Zombie Britain « By Mike Small A report out today confirms what has motivated the independence movement for years: the realisation that Britain is an archaic, centralised society based on privilege and the hereditary principle that closes doors to the many and paves the way for the few. A new report by the Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission which studies the backgrounds of more than 4,000 business, political, media and public sector leaders, describes the UK as ‘deeply elitist’.
It outlines how small elites, educated at independent schools and Oxbridge, still dominate top roles, and that these key institutions do not represent the public they serve. This is a Zombie Nation, ruled by hereditary principle, behind closed doors, away from the light of day and the honesty of open and equal competition based on merit. The commission says its findings are based on one of the most detailed analyses of its type ever undertaken.
It found that those who had attended fee-paying schools included: Like this: The Game Changer Within « By Mike Small Everyone waiting for a game-changer, or Darling getting a pasting would be disappointed. That wasn’t to be. Neither is the discovery of a major new oil find off Shetland. Sorry. There is no D notice. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t knows thought Salmond won, 45% to 55% No’s thought Darling won, 90% to 10% Yes’s thought Salmond won, 80% to 20% So Darling edged it overall because No voters were more convinced their own man won than Yes voters were, but Don’t Knows narrowly preferred Salmond. Who cares? Repeat to yourself the simple truth: It’s not about Alex Salmond. There will be no game-changer. The game changer is within. Think for yourself.
Instead of succumbing to the desultory spin-room filled with an exhausted looking Scots commentariat sipping from plastic cups, it’s time to wake up to some harsh realities. We are ruled by a failed elite we didn’t elect from an absurdly narrow and privileged sect of English society. Like this: Like Loading... Categories: Commentary. Commonwealth Calendar of Independence « Robert Burns for Independence « By Patrick Scott Hogg, author of The Patriot Bard and The Canongate Burns (with Andrew Noble). In this article I show the unbound Scottish patriotism of Robert Burns and argue he would have been a leading voice of the Yes Campaign.
Although there will always be those who will toast an anodyne, simplistic Kailyard grass-chewing peasant ‘Burns’ who is an abstract, universal white knight of ‘friendship’ the world o’er, this out-of-context unhistorical ‘Burns’ never did exist. The real poet was a revolutionary republican of nationalist sentiment with passionate egalitarian views; he was anti-war, anti-imperialist, anti-slave, detested corruption in politics with vehement outrage, wished to see the overthrow of the Feudal system and believed in the rights and political suffrage of the common people. Burns was, as Thomas Crawford has shown, the quintessential political poet par excellence. The poet detested corruption in politics, local and national. The song is also anti-royal. Like this: Why the Debate on Scottish Independence Might Be More Interesting Than You Think? « By David Greig Recently I’ve noted comments from friends bemoaning the ‘quality of the debate’ around Scottish Independence.
For some the journey towards voting is only just beginning and perhaps they are looking for information for the first time. Political nerds like me have been on this for a while but for most people this debate is a slow burn and will only really warm up next year. The comments, though, are interesting because they reflect almost the precise opposite of what my own personal experience of the debate has been so far. Since I began to engage with it I’ve found the referendum has produced some of the most invigorating, complex political thought – on both sides of the argument – that I’ve encountered since I became politically active in the mid 1980’s. It’s certainly true that a great deal of the discussion in the mainstream media has been of the binary – ‘yay, it’ll be great!’ – ‘boo, it’ll be terrible!’ You don’t have to be a ‘yes’ supporter to engage with this.
Film. Let’s Kick Ass « By Mark Millar I was torn about independence for a long time, but what finally swayed me was the blank piece of paper it offers us as a nation. As a writer, nothing excites me more than a blank page because the potential is enormous. It’s limitless. Every new sheet of paper could essentially be the biggest moment of our careers and starting a country from scratch has that same almost unquantifiable excitement. Think about what we’re being offered here. Think how long it will be before we get another chance. You can read Mark’s blog and visit Millarworld here. Like this: Like Loading... Categories: Commentary Tags: Indy Max, Mark Milar, Referendum on Independence for Scotland. A Dysfunctional Union «
By Andrew Anderson Gordon Brown was the last Scottish Prime Minister of the UK. Ever. Even if we do not win independence in 2014 there will never be another Scottish PM of the UK. It is inconceivable that an MP representing a Scottish constituency could lead a UK Government which mostly legislates on matters which do not effect Scotland.
