A Little Bit Of Politics…
as Ben Elton used to say.
This Thursday sees local elections across the UK, but in Scotland we also have the election for the Scottish Parliament. It might not mean much to you now, but by Friday it will probably dominate the news.
As things stand, looking at the opinion polls over the last few weeks, the likely outcome is a coalition government led by Alex Salmond’s Scottish National Party. For the first time in 50 years, Labour won’t be the dominant party in an election in Scotland.
It’s been a poor quality campaign, Labour going negative on the Independence issue, while the SNP boxed clever by saying a vote for them is a vote to have a vote on Independence in 2010.
The reason for this post really, was first to prepare you for Friday, in case you hear the news and think we’ve detached Scotland and it’s currently floating away into the North Sea! The SNP are and have been the main opposition party in Scotland for the last few decades now. With the culmunation of New Labour’s policies that ignored the will of the people and a general mis-trust of Scottish Labour’s handling of devolved government, the SNP getting a shot at it shouldn’t be too big a shock.
The second reason and main catalyst for this post however, was an editorial in the Sunday Herald. Up until today the Scottish media have traditionally backed Labour, and the tabloid press shockingly so. This editorial in the Sunday Herald is a major sea change for this publication, and possibly the start of a new realisation.
I was in Prague on honeymoon in August 2002, when they had the “500 Year Floods” that covered half the city in water. We stranded ourselves in a bar glued to the news, wondering how we’d get out! The thing that sticks in my mind is every Government Minister who came onto the news was no more than 35 and didn’t look in the slightest like a politician. Now I think this would be very refreshing for politics in this country, but having an SNP led government might have to do instead.
So it should be a fairly exciting week up here, and for the first time in years, I’m looking forward to an election with a bit of excitement!
Martin Dooley said,
April 30, 2007 @ 10:10
If Scotland does seek independence - then for all I care it may as well float away into the North Sea.
It hits me as a huge betrayal to the English people, and its quite sad that Scottish people don’t feel proud of their country. (They should do!) I’m afraid being “independent” is not a cure, its just a name - you won’t wake up with the warm and fuzzy’s afterwards… And surely, you must ask yourself, which Union has provided for Scotland? The UK, or the EU? Which Union gives the Scottish people the loudest voice on the world stage?
The EU hopes to build a superstate (goodbye Scotland again) but us English / Welsh are unlikely to take that… So in the end, it looks like we will be “independent” and the Scots once again without control of their land. (or laws)
Sad time for Scotland with a real choices to be made - I only hope they don’t make it on the last 10 years of Union, but on the whole 300 years… Trust me as someone south of the border - we hate Labour as well…. (Which incidentally is run mostly by Scots)
HW Techie said,
April 30, 2007 @ 14:41
Thanks for your comments Martin, however I’m not convinced you actually read my post!
HW Happy said,
May 4, 2007 @ 08:00
As Techie says, not exactly relevant to the post but… I’m not exactly for or against Independence, but I don’t think Scotland should be denied the choice.
It’s a shame that most of the parties revert to scaremongering as part of their campaign. Understandably it has drawbacks but should we still be denied the choice? Who’s decision is that to make?