Boris Johnson’s trip provoked synthetic outrage from Scottish nationalists who knew the visit would be seen through a nationalist-unionist lens. Johnson gets the same unwelcome welcome that Margaret Thatcher received on visits north of the border. During the last week of the 1997 devolution referendum, pro-devolution campaigners could not believe their luck on discovering … [Read more...] about Boris is the new Maggie, Brexit the new poll tax
Federalism
England’s constitutional key
It seems counterintuitive, and maybe untimely, to think of the coronavirus epidemic as a "constitutional moment" as well as a medical crisis. But it might turn out to be just that, though not for the reason you might think. A constitutional moment is when a decisive rearrangement of power takes place. We may just have seen the start of one. Not between London and Edinburgh, … [Read more...] about England’s constitutional key
Federalism is not enough for Labour
The Scottish Government has recently made it clear that it will be seeking a mandate at next year’s Scottish Parliament elections to hold a referendum on independence. That is hardly a surprise, but it confirms that the “constitutional question” of Scotland’s future relationship with the UK is likely to be the dominant topic in those elections. Like it or not, that means the … [Read more...] about Federalism is not enough for Labour
Binary choice and multi-party politics
Scottish politics has sunk into a binary hole. Yet we have a Holyrood electoral system that encourages multi-party politics. This has proved advantageous to the Conservatives and SNP at least in the short term. But this restricted constitutional choice prevents a richer debate on Scotland’s constitutional future. Conservatism and Unionism Lord Hailsham, Tory lawyer and … [Read more...] about Binary choice and multi-party politics
Independence or bust
It would be worse than a mistake, a crime, to hazard that (freedom and security) for an independence that can bring nothing better. (John Lloyd book*)The case for the Union depends on the increasingly fanciful notion that a Labour government that's truly progressive (in Scottish terms) could get elected south of the border and stay in power long enough to make fundamental … [Read more...] about Independence or bust