It is highly unlikely that someone perceived to be a Scot, even if they represented an English constituency, could aspire to the office. Our current Devolution settlement already makes this impossible. It is only a matter of time before Scottish constituency MPs are restricted on what they can vote on at Westminster. So what is Jim Murphy‘s ambition? It is probably unfair to pick on Jim Murphy but he is clearly an eloquent and skilled Labour politician. Scottish unionist politicians do not seem to have caught up with this fact. And whatever the sentiment of the London media the reality is that the UK constitution is no longer fit for purpose.
Like this: Jim Sillars: Dancing Around Devolution | In an article first published in Holyrood magazine, SNP veteran and nationalist icon, Jim Sillars, questions the SNP leadership’s courting of the of the Devo Max brigade. by Jim Sillars It’s time the SNP membership woke up to smell the coffee. In case they haven’t noticed, the objective that gave it life and has sustained it over many difficult, barren years is being undermined by its own leadership courting an alternative which, at root, seeks a vote for Scotland to remain within the United Kingdom.
It is disingenuous to claim that if the Scots vote for devo-something-extra then they will be entitled to have it. That the SNP Government has encouraged these devo-something ploys is a matter for deep regret, because anything that implies we can have our cake and eat it over economic powers in devo-land, eats away at the case for independence. There will be those, many indeed, within the party who think that Alex is being very smart. They rejoice in managerialism, coveting credibility. Scotch Myths | This myth is about telling Scots that as an independent nation, we would become non-entities on the global stage. No one would care what we think, and our concerns would be brushed to the side as the Big Boys took control. We would just have to shut up and take it. There are two major problems with the supposed truth of this myth: 1. we already hold no influence and 2. it is not influence that these people seek, but unearned authority.
I’ll take the second point first, because I don’t like following convention. What influence is it that these people talk of? They are, of course, referring to military action, which is made abundantly clear by Moore’s demands that the SNP must explain what an independent Scotland’s defence force would look like, as well as the particularly telling line: “Scotland deserves to know whether it is going to be part of making the world more secure or simply watching from the sidelines in the future.” Moore is not interested in “influencing” other countries. Scotch Myths 2 |
Scotch Myths No. 2 of an occasional series…by Doug Daniel. MYTH #2: Scotland needs to be part of the massive UK economy. My next myth is about the economy, or more correctly, the size of the economy. Unionists often like to point out that the UK is the 6th biggest economy in the world, telling us that an independent Scotland wouldn’t come anywhere close. The implied point here is that Scotland will be a poorer nation as a result. Well, I’ll be honest, there’s no disupting the fact that the UK is the 6th biggest economy in the world, and that Scotland wouldn’t come close to that.
It’s true that the UK is the 6th biggest economy in the world. Look further down the list – Sweden at 22, Norway at 25, Denmark at 31, even Luxembourg at 69. The answer, of course, is that the size of a country’s economy tells you almost nothing about that country’s real wealth. So where is the UK in this list? Scotch Myths 3 – Devo Max | By Doug Daniel This wasn’t originally going to be the third in this series, but I felt the need to put it out there now, so here it is – Myth #3: The majority of Scots want Devolution Max.
I know what you’re thinking – “all the opinion polls say it’s the most popular option” – but it isn’t; not really, anyway, and that’s why it’s a myth. Present people with two options out of the blue, and they’ll go for the one that is closest to the status quo. Present them with three, and they’ll go for the one in the middle. Staunch unionists vote to stay in the union, just as staunch nationalists vote for independence. Everyone else, who doesn’t think that strongly either way, plumps for the middle option. I’m deliberately calling it “the middle option” rather than “devo max”, because it isn’t devo max they’re voting for. So is this me laying down my guns (well, laptop) already? Now, this isn’t as Machiavellian as it sounds.
