David Cameron's majority-in-waiting at Westminster, and dependent on the Tories at Holyrood. Of course. The fantasy of the SNP as a left-leaning party has always been exactly that - a fantasy. Left-wing people exist in it, but they certainly do not predominate. The only question is how Cameron will put up with their small town social conservatism (and I write as a small town social conservative) from the environs of Aberdeen.
But goodbye to "English votes for English laws". And goodbye to what little enthusiasm for independence, or even for further devolution, those at the top of the SNP might ever have had. Endless pork-barrelling from Westminster will do nicely, thank you very much.
No wonder that Cameron is indulging those who want to abolish the Oath of Allegiance. Alex Salmond the Privy Councillor and future Knight of the Thistle might have no problem with it. But just who gets to be the SNP's candidate in its twenty-fifth most winnable seat? Some half-Jacobite, half-Trot who would never be allowed anywhere near somewhere ordinarily likely to be won. Cameron looks like depending, when the votes are tight, on MPs who will not swear allegiance to the Queen.
And can somebody please do something about the delusion that Scotland is somehow the heart and soul of the Labour Movement? Labour has never won more than two thirds of the seats there, and never won an overall majority of the total vote there. As recently as 1992, it was the only part of the country to deliver a net gain in Tory seats. The Tories would be doing well in several parts of Scotland now. But the Tartan Tories are doing well in those parts, instead.
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Actually there is some truth in the proposition that the Tories' best bet in Scotland is to do a deal with the Scots Nazis. But the Nazis themselves will have to change before that happens. In the meantime, English votes for English laws will keep the Socialists out of power for another generation, so I find it hard to believe Cameron won't try it at least.
ReplyDeleteOnly two thirds? (Just read that one again.)
I'm from County Durham. Two thirds is nothing.
ReplyDeleteEnglish votes will be quietly forgotten if the Tories get in, and certainly if they are dependent on the SNP, which looks very highly likely.
A future Lbaour Government could in any case simply repeal it, but wouldn't need to, since its election in the first place would have to be with the majority of English seats, even if not of English votes.
And that would happen quite often, roughly once every three General Elections, and quite possibly once every two.
Scots Nazis indeed.
ReplyDeleteWith a few English born MSPs, a Pakistani-born MSP and a minister no less of Italian origin.
Not to mention the half-German SNP leader in the House of Commons.
As for "no more devolution" - it looks like more autonomy is on the way. Please keep an eye on the Calman Commission for details.
Some of us know Kenneth Calman of old...
ReplyDeleteHe can write what he likes, it's just not political realism. And when the Tartan Tories are Cameron's majority, why would you even want these things? Alex Salmond certainly won't.
Like English votes for English laws, it will all be forgotten about, and the SNP and the English Tory bases alike will be asked rhetorically, "What are you going to do, vote Labour?"
Wasn't Kenneth Calman the VC of Durham when you were denied a job at Old Shire Hall? Despite knowing "many senior professors very well indeed"?
ReplyDeleteI have never applied for a job at Old Shire Hall. And there would be no point now, because the University is about to sell it.
ReplyDeleteOf course I know "many senior professors [there] very well indeed" (wherever that quotation comes from)! So what? One of them, in his capacity as a Head of House, employs me as a tutor. I have been an active member of several SCRs for years. Whom do you think that one meets at such things?
Not the new VC, as yet, mind you. But his parents are stalwarts of one of mine, so it can't be long. What of it? People in a university know each other. What did you expect?
I'm just saying, you are obviously pretty well connected in at Durham (no bad thing), but that didn't stop you - as similar well informed comment went - being denied a job at Old Shire Hall. And don't be pedantic - I was referring (as was obvious) not to the building, but using that as shorthand to refer to the administrative centre of the university.
ReplyDelete"Not the new VC, as yet, mind you. But his parents are stalwarts of one of mine, so it can't be long"
ReplyDeleteAre you really old, or is the new VC rteally young?
You seem awfully proud that you may shortly meet the VC of a small university in the North East. Do you see this as a critical milestone on your way to EU Parliament and Westminster Parliament glory?
ReplyDeleteNeither, Anonymous 17:17.
ReplyDeleteJim, good to read the usual twelfth generation Oxbridge drivel. And I am standing in the North East, you know. I realise that that means nothing to you Miliband types, of course. Has he ever visited South Shileds? I mean, ever?
Now, can we get back on topic, please.
Probably about as often as Hilary Armstrong visits Consett. Which is never.
ReplyDeleteWhereas I would maintain an office there if I were MP for this seat. (Her only office is in her house. Seriously. But she's retiring, anyway.)
ReplyDeleteNow back on topic.
Where else would you maintain offices?
ReplyDeleteCrook, or thereabouts.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite normal for MPs for very large rural seats to have more than one office. It says a very great deal that ours doesn't.
And it is almost universal for an MP to have an office in the constituency's largest town. We are the "almost".
Now, back on topic.