It’s jam-packed with great little quotations ("When a people are repressed, you get Nelson Mandela. When they are irritated, you get Alex Salmond.") but its main quality for me is that it’s an article about the Union’s future and it’s positive; I'll repeat that: positive about the Union having a future and we haven’t read too many pieces following that line in the last 6 months or so.
Nevertheless, there are several parts I would raise the smallest of pedantic objections to. Yes, Northern Ireland’s place within the Union is the safest its been probably since the creation of the state, but despite the assertions of Messrs Trimble, Bew and Aughey, I’d argue that it’s despite of and not because of devolution- if anybody has a clear and concise argument how the present DUP/SF coalition is a recipe for long-term stability and the moving away from ethno/creed based-nationalist politics needed to return us to "normality", then I’d be delighted to hear it. Trimble inadvertently points to a truer reason why our link to Britain remains strong, the development of a civic (albeit largely passive) unionism, which although it does not appear yet at the ballot box, still is reflected consistently in various surveys: that majority of 25-30% plus wishing to remain a part of the UK is our guarantee, not the shenanigans up in the Toytown parliament.
Whilst "No one in Cardiff seems to know where the Welsh Assembly is" there is still no room for complacency on the part of Unionists in Wales; Plaid Cymru’s ultimate aim remains a fully independent state, Plaid Cymru remains a part of the coalition in power. The Conservatives, in particular, should become more pro-active and aware of what damage "increasing" devolution could bring to both their part of the UK and the nation as a whole.
Lloyd rightly sees the rise of the SNP in Scotland as a direct result of dissatisfaction with the old Labour Clique, a very efficient SNP PR/Black Propaganda machine and undoubtedly, the most cunning and downright Machiavelian politician in the UK today rather than a real increase in any separatist sentiment. True, but (indirectly again), he touches on why the Union cause has come out stronger from the travails of the last few months- quite simply, as Lord Falconer states, the Unionist (political, business and media) Establishment has at last realised "the Union is in play a way it has not been before". The way Salmond was systemically and pitilessly torn apart when he came out with his guff about the "spivs" and the ill-concealed (and at times admittedly OTT) glee as each member of his "Arc of Prosperity" went bankrupt (Iceland), battened down the economic hatches (the ROI) or told him "You’re not like us at all anyway" (Norway) showed the power of a Unionist press working in unison against a politician who had relied for too long on spin and arrogance. I’m not sure his bubble’s burst quite yet, but at least he knows now he’s in a fight with a reawakened and powerful opponent.
Finally, Lloyd touches on the "asymmetry" question, the perception that England has suffered from the Devolution Experiment in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It has, but I’m not at all sure that the question of devolved powers, never mind an English parliament is at the forefront of the typical voter's mind. A very competent and focused campaign is being run that can sometimes give that impression, but three facts remain:
1.Neither devolved powers nor a full legislature have been adopted as policy by any of the main parties.
2.Linked with 1) the question has not really surfaced as a burning election topic- witness the failure of the English Democrats at the ballot box.
3.The inequities arising from assymetrical devolution have not yet dominated the tabloids.
English nationalists can and do argue that it’s a chicken and egg situation, but until at least one of those above three factors change in their favour, I think the danger of an ultimate breakaway of England from the UK is extremely unlikely.
Finally:
There is no sign that the major parties, anywhere on the UK mainland, will lose the large majority they hold over the nationalists, nor that a majority will be found in Northern Ireland for a unity with the Republic which the latter no longer actively pursues. The strange news from national fronts, and from the decade of devolution, is that it has worked - and that the Kingdom seems likely to remain united.
OK, just for once, I’ll leave that elephant alone relaxing on the chaise longue and agree with Lloyd’s general overall message here...despite it all, we, collectively are doing all right; rumours of our nation's demise have been greatly exaggerated.
10 comments:
Strangely you have not mentioned about the Icelandic's anger over the crowing over Iceland's problems.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5062899.ece
By and by, it looks like where Ireland leads we are likely to follow. Ireland is now in recession and we are in what unofficially?
Collapsing house prices, heavy borrowing. Is that ROI or UK. Cannot remember. Or is it both?
We still haven't been hit by the kind of budget which the ROI endured last month...yet anyway. And this is just in:
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/business-news/tax-.htmlipts-collapse-as-republic-warned-over-increased-borrowing-14036100.html
Re Iceland, I think they had a justification to be angry about being put on the terrorist hot list, but in the Uk, at least the schadenfreude (which i did say has been OTT on occasions) was squarely directly at Salmond.
Politicians are using Iceland’s predicament for their own political ends rather than for the benefit of the Scottish and Icelandic people,” he said.
It's what politicians do isn't it? You could also argue that there's nothing wrong pointing out possible lessons from events happening in other countries?
