In creating a team to try and secure a Tory victory in 2015, David Cameron may have tipped the balance in the debate on Scotland’s future - and not in the way he wants.
In creating a team to try and secure a Tory victory in 2015, David Cameron may have tipped the balance in the debate on Scotland’s future – and not in a good way
Has David Cameron just provided a shot in the arm of the Yes to Scottish independence campaign?
That’s certainly one way of looking at yesterday’s reshuffle.
As Tory women strolled up Downing Street in an effort to somehow gloss over this government’s abysmal record when it comes to women’s issues, the country now has a government and a cabinet that is more sceptical about the UK’s place in Europe.
As the new defence secretary Michael Fallon declared on the Today programme this morning, “it’s certainly a Eurosceptic cabinet”.
Responding to the reshuffle, especially the promotion of the arch Eurosceptic Philip Hammond to foreign secretary, Alex Salmond warned that “the clear risk for Scotland now is that we are dragged out of Europe against our wishes, with hugely damaging consequences for jobs and investment, if we do not take our future into our own hands”.
Unsurprisingly, he went on to conclude that “only a Yes vote in September can secure Scotland’s place in Europe”.
Putting aside the ambiguity around how long it may or may not take for an independent Scotland to take its place in the EU (if it is allowed that is), the reality is that the first minister’s words have more than a ring of truth to it.
Recent polling by ICM for the Scotsman has shown that if faced in September with the prospect of the UK being “very likely” to leave the European Union, support for independence increased by 3 per cent.
Commenting on the reshuffle in its editorial this morning, the Daily Record has warned that “this is a lurch to the right and a reshuffle that threw the future of the UK right back into the cement mixer”:
“Just when the Better Together side appear to have steadied their ship” the paper has commented, “Cameron’s short-sighted re-arrangement of his deck chairs puts the Union back into dangerous waters.”
In creating what he sees as a team to secure a Conservative victory in 2015, David Cameron might just have tipped the balance in the debate on Scotland’s future in a direction he might not have considered or indeed wants.
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15 Responses to “Cameron has played into the SNP’s hands”
Stupid Socialists
Left Foot Forward’s anti-Scottish Independence agenda is almost shocking.
But alas I am not shocked because it is entirely natural for Socialists to want big, centralised, statist regimes. That is the only way to force their arrogant and lethal philosophy on everyone else. Consequently small countries and self determination are anathema to the phony socialist utopia.
After all how outrageous it would be for people to make their own decisions in their lives, rather than be dominated by you lot! You lot of course know better than me how I should live my life!
johnproblem
I don’t think he even gave it a thought – only a few can be accommodated at one time.
“Dave?”
“Yes, Lynton.”
“Here’s my list for your new
Cabinet.”
“Thanks awfully, Lynton.”
“No worries, mite. She’ll be
apples.”
“No Old Etonians to go, I trust.”
“Course not, mite. Ya think I’m
stewpid?”
“Good Heavens, no, Lynton.”
“Right.”
“Oh dear. Both Michaels and
William to go?”
“Trust me, mite, they’re a
bleedin’ liability. You need Sheilas instead.”
“What’s that?”
“Women, Dave. Women.”
“I do?”
“Votes.”
“Ah. Good show. Um. Who’s going to
tell the chaps who are kicked out?”
“I will, if you want. No prob.”
“Oh, thanks awfully.”
Derick Tulloch
All the voting projections I have seen put the UK GE too close to call at present.
Consider this scenario.
There is a No vote in the referendum in Scotland.
Cameron portrays himself as the man who saved the Union
As a result the Tories romp home in 2015
Vote Yes to save England!
eireanne
that’s an interesting point of view Leon – .
Would you care to explain why the break-up of the UK is in Mr Cameron’s strategic interest?
Leon Wolfeson
Apart from getting rid of a generally more leftist population, and removing some thorny barriers to his long-term plans like Scots law?