Mad Max or Devo Max, both ...

... as ridiculous as the other,  Mad Max depicts a post-apocalyptic world, whilst Devo Max is the preferred method to sunder Britain (difficult to use the term UK) into its component parts.

Whist I sit comfortably with the 61% who support a referendum for separation, ...

... I certainly do not support giving the separatists a win-win referendum.

"Devo Max" is in fact separation without the pain of responsibility, it ...

... would spare Scotland the constitutional wrangling and guarantee it British protection, yet give it the right to tax and spend as it saw fit. Although much would be down to negotiation, a practical guide issued by the SNP almost presents Devo Max as a feast where Scotland gets all the treats, leaving England and Co. with the leftovers.

The referendum in itself, whether the Scots drift off or remain, will cause a re-writing of Britain and its constitution, no longer will any section of society be prepared for treatment as anything other than equal, whether Bradford, Belfast, Bridgend  (or Bishopbriggs possibly)  Salmond has, unwittingly or otherwise, opened a constitutional Pandora's box from which there can be no going back.

I doubt if the electorate will tolerate in the future, one section of society having a larger share of the cake (on average) than anyone else.  Mutterings of the unequal treatment of students across mystical boundaries is a recent manifestation of discontent, (not so) free prescriptions are another bone of contention, and both cases are relevant and in urgent need of redressing, these are the indicators of a stressed society.


Now is the time to cut across sensibilities and cut the devolved budgets to equality, there is little to lose, Scots are on their way, next year or in a decade is not overly important, Wales and NI need to wake up and put their houses in order, now is the time to slash Barnett and replace it with the reality of equality rather than the mythical needs of political spending, there is little to lose, and to everything to gain.

As Hemingway wrote, "It takes more cojones, to be a sportsman where death is a closer party to the game." Here we stand on the threshold of the death of country, are there representatives with the metaphorical cojones at Westminster to finish the game so eloquently started by Salmond ..............

Tory boost when Salmond takes the high road ...

...  to the promised land, we hope that like Moses (Moshe Rabbeinu) he has divine assistance;  unlike the Pharaoh who was beset by plagues.

Giving Scotland its independence and scrapping the 59 MPS it currently sends to Westminster would transform the present government from a coalition to a Tory one.

In the 2010 election the Conservatives won 306 seats, including one in Scotland. The other parties combined won 344 seats, including 58 in Scotland. So without Scotland, the Tories would have had 305 seats and all other parties 286 — giving the Tories an outright majority of 19, according to Anthony Wells of Yougov, the polling firm.

In numbers of votes, the Tories dominate in England, while Labour dominates in Scotland. So independence ought to benefit the Tories, as will boundary changes. However, thanks to the constituency system, Labour could still win in England.

In the 2005 election Labour won 356 seats, with 41 in Scotland (including the then Speaker). The other parties combined won 290 seats, including 18 in Scotland. So without Scotland, Labour would have had 315 seats and all other parties 272 — still leaving Labour with a majority of 43.

Labour would also have won outright in 2001, 1997, 1950 and 1945, even if Scotland had been independent.

Sunday Times 15 Jan 2012

If only they had gone earlier, would we have been beset by our very own plague of Scots politicians, politicians who caused so much mayhem this past decade.

The views of the peoples of Britain are interesting ...

... is this the Salmond effect .... by Salmond design.

Maybe it is time that Salmond explained in simple terms exactly what would be achieved through "separation", and the status quo might explain in similar terms what exactly are the benefits to remaining "as is", other than hot air from both sides there has been little of consequence made public.

Is independence for Scotland a question just for Scotland, or ...

... should the question be put first to all the peoples of the UK, thus asked Matthew Parris in today's Times.

"Scottish independence would create two new countries. The whole of the UK must be consulted before it happens."

... he continued:

Iam a citizen of a country called the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, whose borders and territorial waters answer that geographical description. This United Kingdom — not England, but the Union of which England is a part — is where I vote. This United Kingdom’s Armed Forces are recruited from all parts of the Union and defend all its borders. This United Kingdom decides and raises taxes across the whole country, and disburses them for all parts of the country. I vote in elections for the administration that determines all these policies — the British Government at Westminster.

It’s our country. In an important sense, we run it.

And now some people are proposing that the union that created it should end, and our country split.

... and more:

“Split” is the word. This is not an amputation: lopping off an extremity and tossing it into the North Sea. Scotland wouldn’t be “going” — going anywhere — but staying put, reconstituted as a new state. England, Wales and Northern Ireland will no more be divesting themselves of Scotland than Scotland would be divesting itself of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. This would be a proper divorce, not an offspring leaving home. There would have to be a tussle about possessions.

For we — the other parts of the UK — would become a new state too. With Scotland gone, the phrase “United Kingdom”, the whole concept, takes on a new meaning: not just for England but for Wales and Northern Ireland

This idea of Matthew is important, because it signals to everyone in the UK that the time has come for a conversation that determines where we will be when our children become adults.  It is not a question that would deny the Scots an opportunity to create a separate state, we are democratic after-all, not some single party state that suppresses freedom of expression.  Such a conversation is in danger of suppression by the proponents of separation who label it "scaremongering tactics".  I for one want to know exactly what will be the effect of separation, as I am sure, do many others in these sceptred isles.  Amongst the constituent parts of the UK there is only a very small minority that look constantly for the greener grass of post independence, today the door is opening for a realistic view of this in a way that everyone can understand.  The four areas I am interested in gaining an insight are ......

