gibberish

With the global economy teetering on the brink of something horrible, and Westminster paralysed, the issue of Scotland is second or third order. (Oh really?  Fuck you). But it is there, and the outcome of the election has made it more explicit. You could argue that by swinging to Labour, Scotland merely did what England did as well, namely back the opposition against the party in power. But there are plenty of MPs of all parties who are desperately uneasy about the deepening political gap between Scotland and England. Conservatives in particular can see the long-term threat: for some there is a question of legitimacy. In the tough times ahead, can you be a credible national government with just one seat in Scotland? (nope) Expect voices to urge David Cameron, if he ever gets into No10, to offer that referendum on independence the SNP claims it wants. If Scotland then votes no, the price will be a root and branch review of the financial relationship. Some Tories want a confrontation with Scotland about money. (this is interesting and dangerous but I don’t think it will come to that)

But that disguises something which is more deep-seated. The Tories have no idea how to undo the damage done to their reputation north of the Border under Margaret Thatcher. (She was a total bitch and raped Scotland at every opportunity so what do you expect). When Gordon Brown was a mere opposition spokesman on the make, he was part of a successful movement to equate Thatcherism with the English. It fed Scotland’s conceit that it somehow has a more caring and effective social model. Of course, all the statistics from public sector productivity to mortality rates for preventable diseases tell you the opposite is true. (OK.  So we die younger.  Therefore we are a lesser species.  This is a scandalous statement from a FUCKING self righteous Tory tit.) But Scotland was turned, and a smooth-chopped public school English guy who proclaims his passion for the Union hasn’t reversed it. A Scots chum (Chum?  fuck off.) suggested to me that the Tories might have better luck if their leader was Michael Forsyth, (LOL) the Freddie Kruger of the battles between Labour and Tories in Scotland in the late 80s and early 90s. Interesting idea, but something tells me England has had its fill of Scottish politicians.

Mr Cameron has other fish to fry. But if he becomes Prime Minister, it will be without Scotland. Mrs Thatcher, from memory, had 22 Scots MPs on her benches in 1979 before they were wiped out. He will have to consider how to address this legitimacy deficit. Does he keep signing large cheques to keep a troublesome province quiet, much as Ms Thatcher used to do every time Malcolm Rifkind threatened to resign? Does he give Scotland a chance to say in or out? And does he insist on the Barnett formula in reverse? For every cut in English budgets to come, should Scotland be made to swallow its share?