I’ve often remarked to NUJ colleagues that the journalist doesn’t have the advantage of the historian.
I am referring to the luxury of hindsight.
The Fourth Estate is in the middle of it all as it happens.
Consequently, all that is possible then is to get the basics down
However, it is a vital task as history books are often re-drafts of contemporaneous accounts.
Some in the British political elite will hope this is merely a blip before a new golden age of Brexit opportunities.
Your humble correspondent, addicted as I am to history, looks on the Truss reign of error as a way marker that didn’t start with Brexit but with Suez in 1956.
That foreign adventure prompted President Eisenhower to remind Britain of its second-tier status.
Since then, there have been oceans of pish about the Special Relationship.
That exists only in the minds of Brits.
The Americans are much more grounded about who is really in charge in the West.
In many ways, the vote to leave the European Union was part of a post-imperial grieving.
What was promised was never deliverable.
That is why Brexit has now devoured four British Prime Ministers since 2016.
That year was the centenary of the Somme and the Easter Rising.
Both of those events, in their own way, were harbingers of Britain’s ultimate geopolitical decline.
Even when you’re there, it isn’t always easy to discern the full import of the vents you’re witnessing.
I stood in the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, on the morning of September 19th, 2014.
Prime Minister David Cameron stood at the lectern in Downing Street, flushed with victory as he knew the Union was safe.
It turned out that Scotland the brave was relatively easy to frighten.
Only a time traveller would have been able to say that less than two years later, he would be in the same spot resigning.
He was going because the United Kingdom, with Scotland an integral part of that polity, had voted in another referendum to leave another Union.
Now, the successor to Liz Truss will be imposed on the people of the United Kingdom.
They will have no say in the matter.
This is where Britain’s unwritten shambles that passes for a constitution is shown to be seriously wanting.
The people of Six Counties have a ready-made escape hatch to return to the European Union and away from the Westminster shitshow.
This was established in European Union law in 2017.
It has been called the East Germany route.
Voting for re-unification would allow the territory of Northern Ireland, which is part of the ancient province of Ulster, to become part of a member state.
Do viewers in Scotland have their own programme?
Well, that’s up to them.
If they continue to send their representatives to Westminister, then they really don’t have a prayer.
Starting to see it now?
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Totally agree with James’s comments particularly about westmonster mp’s continuing to take the uk money and advocate for independence
It seems that 1 in 4 Scots who were in favour of independence would now vote against if their standard of living is affected, as is the current belief. It seems to me that this will also be the case in NI – although the majortiy would see the dream of unification as a great thing they will not want to lower their living standards. It is clear to me that Bojo and co wanted rid of NI because they couldn’t afford to keep subsidising it on an industrial scale and hence the nonsense with the protocol against their supporters in NI’s wishes. The interesting thing will be seeing if the Irish Government want that particular albatross – I have no doubt that the dream is a great one but the reality?
1 in 4 a Daily Mail headline.
Enough said!
I understand your scepticism that those who attend the Westminster Parliament will deliver independence for Scotland. But on the flip side, a century of refusing to take Westminster seats by Republican MPs from the North has still not delivered Irish reunification.
I wonder if the lettuce was leaf or romaine?
Stephen
I think you’ll find it was Radicchio lettuce. Red and bitter.
Dagurney
I would be interested to know the source of your 1 in 4 statement. I think it should be “affect their standard of living more”. If you had said a few years ago that the result of independence would be mortgages dearer, inflation at 10%, proposed tax cuts abandoned, energy prices through the roof, strikes across the whole public sector, out of the EU, queues at airports to get through the non-EU channel then maybe and the governing party tearing each other apart instead of dealing with the economic crisis then that stat would be accurate. But when that is what we get for remaining in the UK then perhaps our own government could do a better job. I’m not a convinced independence voter by any means. There are a lot of questions to be answered. However, is the trope going to be “you’ll be worse of than how badly you would be in the UK” going to be the default scare tactic?
JS
Hi JS – I’m not sure how I would vote either, particularly if we get more Tories – and no doubt they have caused the currrent crisis primarily via EU exit. The stat 1 in 4 was run by several ‘newspapers’ yesterday – of course who knows what the facts are…..other than most seem motivated by what is good for No 1.
Ah, I see where you’re going wrong now. You’re reading newspapers, especially ones with agenda’s like The Daily Mail, and either believing them or passing on that info under the cover of “it seems”. I would suggest anything The Daily Mail says in relation to independence or anyone left of the Tories should immediately be filed under the heading of “it doesn’t seem”. A rag not fit as bog roll or fish and chip wrappers in years gone by.
JS
Never never understood why they allowed the use of illegal and late lies to stand in the independence vote.
As a staunch believer in a free Scotland (but without Sturgeon)…it been my belief that the man leading the race for Scottish independence was really just a drunk predator with a gambling problem, who wanted “more powers” but not the responsibility of actual government.
Blackwood and Black etc, are so hellbent on being in the starlight they sell their souls for Westminster riches…making nice speeches occasionally….before picking up their paychecks to dine In swish London nightclubs.
Those who stand in opposition to independence…declaring both their allegiance and belief in a “united kingdom”…should independence be achieved, should be banned from EVER standing for a Scottish government in a free Scottish state.
The problem fir Scotland regarding independence, is that too many of thise in charge in Scotland, play the politics game and declare to seek independence, but play by Westminster rules……that needs to stop.
The only way to achieve a free Scotland, is to become so bothersome and costly to England, that they are better off without us.
For the time being, the SNP under Sturgeon and Co, although the favoured party do not convey that sort of message to the people of Scotland….but its politics….and politicians.
There in lies the problems
👍
“We will not be dragged out of Europe…I mean Westminster against our will”😂
For all the Internet Warriors advocating radical approaches, they appear to have next to no popular support among the public.
I know it sounds great, dare I say virtue signalling, but the reality is, it’s an irrelevance.
Even the Alex Salmond Cult Party has been a damp squib with no discernible electoral support but its adherents still cling to it as the “true path”.
I hope the reference to Internet warriors advocating radical approaches, is not a reference to myself.
I was for many years a card carrying member of the SNP before it became fashionable.
Met Salmond in a Burns supper in West Lothian, and refused to shake his hand….not because I’m a radical, but because the man had just done a deal with the tories behind our backs.
We had a 5 minute tat-a-tet regarding the issue…..but I knew of Salmond anyway, him living a few miles away…..and the stories did not impress me.
I still publicly backed him and the SNP at the time….but solely due to my independence views.
I don’t advocate “radical” methods…though you might require to advise me further of what you mean by radical methods…
However, taking the oath of allegiance at Westminster does not instil in me a sense of members Committed to freeing Scotland from Westminster….not while they accept the crowns shilling and Westminster snide disregard for Scotland and the people.
No participation and a campaign of total freedom from Westminster is not radical…..its simply what’s needed…with the people of Scotland backing such a campaign
Alba might not be the ‘true path’ but under Sturgeon and her troughers we’re on the road to nowhere. Not one inch closer to freedom than when she took over 8 years ago and I guarantee that next year’s referendum won’t happen just like all the others she has promised.