The historic victory of the SNP at Holyrood places the UK’s very existence in grave peril writes Marcus Booth.
By Marcus Booth, who stood for the Conservative Party in Angus in the 2001 General Election
The biggest cheer at Conservative HQ may have been for the defeat of AV, but the real story of this election is, in fact, the victory of the SNP at Holyrood. The historic result places the UK’s very existence in grave peril.
The prime minister is about to find that the ‘Scottish Question’ is going to be the defining issue of his premiership. David Cameron could be the last prime minister of the UK.
The collapse of support for the Liberal Democrats may have been a principal cause of the SNP victory (the Tory and Labour vote actually held up) and it may be the case that the Scottish electorate were not voting for separation but the shift is seismic and SNP strategy is never accidental.
This is nothing personal; Alex Salmond was the Hon President of the St Andrew’s Students’ Association when I was President. I admire Alex Salmond; he is one of the UK’s most talented politicians. I also like the SNP leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, who is one of the finest campaigners I know and who has been a friend for over ten years. But as a one-time Tory candidate who fought the SNP machine in an area under SNP control, I learnt that we underestimate them at our peril – they are brutal, disciplined and effective opponents. Once in power the SNP ruthlessly use every means at their disposal to advance one cause – separatism. There is cold calculation behind the bonhomie.
The electors in Scotland may not have voted explicitly for separation but the SNP will now use every effort to create the conditions surrounding a referendum (including setting the rules and the question) that will deliver their desired result. Salmond will only go to the people when he knows he will win.
Those of us who oppose the break-up of Britain have a duty to prevent separation becoming a ‘fait accompli’. The dangerous cocktail that must be faced down includes:
Inertia south of the border – in particular the Tory leadership need to confront the ‘little England’ tendency of some in the Tory ranks. Short-sighted and misplaced self-interest has led some in England to think “we are better off without Scotland”. This is not the case. SNP MPs at Westminster are happy enough to encourage this misinformation.
Weakness of opposition to Salmond in Scotland – the strongest politicians of the principal unionist opposition party in Scotland (Labour) are in Westminster and many of the strongest Tory Scots represent English seats. The likes of Douglas Alexander may well be the brightest stars in the UK political sky but they may be packing their bags and heading North sooner than they intended. We need all hands to the pumps now – the Scottish political leaders of the unionist parties cannot remain detached from events in Scotland any more.
There is nothing progressive about the SNP’s so-called “Civic Nationalism”; there is nothing progressive in nationalism full stop. This is not about reviving ‘Rule Britannia’ but in acting together the nations of the UK can yet be a force for progressive values, a force for good in the world. We are stronger together.
In the coming weeks and months a new cross party group ‘Stronger United’ will be joining those making the positive argument for a modern devolved union; north and south of the border against both the ‘little Englanders’ down south and narrow nationalism in all its guises – fighting the politics of division with the politics of unity and hope.
We must work harder than ever to ensure that there is nothing inevitable about the break up of Britain.
53 Responses to “Britain – sleepwalking to separation”
Anon E Mouse
jimmy – Forget all your William Wallace and Bonnie Prince Charlie running round dressing up as a woman nonsense.
The fact is your country was ungovernable after the death of Alexander III died and in 1290 you asked Edward I of England to arbitrate (he selected John Balliol as John I) for which Scotland became a dependancy of England.
You started it all by not being able to sort out your affairs without the help of the English. Although it doesn’t feel like much has changed in that respect, the whole of the UK should decide if Scotland should be independent not just the jocks.
And you may be surprised at the outcome because an awful lot of English voters would like to see the back of your money sucking country and you can take all your Scotch politicians back as well.
To have MP’s deciding laws that affect someone else’s country and not their own stinks and with Gordon Brown being the most unpopular Prime Minister in history (according to the polls going back to 1923) the feelings towards you from us may be the same as yours so see you jimmy…
Ed's Talking Balls
Good to see Scottish insecurity and rampant xenophobia is alive and well.
