Census-less questions

According to this year's census in Scotland, you may have a Scottish and British national identity(Q14); with regards your ethnicity (if you're white) you can be either Scottish OR "other British"(Q15)?

Work that one out.
(And yes, there had been loads and loads of controversy about the whole topic previously)

Belgium still may be saved.... by the N-VA!

Give it another 17 days and Belgium will officially be the "World Champion in Not Forming a Government".
The country has been in limbo since last June's(!) elections and by the middle of this month, it will be 250 days that it's officially operated without a government. The fact that the country, minus a few jitters on the bonds markets, seems to be ticking along quite nicely, as it did the Czech Republic in a similar situation couple of years ago, probably tells us all we need to know about the indispensibility of political elites in modern democracies.

The party which polled the most votes last year, the Flemish separatists, the New Flemish Alliance have been an integral part of the on-off negotiations:

Today’s blockage is unlike previous ones in that an avowedly separatist party, the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA), has for the first time become dominant in Flanders. Led by Bart de Wever, a charismatic bruiser, the N-VA’s appeal stems precisely from popular exasperation with the messy, unsatisfying compromises of the older political groups. It wants a decisive shift of powers to Flanders, and makes little secret of its wish to see Belgium “evaporate” within the EU.

Charlemagne in last week's Economist, however, points out the dangers inherent in the N-VA's apparent (more on that later) desire to split the nation along ethno-linguistic lines:

Seen Elsewhere 02/01/2011

• Psychology of the No Campaign

  ""Conservative party No campaigners are especially angry that their members in the Assembly are not representing their views. A few weeks ago, at the south Wales launch of the campaign in Newbridge Rugby club, I asked one prominent west Wales Conservative Henry Lloyd Davies why this was so. He answered bitterly, “Because they’re on the gravy train. They’ve got their noses in the trough.”"

• "Multiculturalism, Britishness, and Muslims":Tariq Modood

• Welcome to the crazy world of Norn Iron politics

  "After the statutory prayers today (Monday) there are such vital items for discussion as the Dogs (Amendment Bill) and the Second Stage of the Cyclists (Protective Headgear) Bill. Both worthy and necessary pieces of legislation; but if you were to look round the chamber you’d likely find a paltry show of MLAs.There is also the wonderfully obtuse section of Assembly jargon with an item proposed that “this Assembly takes note of the Draft Budget announced on 15 December” by the venerable Finance Minister Sammy Wilson.Take note – or randomly disagrees about everything that the DUP and Sinn Féin will agree on before deciding to pick on UU Health Minister Michael McGimpsey again.On Tuesday things really hot-up with the Welfare Animals Bill, and the Consideration and Further Consideration, respectively of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill and the Transport Bill"

• "Even the Aussies want to bend the knee to the Queen": Boris Johnson

• SNP growth boast 'not proven' warn experts

  "ALEX Salmond's claim that the granting of full economic powers to Scotland would significantly boost the economy has been dealt a severe blow by a group of leading academics"

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.