Tag Archives: scotland

Devolution Is Not Regionalism

Originally published on theonlywayiswessex.net. As a party which places devolution at the core of our identity, we should be delighted that the government has announced a devolution bill as part of the king’s speech, at the opening of the current parliament, right? Well… First, a short history lesson. During the Blair administration, there was saidContinueContinue reading “Devolution Is Not Regionalism”

History Made Here

G K Chesterton is often misquoted as saying that those who argue that ‘you can’t put the clock back’ obviously know nothing about clocks.  It’s near enough to what he did write – that time only moves forwards but principles needn’t – to let stand.  What’s more, we’re seeing plenty of evidence of it justContinueContinue reading “History Made Here”

Zombie Zones

Last Saturday, a ‘Northern Citizens’ Convention’ was held in the West Riding town of Huddersfield.  Those attending shared a determination that the new politics now saturating Scotland should not stop at the border.  Our Northumbrian friends have good reason to see themselves as having more in common – politically, economically and culturally – with ScotlandContinueContinue reading “Zombie Zones”

Our Three Europes

“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.  To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.”The quote is attributed to Buckminster Fuller.  Another variation on the theme is that new ideas don’t triumph by changing opinions; they triumph because those holding the old ideas die out and those holdingContinueContinue reading “Our Three Europes”

Onwards and Upwards

Defying expectations, David Cameron, far from being locked out of Downing Street, now has the full bunch of keys (with just 37% of the vote), at least until his slim Commons majority is whittled away over the next five years.  He has promised a land of hope and glory, a Britain greater still and greater,ContinueContinue reading “Onwards and Upwards”

The Long And Winding Road

The vilification of Nicola Sturgeon in the London press is delightful, not because it is at all pleasant but because here at last is a phenomenon that ‘they’ can do nothing to stop.  No matter what their rage, no matter what their war chest, they cannot win, and the SNP cannot lose.  The only detailContinueContinue reading “The Long And Winding Road”

Only the Desperate

Today in 1320 the Scottish nobility issued the Declaration of Arbroath, with its ringing line about fighting not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, but for freedom – for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself. And the contemporary response is Frenchgate.  Nicola Sturgeon says she didn’t say it.  TheContinueContinue reading “Only the Desperate”

Review of 2014

Every year when we submit our accounts to the Electoral Commission we are also required to provide a ‘Review of Political Activities’ covering the year just gone.The 2014 Review has recently been forwarded to the Commission and here is what it says:“Coming between elections – Eastleigh in 2013 and the General Election in 2015 –ContinueContinue reading “Review of 2014”

The Aye’ds of March

Et tu, Nicola?  It’s onething to have Plaid Cymru singing the praises of an anti-Welsh Green Party but today we had the SNP join the chorus.  Nicola Sturgeon has urged folk in England to vote either for the Greens or for a Labour candidate that would challenge Ed Miliband from the left. We would likeContinueContinue reading “The Aye’ds of March”