A Useful Fiction: A Review

Patrick Hannan has worked for the BBC for over 40 years; during that time he has been their Welsh political correspondent, a tv producer a radio presenter and since 1998, half of the Welsh team on the Round Britain Quiz. He has also been a newspaper columnist and contributed to a wide variety of UK newspapers and magazines. He has written several books: 2001 A Year in Wales, Wales Off Message, The Welsh Illusion, When Arthur Met Maggie and now: A Useful Fiction, Adventures in British Democracy.

Having now finished reading the latter, I’ve come to the firm conclusion that Mr Hannan is not particularly enamoured with the Union, Unionists, the Northern Irish in general or indeed bloggers...which then makes me the obvious person to give an independent and objective review of the book!

"A Useful Fiction" is an attempt to analyse post-devolution Britain, the structures set in place at the end of the 90s and how they have affected the social, economic, cultural and political make-up of the United Kingdom. He sets himself a range of questions, for example- the effects of devolution on central government’s ability to run the nation, is an overhaul of Barnett overdue and is "independence" worth having if it entails becoming poorer to achieve it". In order to answer the questions, the book has been set up on a thematic base with each chapter (roughly) looking at one aspect of the bigger picture.

Does the book achieve any kind of substantial answers to those questions? No. It asks them in more varied and interesting ways, it explains competently the issues behind the questions, it even approaches a wide range of "experts" (N. Irish readers in particular will be shocked to read Brian Feeney pronouncing on sectarianism in almost ecumenical tones) to help with the understanding of the questions. But no real, concrete answers, or even opinions for that matter are forthcoming.

From a purely literary (and pedantic) viewpoint,in many of the chapters there are too many overlapping topics to make the thematic approach a success. It’s no coincidence that the two chapters which worked best for me (although I disagreed with the conclusions) where the two which concentrated specifically and solely on their subjects, respectively the Monarchy and the London-Centricism of the media. As I said in my introduction Patrick’s own clear beliefs ("centre-leftish nationalism =good", "all varieties of Unionism, Middle-England, the Westminster Establishment =bad”) are apparent throughout "A Useful Fiction". In a work that sets clearly out its stall at the outset to be a polemic that’s not a problem- although I still think you need a much deeper analysis than is present here to provide some kind of foundation for your arguments. My initial understanding however was that "Useful Fiction" was setting out to be an objective examination of the issues connected with devolution. If that was the case, then the personal beliefs /prejudices needed to be left at the door.

Another, perhaps more minor, criticism is that once or twice you feel he’s edging onto something controversial, something which was the logical conclusion of his argument up to that point, but something which may not necessarily tie in with the main thrust of his book’s argument or nationalist sensitivities; when he almost reached that conclusion he would suddenly jump back to the comfort-zone. A case in point is the increasing influence of the EU over the UK’s independent legislative powers. Now, if a nation of over 55 million is greatly shackled in its ability to create laws for (and actually govern) its citizens, what then would be the case for the infinitely smaller "independent" Scotland and Wales (assuming, of course, the EU would let them in post The Split!)? I was sure Hannan, on a couple of occasions, was heading towards the logical unpalatable conclusion to that question, only for him to stand back sharply at the last moment in case he challenged too sharply the Standard Nationalist Orthodoxy.

Oh dear, I really do think I may have blown my chances of ever being sent a book (free of charge!!!) to be reviewed again. So, has reading it been a complete waste of time?

Far from it. He has an entertaining, engaging writing style that made the chapters flow by. In particular the interviews with Kinnock and Hain (who apparently, according to His Royal Orangeness himself, has never used a sunbed. Right. Sure. OK. Anything you say Pete.) and the final chapter about Enoch Powell were interesting diversions from the muddle and confusion elsewhere. The chapter on the subject which I guess Hannan knows best, the Metropolitan Media, was illuminating and will definitely be used as the basis for a future post on here. For someone who’s unaware of the consequences and the questions posed by the Devolution Question, I could certainly recommend it as a good introduction to the disaster wrought upon our nation by Labour’s Constitutional Vandals (I’ve stayed reasonably objective for too long on this one, even *objective* reviewers must have their limits…probably time to finish!).

So there you have it. Other reviews can be read here and here.
If you’re after a free copy, then pop into Liberal England and have a shot at the questions there, otherwise you can try the (by now) traditional and boring way here.