In its quest for middle England voters, Labour has for too long taken Scotland for granted.
In its quest for middle England voters, Labour has for too long taken Scotland for granted
‘Ten days to save the Union,’ declares this morning’s Daily Telegraph. ‘No campaign makes last stand to keep the Union,’ argues the Guardian. ‘Queen holds talks with David Cameron over fears her PM may be about to lose Scotland in referendum,’ screams the headline in today’s Daily Record.
Polls may come and go, but yesterday’s YouGov data for the Sunday Times, pointing to a two point lead for the yes to Scottish independence campaign, has electrified the chattering classes both north and south of the border in a way that no other poll has in recent times.
Make no mistake about it, if anyone felt at all complacent about next week’s referendum result they should shake themselves out of that mindset now. An independent Scotland is as real a possibility today as it has ever been.
In response to the crisis confronting the Better Together, and I don’t use the word crisis lightly, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband will later this week unite to set out a timetable for further devolution to the Scottish Parliament and Government in the event of a no vote next week.
But therein lays the problem: it is but a timetable and not a united package of measures.
When David Cameron and Alex Salmond famously signed the Edinburgh Agreement in 2012, David Cameron vetoed any attempt to include so called ‘Devo Max’ on the ballot paper, arguing that it would muddy the waters – this despite the polling showing clearly that this is Scotland’s favoured option.
Yet, having kept it offer the ballot paper, Better Together are now arguing, somewhat convolutedly, that a no vote is actually a yes vote for further powers for Scotland. The problem is that with the Lib Dems, Conservatives and Labour having already set out their own, differing, plans for Scotland, what plans would voters in Scotland be supporting if they reject the SNP’s invitation to leave the Union?
Faced with such confusion, it’s little wonder that for many the clear message of independence seems more appealing than vague promises of unknown extra powers for Holyrood.
But with Labour Party supporters now increasingly attracted to independence, there remains a more fundamental question concerning Labour’s attitude to Scotland.
Under the days of John Smith, Robin Cook, Gordon Brown and Donald Dewer, to name but a few, the Labour Party had at its helm heavyweight Scottish politicians, providing assurances, as no other politicians have, to Scottish voters that their anxieties, their concerns, their hopes and their dreams were being articulated loud and clear at the very top of the UK political tree.
Yet for all the qualities they might have, today’s crop of Scottish Labour politicians – both at Holyrood and in the shadow cabinet – cannot be compared to the stature and respect that John Smith et al managed to command.
In its quest for middle England voters, Labour has for too long neglected Scotland and taken it for granted, with Scottish voters responding in kind by making clear that it is the SNP, rather than Labour, that is now their preferred party.
If Scotland votes to leave the Union next week Labour will have to shoulder as much of the responsibility as a Coalition Government so hated by Scottish voters.
18 Responses to “Better Together are in a crisis of their own making”
John Milne
Lamia, what do you say to us No voters who have campaigned tirelessly? Are we to be written off so readily? Our job would have been so much easier if the English had shown any real interest in the issue.
up north
How can you say they don’t enthusiastically want to be with us? It is so close that it is about half and half. Also, until quite recently, more than half wanted to stay. To describe the Scots as potentially resentful and boorish is not helpful to moving on constructively whatever the outcome. I was in Scotland recently and was impressed by the level and passion of debate. I don’t want to lose these people from our country.
Lamia
John, plenty of English people showed an interest in the issue and begged Scotland to stay. Hundreds of public figures did so. They were shouted down as arrogant, interfering, colonialists.
Lamia
Let us northerners vote “yes” and break up from rUK as “quickly and painlessly as possible” as well. That’d hurt rUK even more.
How?
I as a northern English person will start to campaign for home rule
What will your main industry be? Child grooming rings?
Lamia
I would rather not have lost them but it seems they enjoy playing at ‘Shall we leave or shan’t we? What’s it worth?’ The rest of the UK bailed out the Scottish banks that caused 40% of the liabilities in the UK crash. Those failures by banks which until 2008 were touted by Salmond as solely ‘Scottish banks’ would have destroyed an independent Scotland’s economy. Salmond of course suddenly remembered that they were ‘UK banks’ and deserved UK taxpayers money to bail them out. The man is a hypocrite.
There is evidently no gratitude in Scotland for the fact that the rUK saved their arses by taking on much more than our share of the burden and thus lightening theirs. If they can’t be bothered to think six years back, then the situation is hopeless. Believe it or not, not everything wrong in this country or in Scotland is the fault of Westminster, and not everything about the UK is crap.
It will probably get worse for all parties should Scotland split off but there you go. They are adults and can make their own stupid, damaging and thoughtless decisions themselves. It seems that nothing can be done to persuade them, so why waste more breath on deaf ingrates?