Labour’s 150 supporters

Sent to the Herald:  25th April 2007.  Not published. 

Sir

New Labour’s panicked attempt at showing support from the business community, in response to the SNP’s list of their supporters, raises a few interesting observations.  Firstly, the knee-jerk nature of the Unionist reply demonstrates not so much deeply-held commitment to the New Labour agenda as the typical, conservative, steady-as-she-goes nature of many established businesses.  This  contrasts with the business leaders that the SNP have, over the long term and with solid evidence, actually won over to their cause. 

Secondly, in many ways it strengthens the case for independence, because it shows that there is a genuine debate within the business community, rather than a pro-Union single-mindedness which much of the press and parties would have Scottish voters believe. 

Finally, it is eerily reminiscent of the doom-mongering and scare-politics used to counter the devolutionist cause throughout the 1980s and 1990s.  Those arguments, surely New Labour would agree, have proved to be wrong.  So too will those that wish to engender fear about independence.

Yours sincerely

Definitions of “crazy”

Sent to the Herald: 13th April 2007.  Not Published.

Dear Sir,

I note that Tony Blair has come up to Glasgow again, on apparently his third trip to Scotland since the campaign officially started. In his latest venture he has uttered that voting for the SNP is a “crazy risk”. Really?

Would that be “crazy” like spending up to £100 billion on a redundant WMD programme? Perhaps it is as “crazy” as invading sovereign State after sovereign State in pursuit of new empire? Is it “crazy” like accepting having so many of our people living in poverty? Maybe it is as “crazy” as a nation being frozen out of talks in the European Union while others destroy their industries? Is it “crazy” like closing and privatising schools and hospitals?

I can think of many things to brand as “crazy” but having a wish for your country to join the international community is not one of them.

Yours for Scotland,

Tony Blair & Gordon Brown defend the Union

Sent to the Herald:  3 Apr 2007.  Not published

Sir

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown continue to argue that an independent Scotland would face a deficit of £11bn, costing each household an extra £5000.  The current UK public sector net debt totals some £435 billion, or £7250 for every man, woman and child in Britain.  This is serviced by long-term general taxation and other government income, just as is the case in ever other normal independent country that from time to time runs a budget deficit.

Are they seriously arguing that an independent Scotland would somehow, overnight, turn into an economic basket case unprecedented in world history?  In which case, surely responsibility lies with successive Conservative and New Labour mismanagement of the economy.  They reject the argument that Scotland could imitate other small, autonomous nations in Europe’s ‘arc of prosperity’.  Perhaps then they can tell us which country they think an independent Scotland would be comparable to?

Yours etc

Splitting the home office in two

Sent to the Herald:  29th March 2007.  Not published.

Dear Sir

I note that the Prime Minister has now approved the Home Secretary’s
plans to split the Home Office in two, creating a distinct ‘new’ Home
Office and separate Ministry of Justice. This move has made me ponder
whether this is such a good idea given the stated position of both Mr
Blair and Dr Reid on other changes to the way the country is governed.

I recall regularly hearing over some years that “divorce is an
expensive business”, which could lead one to feel that the current
unitied efforts on justice and security in the Home Office are
“stronger together and weaker apart”. Was there not a “union dividend”
in having  justice and home affairs together? I await the strongest
condemnation of this move from the First Minister, Jack McDonald
(sic), if he can be located, and other Labour politicians. Then again,
perhaps “separation” is the best way forward for better government.

Yours for Scotland,