tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post7994842335088158367..comments2024-03-29T13:29:10.299+00:00Comments on SCOT goes POP!: A toast to Nick Clegg, the accidental midwife of Scotland's independence referendumJames Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-25144166886230358192011-05-08T15:54:06.004+01:002011-05-08T15:54:06.004+01:00Sorry about your difficulties posting. I'm not...Sorry about your difficulties posting. I'm not sure what happened - I thought maybe they had been caught by the automatic spam filter (which seems to remove comments at random sometimes) but they're not there. A bit troubling!<br /><br />Glad you succeeded at the third attempt, though, and I agree with a lot of what you say. I still think, though, that an outright majority under a PR system might have been a bit too tough without the Lib Dems pushing the self-destruct button.<br /><br />Incidentally, I know I'm going to have to let go of the AV issue now, but I don't think there would have been any question of AV thwarting the SNP on Thursday. This would have been one of those occasions (like 1997) when AV would have made the result even more lopsided - the SNP would probably have picked up enough Labour second preferences to take Galloway from the Tories, for instance.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-46732793464840415912011-05-08T12:18:31.346+01:002011-05-08T12:18:31.346+01:00I agree to a point (third attempt at posting a com...I agree to a point (third attempt at posting a comment as the others have been eaten - ?is Wordpres in the trall of the UK establishment)?<br />But I think the analysis excludes the role of the growth of Scottish political maturity from childhood to adolescence, and now we emerge on our adult independence.<br />The truth is that Scotland is tired of voting for governmental representation in vain and being governed by powers they did not represent (the Thatcher years - yes and the whole Forsyth independence-weapon that he was) and the wholesale sellout of principle by the Labour Party (for the sake of English gold or for American oil in the case of Iraq...a parcel o' rogues in truth).<br />For me, however, it was the belief on the part of America, the Whitehouse and the common or garden patriot, that they had the right to try to influence and overturn our sovereign legal system with Megrahi. That little bit of dominion we retained.<br />We have a lot to thanks due to those in the political establishment (Donald Dewar and his cronies) who did campaign for Holyrood and gave us a chance to grow. The confidence to see we could make decisions - and good decisions - for ourselves. <br />The irony is that the Labour Pary campaigned against AV system which all these years syne might have made this crawling, walking and now running towards self-determinating adulthood such that we would have sat forever content in our playpen being fed not porritch but ReadyBrek. <br />The double irony that in this election - even without AV or list candidates and in a system designed to prevent this very outcome - the Scottish voice broke beyond treble tremolos and the occasional gruff syllable to assert itself in adult roars.<br />Rosa Alba MacdonaldAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-65131177228413562652011-05-08T11:18:54.139+01:002011-05-08T11:18:54.139+01:00That's very true, Doug. I have a feeling the ...That's very true, Doug. I have a feeling the SNP may still go for a multi-option referendum in the end, but the point is they can now reach that decision entirely on tactical grounds, rather than on the basis of negotiations with the Lib Dems. Tavish missed a huge opportunity to help shape the constitutional future of Scotland in 2007.James Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01516007141763230886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-930120922627919768.post-1369353837534939862011-05-08T10:30:54.990+01:002011-05-08T10:30:54.990+01:00Don't forget Tavish's contribution, James....Don't forget Tavish's contribution, James. Four years ago, the Lib Dems had a chance to continue helping to govern Scotland, and even get plaudits for helping increase Holyrood's powers into the bargain. The price? Allowing a referendum for doing so to also have a full independence question, for which there was no public appetite (or so they tell us), and thus would guarantee a positive response for devolution max rather than full independence. But Tavish's obstinance (because we all know Tavish was the main obstacle) meant the Lib Dems never got the chance to take credit for helping increase Scotland's powers.<br /><br />The result? The public have given the SNP a mandate to do it by themselves - meaning they have no obligation to offer a "soft option" in the referendum and can offer a straight "status quo or independence" question if they so wish - and the Lib Dems have been completely marginalised, with Tavish suffering the indignity of having to step down because of his disastrous campaign.<br /><br />On the surface, I suppose the Lib Dems are damned if they do and damned if they don't in terms of forming coalitions. In reality though, it's about knowing who to side with and when. Nicol, Tavish and Clegg all made bad errors of judgement there.Doug Danielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15017218581660887134noreply@blogger.com