tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post661054175967433361..comments2024-03-28T07:16:39.621+00:00Comments on Lallands Peat Worrier: Reasons for the SNP to be cheerful...Lallands Peat Worrierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18276270498204697708noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-64324321907425202532010-05-04T19:17:48.295+01:002010-05-04T19:17:48.295+01:00Evening Rab,
Apologies. I didn't notice your ...Evening Rab,<br /><br />Apologies. I didn't notice your remarks till now. What specifically did you have in mind? In particular, which reserved matters and which particular limb of the state do you mean? From the word 'judgement', I assume you're referring to Lady Smith's recent opinion?<br /><br />If so, I notice that a piece recently appeared over at <a href="http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2010/05/03/tv-coup/" rel="nofollow">Bella Caledonia</a> analysing the aforementioned judgement line by line. I haven't had the chance to give it a proper read yet, however, so can't vouch for its content!Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-64949092952823553822010-05-01T15:03:42.324+01:002010-05-01T15:03:42.324+01:00Hi Lallands,
I was struck by the judgement as to ...Hi Lallands,<br /><br />I was struck by the judgement as to just how little Scotland's separate character is taken account of by the State in reserved matters. The judgement treats us as a subject nation, not one which joined the Union by treaty and should have consideration of its rights in its own right.<br /><br />The judgement really boiled down to "What we say counts and what you say doesn't." - but then we knew that already.<br /><br />Regards,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-89673982306095602572010-05-01T14:34:46.442+01:002010-05-01T14:34:46.442+01:00"And let us not be weary in well doing: for i...<i>"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."</i> (Galatians 6:9)Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-67625830316070261602010-04-30T18:47:22.949+01:002010-04-30T18:47:22.949+01:00I totally agree with your comment about the impact...I totally agree with your comment about the impact of the Council Elections switching to the STV Voting System.<br /><br />It was overshadowed by Holyrood but it was still a seismic shift.<br /><br />I am not a Liberal Democrat fan, but I will say this, extracting the concession for STV in 2003 was a huge victory and changed the Scottish Political Landscape forever.<br /><br />If they can do the same for Westminster Elections we will see another huge shift, for the good, across the UK.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846819658475754438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-55016044440077475862010-04-30T16:44:43.079+01:002010-04-30T16:44:43.079+01:00Interesting point Kenneth - albeit a big if, given...Interesting point Kenneth - albeit a big <i>if</i>, given the current state of the polls, to accurately foresee how the next parliament will pan out. <br /><br />Admitting the premise however, and following the thought through, it would be the last stage of the progressive destruction of outright Labour dominance at every level of Scottish life. In particular, one of the stories which is rarely told about the 2007 Holyrood election is the fate that befell swathes of Labour councils <i>(and Labour councillors)</i> when the election system changed. No less than 161 Labour members lost their seats. Quite what this has done to the party in the meanwhile is difficult to tell and folk don't seem to be asking that question. Councillors, after all, can be the locus of local party campaigning and effort. Just because you are no longer an elected member doesn't per se mean you won't continue to stump for your party, of course. But it seems equally improbable, however, that 2007's holocaust of Labour councillors across Scotland was totally <i>without</i> impact.Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-49134288162931573722010-04-30T15:09:05.814+01:002010-04-30T15:09:05.814+01:00I agree it is very depressive what has happened wi...I agree it is very depressive what has happened with the debates and almost impossible in any other democracy in the Western world.<br /><br />But, there are reasons to be cheerful and there may be a silver lining.<br /><br />If we get Proportional Representation then two major things happen.<br /><br />1. The SNP's number of seats in Westminster will most likely triple and will be a constant force in a balanced London Parliament.<br /><br />2. The Labour Block from Scotland will be shattered down to about half the size and that, in itself, makes independence far more likely.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09846819658475754438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1638916042737526171.post-6961515629521197782010-04-30T11:44:53.025+01:002010-04-30T11:44:53.025+01:00P.S.
Interestingly, I've just noticed that Ge...P.S.<br /><br />Interestingly, I've just noticed that Gerry Hassan has composed a significantly elaborated and more precisely delineated <a href="http://www.gerryhassan.com/?p=1108#more-1108" rel="nofollow">piece on the themes I have far more briefly treated here.</a><br /><br />He has us "coming up for air" - significant perhaps that we both independently called to mind the metaphors of a gasping British democracy. Equally significant, I think, that Hassan advocates the positive attitude which I'm also trying foster here. He's right.<br /><br />Well worth a thumb through.Lallands Peat Worrierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07238432265194046726noreply@blogger.com