Ooh. This is a game I can play. As in, countering some of the nonsense doing the rounds in the British media one day before the Scottish Referendum (excuse the trademark sarcasm in advance): 1) Cameron was warned that, in a Yes - No Referendum, there was a good chance that Scotland (invaded, looted, pillaged, marginalized, patronized by the English for a thousand years) might vote Yes. You think? 2) Cameron should have done more. Anyone ever heard of prima nocta? Do you have any idea how Eton-educated Tory Toffs go down in the land that gave the world Keir Hardie? 3) Cameron should never have agreed to let the Labour Party lead the No campaign. Um. There are two main political parties in Scotland. The Scottish National Party. Er. And the Labour Party. What would you have done? Besides, Labour have a vested interest in No. As in, if Scotland says Yes, and some sort of federalism descends on the rest, Labour will become the natural party of Government in Wales and Bermuda. Its not Camerons fault that Ed Miliband is to political genius what Vladimir Putin is to border control. In any event, its win-win for Cameron. If Labour had performed well, and No had been a shoo-in, Cameron would have got kudos for the Referendum. As it is now, just close, or a possible Yes, all the opprobrium will fall on the soon-to-be Prime Minister of Wales. 4) Cameron should never have turned to Gordon Brown for help. Why not? The only other big dog, Scottish-born, former Prime Minister on hand was Tony Blair. Chances are his preferred solution would have been to invade Iraq again. And were already doing that. Besides, he was too expensive. 5) There should have been a third option of some sort of Devo Max. Problem with that is it would have been messy. As in, define some sort of. Were already hearing all manner of whining that Yes and No are too complicated for Scots to understand. Just imagine the blank stares occasioned by Devo Max. Not to mention the viral dance videos. 6) Cameron should never have offered so many concessions to Salmond. Sigh. For the first time in like forever it seems to me that there is a Prime Minister confident enough to ask, to listen, to respond, and then to go against the grain, in an attempt to achieve consensus. And the raw meat eaters are still complaining. Whatever happens on Thursday, I have this sneaking suspicion the people of the UK, all of it, are going to spark to the possibility that this Toff just might be the real deal. Not perfect. Not always coherent. God knows, not someone who has a bright, shiny, efficient, all-hours, Downing Street arm-twisting brigade. But a decent Toff. Who cares. Who had the magnanimity to form a Coalition. And make it work. Who felt it was time to recognize gay marriage. Who puts votes to Parliament. And accepts defeat with grace. Who genuinely believed it was time to ask Scots how they wanted to be governed. Regardless of the answer. And is now offering to do the same with his peoples attitude towards the European Union. Cameron is no revolutionary. But he marches to his own beat. I like his beat. I think that Thursday is going to find a lot of ordinary people liking that beat, too. I can honestly say that today Im proud that David Cameron is Prime Minister of the land where I was born. Whatever it may be called on Friday.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 13:33:40 +0000
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