THE PICTS HAVE STOPPED BORDER RAIDS - SO...........WHEN WILL THE UK BE FIRED UP?

Though the vote on Scotland's immediate future is now settled, it is not the end of the process nor the national debate. If the politicians in Westminster, (remember, that is all the representatives, English, Welsh and Northern Irish) think it is, they are being naive. 

In this post:

 http://myword1.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/a-momentous-vote-scottish-independence.html

I set out my critique of the campaign. My final paragraph may, sadly, turn out to be prescient.  

The Groundswell of political energy, the politically sharp awareness, both of which accompanied the referendum campaign, have not suddenly disappeared.  85% of eligible voters placed their votes.  45% of the Scottish population voted to be be separated from England; not an inconsiderable number, one not to be sniffed at.  It would be a foolish government, (voted in on far lower a percentages) that would agitate against the separatist voters. The current Deputy First Scottish Minister is a formidable politician in her own right.  It seems likely, she will be voted into the post of First Minister at the next Scottish National Party (SNP) Annual Conference in about two months' time.  The current incumbent  is stepping down. As the ruling party in Scotland, the SNP will not let the depth of support and goodwill they have in Scotland dissipate by standing still. The Picts may no longer indulge in border raids, but, make no mistake, they can still firmly hold their ground

I cannot remember  a Westminster Government in my lifetime that has been voted in with a percentage vote equivalent to  the forty five percent 'no' voters in Scotland. The current Conservative Party certainly was not, hence their need to form a coalition in order to govern.  

On the other hand, I can remember voting turn out of about 30% in the whole of the UK to decide on a government based in Westminster to represent us all....30% ! About two thirds of the population did not elect UK representatives; what a massive lack of confidence in our political system, in our democracy.  The figures tell you our governments do not represent the majority, they have not found common ground or connection with people.  It throws a spotlight on to the U.K political disengagement, disconnection and disaffection of the population at large with the Westminster ruling classes.

Scotland has demonstrated a superb political awareness and has connected with it in massive voting numbers, numbers that Westminster parliamentarians would give their eye teeth for.

A SCOTTISH ENGINEER'S VIEW OF THE SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM

Hi Folks,

I'm not vastly politically motivated, but being of an engineering background/profession I tend to see/prefer things in black and white. Deal with/anticipate things based on factual information and act on it accordingly etc.

Now, I'm all for independence, the only slight snag is that the "Yes" camp has no formal, factual, researched/detailed solution to address:

Monetary/funding of an independent currency;
Pensions, Healthcare, Welfare.
Defence, Nuclear Decommissioning, Nuclear Assets in general.
Ownership/division of North Sea Oil/Gas.
Potential loss of Jobs in sectors where confidence is being lost by outside investors.
Border Control, Immigration.
Postal Services, Communications services, etc.

If they [the "yes" camp] were to go and spend say 3-5 years on a full Option/Scoping mission, getting the appropriate buy-in and support and producing a real and viable package, then I would be motivated to consider/vote towards it.

Until then I see no reason to vote towards breaking a working,(reasonably harmonious)Union. A clear-cut vote to give license to consider the options/produce a reasonable package in the first instance would have been far better. As it is, there are a large cross section of the people who are taking it for read that if it is a yes vote we shall be splitting up.

In any event the country shall not be the same again; this cause has created endless debate, division and resentment to some. I hope whatever the outcome we can,(especially the more militant in each camp),live happily and work through any resultant policy changes that will no doubt occur.

Thursday will be interesting, as will the aftermath, times they are a-changin......

Alec.


Post reproduced in its entirety with permission from the writer.

FOOD FOR FUEL - FOOD FOR THOUGHT-SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE...TO BE OR NOT TO BE

We do have Public Holidays in Scotland but the recent late August Bank Holiday is an English one. Scotland fixes a late Summer holiday weekend at the beginning of August.  Public holidays in Scotland tend to tie in with local culture, norms and traditions.

Earlier this week I found myself in a bar/restaurant in Inverness, the Capital City of The Highlands Of Scotland. It was one of a major chain networked throughout the United Kingdom.  

Although we arrived in time for the weekday meal offer,  customers were told that there was no special meal deal (two meals for £10) because it was a Bank Holiday.  A Bank Holiday - whose Bank Holiday!?

The Barman, through whom I placed my food order, thought that over time the  late August holiday had crept in, in some places as an addition and in others, as a replacement for the earlier one Scotland traditionally has. 

"What" says I, "do you think will happen to the Bank Holidays in the event of a 'yes' vote for Scottish Independence?"

Him- quick as a flash  " There probably won't be any!".........

The  barman then talked about his view of the impending referendum and told me how he would be voting.

The Independence Vote has engaged all age groups of the population in Scotland and born Scots, who, for whatever reason are out of the country and who are gnashing their teeth because they are not allowed to participate in the vote. (You have to have been living in Scotland for six months prior and be registered to take part). 

Even people waiting at bus stops in Edinburgh got chatting to each other,  bouncing off thoughts and ideas about the referendum.  All of them were keen to know and to get to hear for themselves, what populations in other parts of Scotland might vote for.  One woman was surprised to hear there were no regular political meetings where I live 'on the periphery of civilisation'.  One Member Of The Scottish Parliament (MSP) had put himself out to visit when I happened to be elsewhere, I explained.  He deserves a lot of Brownie points for making the effort that no-one else in the Scottish Parliament has considered emulating.