“The comments from UK ministers about Iceland being insolvent and bankrupt are unmerited and they are not helping the already frosty relations between the two countries.”
Technically it is bankrupt or am I missing something here?
I think the point from the Icelandics is that you do not mock a friendly country for political ends.
Naturally whilst maybe embaressed, people enjoy being praised - like Salmond was praising Iceland. It is quite another to put the boot in. That hurts.
How would you have liked FF politicians to haved popped up on TV in the 90's during the "Celtic Tiger" rampant period and crowed at the mess NI had got itself into with its civil war (for it was effectively that) with much employment being propped up by the UK public purse, EU funding (which Unionist politicians slagged the south off for taking) and having armed soldiers and police in the streets.
All of which the Republic in that period was on the rise - from whatever source that was helping to fund it.
Remember EU funds do not equal economic success but what you do with them that counts. Ring Lisbon for details. I do not even think the Portugese Pirana economy was even conceived let alone born.
We still haven't been hit by the kind of budget which the ROI endured last month.
To be honest that budget was a piece of p*ss for the majority of paye workers. Not at all as bad as was made out. Education and Health took the blunt sadly.
However, I believe that this budget is the first of the cuts, and that there will be a few more mini budgets over the next 12 months.
I think the point from the Icelandics is that you do not mock a friendly country for political ends.
It wasn’t very friendly of the Icelanders to freeze accounts of hundreds of thousands of British savers; perhaps if they (and the Norwegians) had been a bit more forthright when Salmond was using them for political ends before, there wouldn’t be so much mocking now.
How would you have liked FF politicians to haved popped up on TV in the 90's during the "Celtic Tiger" rampant period and crowed at the mess NI had got itself into with its civil war (for it was effectively that) with much employment being propped up by the UK public purse, EU funding (which Unionist politicians slagged the south off for taking) and having armed soldiers and police in the streets.
Oh,we did get the crowing alright, but from our fellow citizens in Northern Ireland of an Irish nationalist bent who conveniently forgot that it was their boys who had, by and large, destroyed our economic base and who were one rather active participant player in the “civil war” you mentioned- certain “academics” (eg Brian Feeney in the Irish News) have built their journalistic career around those facts.
Curiously enough, as you state, their so-called brothers in the ROI kept largely stum, although for less than altruistic reasons than you ascribe- they didn’t want to make the differences too stark because then the momentum for “Unity” might have become a bit too strong for comfort; the last thing in the world they want(ed) was their bad, mad and very expensive Nordie cousins gate-crashing the party and wrecking the house they'd painstakingly built up.
Kloot
To be honest that budget was a piece of p*ss for the majority of paye workers. Not at all as bad as was made out. Education and Health took the blunt sadly.
But I guess a fair few of the paye workers also need at some stage to use both the education and health facilties of the state? And reading the Irish Times last week, I saw some very scary looking OAPS out for blood over the pension changes.
But I guess the point that should have been made by the anti-Salmondists is not that big countries somehow are exempt from recession any more than their smaller counterparts, but that with generally larger resources (ie tax base), more diversified economies and economies of scale, they are better equiped to ensure their citizens don't get hit as much with the full impact.
But I guess a fair few of the paye workers also need at some stage to use both the education and health facilties of the state? And reading the Irish Times last week, I saw some very scary looking OAPS out for blood over the pension changes.
They might, and if they do, yes it will mean an increase in their emergency ward bill. But its not a killer of an increase. Regarding the OAPs, most of that was hot air. The majority of OAPs were not affected by the change in the budget, for them it was the principle of not being entitled to a medical card automatically.
This budget was far from being a massive budget of cutbacks. They actually increased spending in some areas!. That 'hard' budget may come yet, but this isnt/wasnt it.
Kloot,
OK fair enough, looks like I fell for the media hype!
Aberdonian,
Considering the "war of words" with Iceland, I found this a bit curious:
http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/secretary-of-state-blog/?p=74
Murphy was actually there a couple of days ago; wouldn't it have been a bit more diplomatic to just have a word in his ear, rather than go running to the press?!
OK fair enough, looks like I fell for the media hype!
There was indeed a lot of hype around it, and alot of built up apprehension over it.
For me and my peers, its meant not that much. I reckon im down about 50 quid a month. Ill pay more if i need to go to emergency, and there is 50c on a bottle of wine.
Ive been in both of Dublins major shopping centres regularly over the past few weeks and they are still pretty damn busy considering all the talk of recession. (possibly its the plastic card).
My point again though, is that I believe that when this budget was the softener for what may be about to come, and sooner rather then later.. And when this budget does come, its me and my peers that will feel it most. Cigs and Booze will rise, the levy will increase, tax credits will be reduced and other indirect taxes will rise.
March will be the date that I believe this one will be dropped on us...
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