch.
He skewers the selective amnesia of some modern Scots about what their ancestors did when they were the middle management of the British Empire.
Moreover, he is withering about the modern attempts to say that IndyRe2 is a route to freedom for a colony.
“Scotland itself, of course, could never be classified as a colony-in contrast to Ireland, in whose ethnic cleansing, military repression and settler plantation the Scots played a vigorous part from the sixteenth century on. An academic attempt was made in the 1970s to define Scotland’s relationship to London as neo-colonial dependence, but it was soon rejected as absurd.”
Well said, Mr Ascherson!
If Ms Sturgeon and her colleagues get their way, then Fair Caledonia will not be a colony finally becoming free from their colonial masters.
That’s Hollywood, not Holyrood.
Rather, it will be an imperialist divorce.
The states that conjoined in the 1707 deal were both already in the empire game.
If it was a Hannoverian Anschluss, then it was, in part, driven by some very eager kilted Austrians.
The stakes are high; if we are truly in the endgame for the 1707 arrangement, then it is, in many ways, the end of the British state.
Consequently, it is difficult to see how the “Ulsturr Scatch” in the North East of this island can remain unionists.
Finally, they might need to recognise the inconvenient fact that they live on an island called “Ireland”.
However, they’re currently rather busy trying to turn back the tide of history post-Brexit.
Oh, dear.
For the avoidance of doubt, the vast majority of people on this island undoubtedly wish the people of Scotland all the best if they decide to join the rest of us.
An independent Scotland can be a major success story and a better place to live for all of its people.
Of course, there are some here who have a low opinion of the Scots.
Sadly, I wasn’t surprised when she doubled down…
Herself, a big pal of Eoghan Harris, has already raised the possibility of Partition.
Despite what the clever chaps in Westminster or their supporters in the media might think, the sovereignty of the Scottish people is non-negotiable.
If the Scots want to break the connection with the rest of the UK, then that should be that, and Holyrood can become a state parliament with a seat at the United Nations.
Anyone who is otherwise minded just doesn’t care that much for democracy.
Not a good look.
Now, if it’s Monday, then that means Tadhg Hickey.
Today, the man from the Rebel County (which was once an integral part of the United Kingdom) had this hilarious take on our neighbours.
I’m in the final furlong here.
Did I mention it was about IndyRef2?
Have a great week, and stay safe.
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Our oceans! !!.
Can’t we just all get along, don’t care about empires, borders, religion, colour, race, gender, sexuality or what team you support. Have many friends from the place that should have been forgotten, they are mostly twats but hey who doesn’t have friends that sometimes you ask why, then they do something that both ingratiates and antagonises. You then realise that they are just people with a different perspective. To look backwards will never help humanity on any level to move forwards. Only use looking deep into history is ensuring we don’t repeat mistakes. FFS never knew I could be so deep. Talking about deep, our oceans need saving….
Scottish Independence is not a “serious” political outlook, its really just a form of hobby – you know, marching up and down St Vincent Street waving flags – and a straw to clutch for people seeking an identity (given how Scottish identity has been washed out and turned inside out several times over, in the last 500 years).
It’s not serious because it has no substance whatsoever. There are a number of very significant challenges a separate Scotland would face, far more significant than the UK had to handle with Brexit. For example, Brexit did not put a hard border on mainland Britain, nor did it leave the UK without a central bank or currency of its own. The SNP do not even have the beginnings of an answer to these points, or a host of others. They didn’t have an answer in 2014 and have not made one jot of progress in providing one since: as even Alex Salmond has stated.
It is also not serious because surely only a fool would leave the UK union, where Scotland enjoys considerable autonomy and a high level of spending, to join the EU where we would face austerity to qualify and then have much less autonomy.
For example, In Ireland, the EU controls *its* border with the UK, not the Irish Government – we saw this recently, when the Irish learned on the news that the EU was (briefly) intending to impose a hard border. And the Irish Government has to get Brussels’ prior blessing for its spending plans, whereas Holyrood requires permission from no-one. This is no form of “independence” and so we can see the whole affair is really a vanity project for Nicola Sturgeon who sees herself swanning around Brussels as some minor EU functionary, in charge of “EU region K” (or whatever they call us).
To this end, the SNP are lucky that the bulk of their support are, ahem, “low information voters” who lack awareness of these kind of issues, let alone concern regarding them. This is in large part the former Labour support we are talking about, after all.
A recent survey showed that a large (>50%) section of the Independence support believes sheer nonsense such as “Scotland only has a deficit because it helps fund projects in the south of England” and that GERS figures are “made up by Westminster to hide Scotland’s wealth”. When in fact it is the Scottish Government itself which compiles and publishes the GERS figures and they are of sufficient rigour to qualify as national statistics.