“Defence?” “Yeah, but what about Trident? “Pensions and benefits?” Like this: Scotch Myths 4 – No Scottish Army | By Mike Small One of the most humorous myths peddled about Scottish independence is that it could not, and should not have a competent military structure. This week Lord Richard Dannatt even suggested that we would struggle to have recruits because it would be too ‘boring’ serving in a Scottish regiment.
Presumably he was thinking of the fun enjoyed by Baba Moussa at British Army hands , or the recent case of soldiers in Kabul? Perhaps he was thinking of the collusion in the murder of the human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane, or other exciting times in Ireland? Whatever he was thinking of, it should be remembered that it’s not actually a prerequisite of a nation to be armed to the teeth. The reality is that Scotland was exploited by the military during the Cold War and that situation remains. Just over 50 miles west of the range at Dundrennan, is the QinetiQ owned bombing range and weapons facility at West Freugh in Luce Bay.
Like this: Like Loading... Categories: Alex Salmond. Scotch Myths 5: Countries Need to be Defined in Advance by Powerful men | By Robin McAlpine I might be alone in this but I am suddenly deeply drawn to the debate about the constitution of an independent Scotland. It is exciting, filled with possibilities, inspiring even. Pity it’s only in my head. Because what I hear from the outside world depresses me. We have Unionist Politician demanding to know how many soldiers Nationalist Politician is going to have in an independent Scotland. I watch this with growing resentment. Let me be absolutely clear – I have no issue with politicians stating their favoured solutions to the many constitutional conundrums ahead. If there is one overwhelming reason for disillusionment with the British state (in my opinion) it is that over centuries it has developed the self-certainty that the big decisions must be made behind closed doors and the public kept at arms length at any cost.
My hope for Scotland is that it is something more than this. Britain doesn’t know what it’s going to do tomorrow never mind in three years’ time. Positivity | By Mike Small Pundits seem to be coalescing around the idea that a ‘positive message’ is an essential part of political campaigning (nothing new here, see Pat’s Juggernaut of Joy thesis). Whether it’s Obama’s upbeat derivative (but ultimately empty) Yes We Can, or, as critics had it, Salmond’s indy question (characterised by some as some sort of Derren Brown-style mass hypnosis), the idea of positivity is the key, or so we’re told. It’s simple: people who whinge and moan all day become a bit of a drain to be around. We naturally gravitate towards those who bring a bit of sunshine and light into our life. This presents the Unionists with a challenge.
How to oppose the Yes Campaign with a positive? In this context stressing continuity has a hollow ring. This vision-failure isn’t just a problem for the parties political future. And this is a problem for the emerging Devo-Max contenders. Whatever the outcome – a more positive debate would be welcome. Come All Ye. Like this: Like Loading... | independence – autonomy – self-determination. The SNP in Inverness – the Independence ball is now rolling | By Kevin Williamson Party conferences are usually of minor passing interest to anyone beyond the party faithful. The stage-managing is drearily transparent; the debates are anything but; the set piece speeches by the Great Leader & His Loyal Lieutenants are usually just a succession of sound bites tossed to the seagulls who follow such political trawlers; and everyone (who is on message) gets drunk, swaps email addresses and goes home happy… only to wake up and read the morning papers wondering why their elation, pride and backslapping hasn’t translated to newspaper headlines nor column inches.
Should SNP delegates to Inverness feel any different? Possibly not. And yet, beyond the inevitable celebratory mood, and the legitimate gripes about fair coverage from the BBC, something significant happened in Inverness. Following the May election victory the conference in Inverness was as good a time as any to kick start a referendum campaign and up the Independence ante. Like this: