If the theory goes that British Politics is becoming increasingly presidential in style, with the focus less on the parties and ever more on individual leaders themselves then Alex Salmond has taken the theory and turned it into a successful art form.
If British Politics is becoming increasingly presidential in style, with the focus less on the parties and ever more on individual leaders themselves, then Alex Salmond has taken the theory and turned it into a successful art form. He is not content at just being a leader but has managed to embody Scotland’s anger and opposition to the Conservative-led government in Westminster.
When even Peter Oborne, writing in the Telegraph shortly after the Scottish elections in May, dubs the first minister of Scotland a “brilliant politician”, you have to sit up and conclude he has a strong case to be considered as the centre-left politician of the year.
Undoubtedly the sheer scale of his victory and the manner in which it happened in May, breaking through a system designed to prevent the nationalists dominating the Scottish Parliament, while at the same time seeing off all three of Holyrood’s main opposition leaders will be seen a high watermark for Salmond.
But it’s what he’s been able to achieve which has been so impressive as opponents struggle to figure out how to respond in his wake. Cameron, Clegg, Osborne et al in London have sought to restrict spending and oppose the idea that government spending can play a major role in bringing an economy out of recession.
However, the UK government’s decision just days after SNP victory to provide the Scottish Government with immediate authority to borrow at least £300m annually from the Treasury to help boost Scotland’s economic recovery was not only a recognition in Westminster of the realities of the SNP mandate – it was also a boost for Salmond’s continued case that Government spending has a major contribution to dragging the country out of its economic malaise.
And then there is domestic policy, with Salmond so often at ease and fending off criticisms as being too costly of polices such as continued free tuition for Scottish students and the abolishment of all perception charges, which the SNP leader has used as an attempt to fight off the nasty Conservatives south of the border.
But most of all, through Alex Salmond’s achievements, what was once a pipe dream for many, namely independence for Scotland, is now closer to being achieved than ever. It is a threat which opponents seem slow to respond to as they turn in on themselves to consider what went wrong for them in May.
When Alex Salmond resigned the party leadership in 2000 after his first 10 years in charge, his suggestion that his party could form a government in Scotland seemed someway off, yet he was right to predict it. With a lack of any strong opposition, few can be 100% confident that Scotland’s most dominate politician with the communication skills to suit will not pull of independence.
The term “big beast” get’s branded about in politics perhaps too often, but for Alex Salmond it is perhaps the best description for him. He now dominates Scottish Politics in a way that no one has perhaps since Donald Dewer, and what’s more, when we consider the future of the UK it’s a dominance that is set to continue.
Scotland’s first minister continues his master class in how to stoke up grievances within people over Westminster and the direction the coalition is taking the country and use that to his advantage.
54 Responses to “Nomination for most influential left-wing thinker of the year: Alex Salmond”
Keith Ruffles
The only problem is that Salmond’s left-wing credentials will always be undermined by his adherence to the politics of ethno-cultural nationalism.
If it could be proved conclusively that the economic and cultural benefits of continued Scottish membership of the United Kingdom decisively outweigh any gains made from independence Salmond and the rest of the party would still pursue the latter policy because their fundamental beliefs are ultimately based on that of identity, not the sharing of the means of production.
robert the crip
If your going to argue about Links to the Murdock’s then sadly no party is innocent.
I’d go for the leader of the SNP for showing a left wing party can win without it going to the right.
Rod MacLeod
I am a scot and truly proud of Alex Salmond and his entire party of government.
He and they have done exactly what they said they would ,without corruption ,without toadyism and with a view to the entire nation of Scotland.
That is what confuses his opponents ,he acts without favour.
some say he is the greatest Scottish politician of modern times.
I would suggest unless you go back to our leaders in the 12th and 13th century he is the greatest Scottish Politician ever.
someone mentioned Donald dewar earlier ,over rated ,and no more a true socialist than Maggie or Tony.
when history finally writes the history of Scotland post independence people like Dewar will be mnetioned but not as many would suppose.
Steve
The only politician in the public eye who is not afraid to put people policies first – in fact he’s proud of it.
Miliband, Cameron, Clegg and the rest of the Brit nat Westminster hegemony are a disgrace. Labour worst of all because the Tories never pretended to be anything other than the right-wing voice of the days of empire and big business that they are. Labour’s goal of out-Torying the Tories is shamefully who they have become – New Old New Blue Labour that sits well right of Thatcher. Socialism in England/Westminster is dead but there is still the possibility of creating a left-of-centre government in Scotland.
England seeing a government for the people working in Scotland might just well change and elect a government with some principle.
Steve
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Keith Ruffles
I disagree with your notion of identity being in contradiction with Marxism. Karl Marx was a genius and all for a sense of community being used to protect that community against the invasion of predatory market forces.
There is nothing at all that puts Scottish nationalism into contradiction with socialism in its various forms. In fact, the Brit nat view of these islands directly contradicts the necessary/advised protection of the Scottish community.
Putting social democracy onto the streets of Scotland is only possible with the SNP – a party open to all.
There is absolutely no rule that says the people to the north called the Scots must adhere to a Brit nat state called the UK. It is perfectly reasonable for the Scots to form a new state and live in a left-of-centre political environment.
A country however is not a region and the cultural, historical and institutional ties that form a countrt are still alive and kicking in Scotland.
Similar ties are present in England – it would be presumably unacceptale to say the UK should form a joint government with say Germany just because it had a left-of-centre philosophy.
The Brittish nationalists draw the line a bit differently from the Scottish nationalists.
The Brit nats see the dreamy days of empire and advantages to the UK as being the place to draw the identity line; the Scot nats see the cultural ties and advantages to the scots of scottish independence as the identity line.
“A country that runs its own affairs does better for its people.”, Salmond.