It is often terrifying to live in a country of such people, whose crude and very limited understanding of the world could translate into catastrophic consequences for us all. For example, Scots currently enjoy “free” University education, something which is very unlikely to be the case in an Independent Scotland. I and many friends benefitted from this. I have 3 small daughters, (the eldest is 5), each of whom will, in time, achieve very impressive University degrees. I would very much prefer that no-one did anything stupid, to make it needlessly extremely costly for them to achieve their potential.
Equally, when they reach that potential, it would be good if they had access to the huge and varied jobs market the UK represents, instead of only the relative backwater of Scotland, which relies on artificial levels of State employment. The EU pretended to be a jobs market for people, but it was never really, due to any number of language barriers.
And do not get me started on mortgages and pensions.
Scotland has produced some very fine minds in the past, but I do not think our average intellect today is anything to shout about. I think a lot of people vote SNP because they are impressed by the kind of “class clown” politics which characterises them, trying to provoke the UK Government etc.
I genuinely think a lot of people would get a real shock if Scotland left the UK. After all, we are used to being very comfortable as part of the 5th richest nation in the world, where “poverty” is relative and means your Council house doesn’t have several extra bedrooms which you do not actually need.
And, you know, the debate is not only about money. The UK is a family. The English are a great race of people, and England is a beautiful and interesting country which I love to visit. I have worked in England and I have English relations. I enjoy holidaying there and will do so again shortly. The UK is great (I’d be happy to see the back of Northern Ireland).
I could talk all day about how what the SNP offer is only pretend Independence and how we need to realise what a fortunate country we live in. But I am sure I have banged on about enough for now.
Finally, I’ve never met a single person who would be willing to risk prison, injury or worse for the sake of Scottish Independence and that is the ultimate reason why it will never happen. On the flip side, although I admit there are unpleasant factions within Unionism, these are much more emotionally invested in their Unionism – I am not claiming that fact is always good or welcome, but it is important to note.
An excellent summing up of the situation. Sadly the hard of thinking will never grasp this. They just want to paint their faces blue and shout ” Freedom”. They have taken nothing into account, Currency, pensions or say it quietly the national DEBT..
They think that nothing will change. There is a secret, cruel part of me that hopes they get their wish. Outside of their biggest market and 10 years out of the EU. Where’s your money coming from? Oh yes, Oil. that wait for it the GREEN party will be trying to get their share of the income from. If it wasn’t so dangerous it would be funny
Oh dear ! and so say you of the far superior intellect, if I were to behave in the manner you may think I ought to, to fit your idea of who we are ! would I…..I think not ! Get a grip of yer hied hen.
Scotland will eventually be Independent, like the demographics of the six counties the younger generation of Scotland overwhelmingly support Independence. The older Doomsayers of Scotland are on the way towards the exit door and will take their nostalgia for the old ways of Britain with them. The selfish older generation who lived off the Empire and had job security, final salary pensions, lots of decent social housing which they then looted under Thatcher. After this came Blair’s Labour Government which did nothing to reverse the policies of the Tories including leaving the Anti trade union laws untouched, brought us PPI which future generations will be paying back to the private sector for the next 50 years and took us into an illegal war in the Middle East which cost countless lives. The SNP, who some people making comments on this site castigate, and like all political parties aren’t perfect have brought Scotland free prescriptions, free tuition fees, stopped the sale of social housing, pardoned the miners who were disgracefully criminalised under the Thatcher government and quite a few other working people friendly policies. I look forward to the day of Scottish Independence which will come sooner or later when Scotland will join numerous Nations of a similar size as a member of the UN and becomes a normal nation more interested in Trade than military power. Unfortunately as a guy in his late seventies I may not see that day but wish the younger generation Bon Voyage when the day of Independence comes.
A few inconvenient truths. Every vote for the SNP in every election is not a vote for independence. You do understand that don’t you? The Scottish government has no legal or constitutional right to call for or instigate a referendum. You do appreciate that don’t you? The Scottish people have already rejected independence. Do you recall? The latest survation poll puts pro union at 58% excluding don’t knows who very likely would vote no. Scotland’s deficit is funded by Westminster. I take it you have heard of the Barnet formula? Even the generally thick Scots know a good thing when they see it. There is no economic case whatsoever for independence but what does the SNP cult care about that. I had a good laugh when Andrew Neil ripped wee jimmy krankie a second arsehole when they chatted about that. On an unrelated matter don’t you think wee nikla looks like pol pot? Similar politics too. You think all Celtic people have the same bigoted views as you? Think again.
Adding “You do understand that don’t you?” After every unsupported assertion still does not make them valid.
What a bigot you are.
Did the ordinary people of Scotland have much say in the decision or the ‘union’ of Scotland and England, or the Darian venture, the British Empire or just the powerful who oppressed their ‘subjects’?
Plenty of Irish supported English rule in their own country and the British empire. Surely its not helpful or accurate to suggest those in power at the time were acting on behalf of their people and only for themselves? ‘We’re more rebellious than you’ serves little purpose, if any.