Duncan’s post is remarkably perceptive. This is exactly the type of post which attracts virtual bile from nationalists (who could do with a liberal helping of salt and vinegar to go with the chips on their shoulders), while the needless reference by Mr Booth to ‘little Englanders’ was a pathetic attempt from an ex-Tory candidate to ingratiate himself with a left wing audience. Never going to work. Besides, that’s suicidal talk for a Conservative who fancies being selected as a PPC again.
Seon, fair enough, you don’t like jokes directed at the French, Belgians etc. But surely life must be pretty boring if the only target for your invective is the English? I would suggest life might be a little more interesting if you embraced lighthearted banter directed at a variety of countries. Also, just wanted to tell you that I enjoyed your rant regarding England’s supposed endorsement of American warmongering. Do remind us, again, which country released a Libyan terrorist and which flags were waved when this murderer got off his plane?
Oh and Jimmy, if we take the Royal Family can you take Gordon Brown, Dougie Alexander, Ming Campbell et al and we’ll call it a fair deal? We’ll thrash out your share of the national debt later on. Priorities…
Spectre Haunting Britain
Ed old chap, sorry to be a bore but just wanted to check this with you, you have deducted our share of the national assets before demanding our share of the national debt haven’t you? I mean fair play old boy. By my reckoning, with national assets of £304 billion that makes our share around £30 billion (rounded up, in our favour, but what’s a few hundred million quid between chums). Once those Tory toffs of yours have reduced the national debt sufficiently (should coincide nicely with our independence) we might still owe you around £20 billion.
While we’re on the subject of the balance sheet, would you mind terribly taking those weapons of mass destruction off our hands? Oh, and sorry to push you on this, but do you think you could stop using our territory for your military manoeuvres? And would you mind awfully if we took our military personnel out of your armed forces? A bugger I know, but every man for himself eh?
Now if you’re nice to us on this debt malarkey thing, we might cut you a deal with our oil exports. After all old chap we know that peak oil prices are scheduled to rise to $200 a barrel in the not too distant future and we wouldn’t want to see you go short, lights out and all that. We won’t be needing it ourselves of course, for we’ve got this renewable energy thingy (25 per cent of the entire EUs capacity apparently), I know talk about an embarrassment of riches.
Just think as well old boy, after independence we won’t have to endure all those shocks that your Oxbridge Labour and Tory toffs keep forcing our small economy to absorb every five to ten years. We can get some stability, plan for the future and all that. And we can improve our export performance with the EU, mind you old boy I think the political benefits will be significant for us as well. Just think, no more Labour and Tory toffs mis-representing us in the EU?
Don’t worry old chap there’s something in it for you too. After independence, all those Scottish MPs who make the 900 mile round trip to Westminster every week will be based in Edinburgh. Should save us all a few bob, might even work wonders for our democracy, closer to the people and all that.
Ta ta.
Ed's Talking Balls
Seems a fair deal in many respects, SHB.
It would be good to hear the new scapegoat when you find out that the sun doesn’t actually shine out of Mr Salmond’s derriere.
But yes, you’re right that you’d no longer be ruled by Tories. Good for you. You can rotate between SNP and Labour to your hearts’ content. It would be a refreshing change for those of us down South to get the blue government we tend to vote for. Fairer representation all round, I’m sure you’ll agree.
As for any political benefits you might gain, I’m none the wiser I’m afraid. I guess the EU subs might come as a shock to you (not much fun for any of us, really) and I guess you’ll have to adapt to dealing with the likes of Merkel and Sarkozy. Interesting characters, but I’m sure they’ll warm to Salmond. He too is an interesting character.
I would hazard a guess, however, that relations with America might be a touch frosty. There was that business with a convicted terrorist a while back, and the American people don’t like that sort of thing, from what I hear.
Spectre Haunting Britain
Jimmy and Anon E Mouse,
I didn’t realise that this site wasn’t moderated. I’ll take myself elsewhere. I hear that the Sun is providing some (comparatively) edifying reading.