• Currency, how can Scotland consider remaining with Sterling with policy affecting it being set by others.
• Armed forces, would we extend the policy that allows certain foreign people serving in our various arms, how soon before we relocate southwards our submarine forces.
• Our BBC, much despised by nationalist commentators north of the border would be divided, but how is talent divided.
• The EU, might take the opportunity to divest itself of these turbulent isles, forcing the new countries to re-apply, an opportunity the French might relish.

In conclusion Matthew wrote ...

So ask us all and, if we all agree, then ask Scotland. And before Scotland is asked, take time to give the Scots clarity on what is being proposed. Saltires and bagpipes, Union Flags and British bulldogs, are not enough.

A comment left at the Times ...

Michael in France

January 14, 2012 12:51 PM

Excellent summary Matthew. Of course we are all part of that Union and anyone's departure clearly affects us all. We should all have a voice
As for San Toi's egotistical "on behalf of the Scots - "It's not yours - it's us." How then would he respond if the rest of the UK (90 odd percent) were indeed to hold such a referendum and decided we wanted no more of Scotland?
As an Irishman, who has spent most of his life in England, now in France, I have always found the English tolerant, civilised and welcoming.
But I and most of the people I know are fed up to the back teeth with this perpetual Scottish whinging

 Interesting times, interesting ideas ........ myself, I'm planning the farewell party !
 

NHS will pay for ...

... implant removal, but not an appointment by a diabetic to gain much needed advice from a dietician.

And the reason given, budgetary constraints, not a word of a lie !

And the single most important life skill for a diabetic .................... diet.

A Wales NHS decision, thanks Carwyn and chums ............

I feel a little like the man who went to market ............

.......... he took a cow to return home with a chicken.

The word Carwyn Jones is cheated, but you have your priorities !

Thank the Lord for Blaidd, who ...

... wrote at WalesHome :

January 6, 2012 at 9:45 am

Of course Welsh speakers are more culturally Welsh than non-Welsh speakers. Most people have a mental map of unique ‘Welshness’ that goes something like this…
Welsh-speaking > Valleys > Swansea > Cardiff/Barry/Newport > Marches

 

His is a view skewed ......... to read the Plaid-centric (Adam Price) debate leap here ........

Myself I wonder how "culturally Welsh" should be defined, in fact, in the 21st century is there a "culturally Welsh" identity that stands out and above those other cultural definitions, myself I doubt it, in the grey homogeneous world we live in culture can spiral between Holywood, the ubiquitous X-Box and Albert square, it is probably the reason why Plaid have failed miserably in political Wales, cultural nationalism in our green and pleasant land would need to be a multi-faceted gem, with one facet for each person on the electoral role ...........

A resolution, when a knock ...

... on the door reveals a Plaid type asking for your vote, ask the question ...

If you were successful in your quest for an independent Wales, what would be your manifesto at the post independence election for the future of Wales.

... you will be still waiting, I am following last years elections.

Dafydd, Dafydd, Dafydd, sometimes ...

... I wonder if you have been at the sauce ...

                                                                                    ... with your outrageous uttering, to wit ...

WalesOnline today the last day of 2011, where you call for the scrapping of the position as Welsh Secretary to the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.  Now, contrary to the agenda of Plaid and pals, there are those of us who quite like the companionship of Westminster, particularly as we live in a political world (Wales) that would if left to its own devices, send us reeling into a left wing nightmare that we can read of through the immortal words of George.

Does Cheryl Gillan (CG) pull any levers of government West of Offa's Dyke ?  Does she exercise any real influence at No 10 ? .......... who knows, and in the grand scheme of things, does it really matter.  What matters in the real world is our government at Westminster has an office with its fingers on the pulse of "Political Cardiff", and it's very obvious this is the case with CG's recent remonstrations with Carwyn Jones.

And why should Westminster keep its fingers on the pulse of political Wales, well, as Margaret Thatcher discovered to her cost, that had she known earlier, much earlier, nationalism in Wales would have been neutered at birth not nurtured through political ineptitude throughout its infancy.  And that must be the SoS's primary task, to do to the political elite of Wales what the little people are prevented, to criticise and raise very real fears loudly and publicly, to be our lightning rod for the excesses of our regional government, this cracach that yearns for greatness ...

... and there you have it Dafydd, although you politicians might think you have everything sewn up, the others who have very few voices, have Westminster as a last resort.  We have in Wales several modern day "Le Chat Botté", those who use political trickery and deceit to gain a level of power and influence unparalleled in modern Wales ...............

................ in government and out.  Then there is Cheryl Gillan to speak out as she has ... but does she speak for us, the new year will tell.

On the home front, there is a battle yet to be engaged, it is with the nationalist who wish for the hand of the princess that is called Wales (in a marriage), they wish to become its worthless master with its head fully engaged in anything that is not Britain.




Message to friends and foe ...
Wikipedia have a fund raising effort, follow one of the links and maybe leave a donation, I have, if only half my visitors contributed £10, then there would be £100,000 for probably the best source of information freely available on the internet, be generous this new year.