Irish, Scottish, English… all the same wankers in power and they give no fox about the people of the country both back then and now.
So lets not pretend there is no distinction between ordinary people and the ‘middle management’
It might be an inconvenient fact that the Scots provided a disproportionate amount of the colonial managerial class for the British Empire.
However, it remains a fact.
That might be one reason why the secessionist impulse in Scotland was, throughout the 20th century, rather anaemic.
That might be because the Scots were renowned for being actually quite good at Finance and looking after other people’s money?
Btw the Irish were taking slaves from these shores long before the Scots were in middle Management of the Empire that spanned the globe.
You may have heard about Dál Riada Phil?
A Kingdom that spanned between the West Coast of Scotland and the Northern Part of Ireland during the 6th and 7th Centuries.
How do you suppose that came about?
Perhaps a referendum or cordial invite?
Let’s look forward to whatever is coming and let the past live in the past eh?
Most of the people involved in causing the issues we now have have long since passed.
The current threat to all of what we know is China and its Allies who at present are messing with things that can alter all of our futures regardless of what Political persuasion or background we come from.
As for Scotland living in deficit?
Northern Ireland is costing the U.K. £10bn per year and that was in the EU.
Ireland will have to absorb that loss on Unification.
Did the ordinary people of Scotland have much say in the decision or the ‘union’ of Scotland and England, or the Darian venture, the British Empire or just the powerful who oppressed their ‘subjects’?
Plenty of Irish supported English rule in their own country and the British empire. Surely its not helpful or accurate to suggest those in power at the time were acting on behalf of their people and only for themselves? ‘We’re more rebellious than you’ serves little purpose, if any.
Irish, Scottish, English… all the same wankers in power and they give no fox about the people of the country both back then and now.
So lets not pretend there is no distinction between ordinary people and the ‘middle management’
Shashi Tharoor in his brilliant book “Inglorious Empire. What the British Did to India.” gives the Scots a special mention when it comes to who benefited from “the looting of India”.
You should read it.
To equate the Scots with the Irish when it comes to the British Empire is historically illiterate.
The Flight of the Earls and the Union of the Crowns are key events.
Overall, the facts don’t care about your feelings.
Continuing to assert the notion that the Irish were more colonised than the Scots is irrelevant to the essence of the argument that the Scottish nation deserves to achieve its Independence. I am sure also you would agree that if it can be achieved without the casualties suffered on the rocky road to Irish Independence then it would be a good thing.
Finally the social media correspondent that you quoted referring to Wallace turning in his grave must be mistaken, if only for the reasons that a man hung, drawn and quartered would have neither the means nor the motivation to do so.
“…that the Irish were more colonised than the Scots is irrelevant…”
Oh dear.
The Scots were not colonised at all.
Rather they, like the English, were in the empire game before 1707.
There is no Irish equivalent of the Darien project or the East India Company.
Phil, you chose to misconstrue my point to pursue your own argument. The right to self determination is part of a nation’s entitlement and not a prize to be won dependent on how much it has or has not been exploited.
Oh dear.
Independence does not matter a jot Police Scotland and SNP are still Orange as George Sq next Sunday will prove
Bullshit
Very recent events prove your comment is wrong, so ‘organising’ the trade shut down for an illegal march whilst in the middle of a global pandemic isn’t at least showing some favouritism to a certain demographic? Wake tfu!
Helping folks of a similar persuasion to yourself screams favouritism and cronyism, if not ‘police state’ because anyone not in that demographic had best make themselves scarce from the city centre on that day, The ‘police state’ comment is maybe jumping the gun, although, police will show favouritism to ‘that lot’ anyone that doubts it is welcome to test that theory.
Celtic FC won 9 titles on the bounce and not once was there ever a party in George Sq.
Indeed, far less the very people who are meant to stop these things from happening are actively organising I for them. FFS🤬
You described your own nonsense of a comment
It’s funny that: the Orange Order etc told their members not to vote SNP….
Just a lighter shade of orange the “plastics paddy’s “ comment was not a slip more of a statement
If you want to be ruled by England – move to England.
SNP will have a large number of the Oranangerati ! of course it will,the only large group of people in Scotland with none is the Celtic support, the police I agree are full of them. Please don’t lump the freedom for Scotland movement as a whole with those Bigots………are you a a fringe party party guy who hates the SNP or are you something else entirely?
Not a hater just a realist ,Celtic hammered on COVID by SNP , rangers praised, rangers fans started gathering 10am on the day they won the league at midday more than a few hundred ,police should have said if you do not disperse we will call the game off , they didn’t and it was an open invitation, come on down and then the next day rangers fans given police escort to George Sq…
What’s done is done, the only way to get any political say in this country for non orange/masonic people is for the population to rid ourselves of our large neighbor to the south.An independent Scotland would have to big a group to ignore, especially when the bowler hat brigade don’t have the “larger butcher’s apron to shelter behind.