John Redwood writes a tortuous piece doing his best to support the UK government's line that "the UK Parliament should decide on when the referendum on Scottish independence is held, and what the question should be".
This government is wrong on big policy issues, such as cutting spending (it isn't), the EU (they're ceding more powers) and greenery (CO2 doesn't cause significant AGW, and they should be pushing for cheap shale energy). They're even poor at politics (privatising forests? planning reform?). Why do I continue to be astonished by the UK government's ability to pick the wrong battles and fight them badly?
A Scottish referendum was a manifesto commitment by the SNP to Scottish voters, was it not? In other contexts Tory MPs champion subsidiarity, do they not? If the Scots voted to secede, would an imperialist Westminster seriously consider refusing them permission?
To suggest that Westminster is capable of organising a referendum but Edinburgh isn't is patronising humbug. It's not even convincing humbug. Alex Salmond must be rubbing his hands with glee. The more the snooty Etonian continues to patronise them, the more likely the Scots are to vote to leave.
Independence may or may not be a mistaken policy, but the decision is for the Scots to make and they do not need the condescending permission of the English or anyone else.
As Norman Davies keeps saying in Vanished Kingdoms, constitutional arrangements come and go.
6 comments:
"The more the snooty Etonian continues to patronise them, the more likely the Scots are to vote to leave."
I suppose they aren't bright enough for this to be intentional?
That's not what he says he wants, is it.
Let me see.
41 Labour MP's in Scotland, and is it one Tory ?
No incentive for the conservatives to piss Scotland off then ?
Labour, as ever, are too thick to see it. Not that it will do them any good.
So. Pee-off Scotland, hold a referendum in which the Scots get to be themselves, lose 41 Labour seats.
Win. Win. Win.
Labour down and out for several generations, if not completely gone.
Oh, and isn't the boundaries thing about to start....labour down another 30 seats in England...AND the gov is going to look at having each INDIVIDUAL union member having to OK the political contribution.
own, out and bankrupt.
The only question is whether the SNP want genuine "Independence" or will they rush to sign Scotland into the EU and sell us out .. which I fear they will !!
As an Englishman (with Scottish blood), I'm happy to leave that to the Scots.
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