You want revolution?

This week I watched the interview between Russell Brand and Jeremy Paxman for Newsnight. I took me a while to get round to this as I was experiencing a shit internet connection followed but a house move. Now that I've watched it I must say I'm ashamed that it was even aired and am horrified by the complete ignorance of the two. Listening to Russell Brand call for revolution while asking people not the vote, in the complete ignorance that in the next twelve months that the UK may well be cleaved in half due to a democratic referendum on Scottish independence next year was astounding. In the meantime Jeremy just nodded along like Winston the dog. This was on a global scale a classic example of why Scotland should leave the Union now and forever. It's because the English and I say English specifically here don't care and have hardly noticed what is going on north of the border. No doubt they have tried to shut their eyes over the last 15 years or so; to free higher education, free personal care, free prescriptions and much much more. How could is it be possible that such change was possible? I'll give you a clue. We voted for it. We decided fuck this shit, were given an opportunity to vote for something different and we have. This first started with a vote for devolution back in 1997, and the subsequent elections since, that resulted in the election of the SNP which are now offering us the opportunity to vote for Scottish independence. It's been the biggest revolution in British politics in centuries, not only that the agreement between Westminster and Scotland to allow Scotland to vote for independence is politically ground breaking. The prospect of independence with out one shot fired. And yet despite all this these two numpties sit on the television talking about the disenfranchised not voting to create revolution. When actually what they should be doing it telling everyone and their aunt to vote for Scottish independence. If that doesn't give Westminster government a wake up call, what will? And when the English and I say english specifically here sit back and watch in horror as Scotland rolls out better quality of life, better healthcare, better education, corporate tax, increases minimum wage; will they soon see it is the English system of governance, their shared values and apathetic attitude to both the political system and to voting that has lead them as a nation to moral and political bankruptcy. If that doesn't start a riot or indeed some form of political revolution, nothing will. Yes Russell Brand you want revolution you should be asking, begging, pleading for the sake of the English people that Scotland votes for independence.

Just Darling.....

It's a very slow clap, but a clap all the same. A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the unusual position of thanking David Cameron, our lovely Prime Minister, for helping halve membership of the Conservative (& Unionist) Party. This week my adulation grows as I find that Mr Cameron might have done all that was needed to seal the independence deal. How so? He's refused to enter into a live television debate about Scottish independence with the First Minister of Scotland, Alec Salmond. Why? Because it would almost certainly signal the end of his political career, although that's not the official line from No 10. Is it true? I'd like to think so. We all knew it was never going to happen but how much would you pay to see that? I'd probably be willing to separate myself with £100 if you made it a stadium event. What an incredible site to see, the rest of the Union would be lefts in rags of shame. Thus offering the rest of the UK a fighting chance to claim what is left of it's socialist ruins.

To be perfectly honest there are very valid reasons why the Prime Minster of the UK shouldn't be debating Scotland's future with the First Minster of Scotland. These reason are largely as Alec Salmond has correctly stated, that Scotland's future should be decided by those who live in Scotland. That being the case, it's true Mr Cameron really doesn't have much to offer on the matter. Though I'm sure he's keeping his fingers crossed that he is able to hold on to some of his Scottish property post independence. The truth is that despite the spectacular furore that such a debate would have caused, the Prime Minster's declination to debate Scottish independence in public also acknowledges and advocates the reasons for Scottish independence. Which is simply: the life of people living in Scotland has very little to do with London, Westminster politics, or, worse than that, current Conservative and Liberal Democrat agendas.

So why are Labour pro Union? That's quite obvious. All 59 Scottish Westminster MP's will be out of a job, of which 41 MP's are Labour. So more importantly why is Scottish Labour pro Union? I suspect that Scottish Labour being pro union is just as much about job security for MSP's as well, combined with a lot of gentle ear tugging from their Labour Westminster counterparts. Though why they all would worry about this is a little bemusing, as there will be more than enough political jobs to go around in Scotland the day they hoist the Saltire high above Edinburgh Castle. They'll be Defence Ministers, Foreign Ministers even Ambassadors, they might not even have to live in Scotland, their internationalist ambitions realised. Should they have become a little more London centric, no doubt they'll be able to sign up to work in the consulate there without fear of loosing any Scottishness at all. We might even end up with a consulate in Manchester, it's certain there will be a lot of Scottish passports to process south of the border. Be in no doubt, though, that the British passport will never hold the word Scottish. You only have to look at the passport of a person who was born in India prior to Indian independence in 1950.

Despite the valid reasons for Mr Cameron not getting involved in the independence debate, it's sad to see the dissolution of the UK developing without much of a fight from Westminster. Would the time for a debate on Scottish independence between Alec and Dave been more timely, though significantly more dull, if they had done it before the signing of the referendum bill? The time when Westminster had to sign over the powers to Scotland to hold the referendum? That was jolly nice of them after all.

Though how different the response might have been if Gordon Brown had still been in number 10? That's a very hard picture to imagine, one Scots man pitted against the other both in positions of power and jostling for control. Would it have painted a very different picture of a Scottish future? Now without a Scots Prime Minister to defend the Union we are left with the lack lustre debate of Alastair Darling, former Chancellor of the Exchequer and now the leader of the No Campaign. Isn't it just darling of Alastair to step into the roll and take the hits for the UK's premier, which the Prime Minister would surely have been unable to answer. Once again bringing the purpose of the Union and our shared British culture totally into question.

So Mr Darling what are we going to do with him? And how do we feel about his right to protest the defence of the United Kingdom with Scotland in it while the leader of the UK won't? It's a poor show isn't it? It can only feel like one thing: that he's been hung out to dry facing the unrivalled debating skills of Mr Salmond. Or will Dave be there front and central at the debate just like he was with Andy Murray? It's like watching someone literally give away the keys to the Kingdom.

Are we not his British citizens too? Are we not important enough to risk public debate over? Do we not as British citizens defend the UK and currently work for it's interests? If our own Prime Minster won't fight for us then there is probably only one person we can turn to. Who is there left? The Queen. Scarily she will have more to offer on the situation than our current political leader.

What a difference a day makes 24 little hours.....

Well in case you haven't heard yet Scotland is having a referendum on independence exactly one year from today. Currently the polls are pretty much tied with only a few percent difference. Though it's becoming clear the yes vote is slowly creeping up the charts, without to much surprise for those committed to the independence cause.

For the past ten years I've been living in Cornwall (I now live in South Africa). I say Cornwall deliberately here. For many Cornwall is not England and considers itself a completely separate nation, with it's own culture, language and of course the pasty. However the chances of Cornwall getting it's own assembly, never mind independence in the next 50 years are probably similar to the odds for winning the lottery. The Cornish language was only recently officially recognised by the British government despite growing numbers of speakers and it's unique Cornish dialect of English is often overlooked as a valid form of cultural expression, simply being lumped in with all things West Country. Not only this, Cornwall may well be run in the most undemocratic way possible with the outcome of local voters consultations being overturned by local councillors and MP's more than once. Why is any of this relevant to Scotland and it's quest for independence? Because prior to the creation of the new Scottish Parliament in 1998 Scotland faced much of the same issues as Cornwall does now. Not least being short changed by the UK out of it's income. In 2014 we the Scottish people have an obligation to ourselves to demand more and protect our little piece of paradise.

While living in Cornwall the Scotland debate came up frequently. Before the election of the SNP parliamentary expression of Scotland's socialist leaning was treated with bitterness and scorn. “Why should the Scots be entitled to free university education and I'm not when England is paying for it.” For most Scot's who haven't lived in England it's hard to imagine the levels of ignorance the majority have English people have regarding both Scottish economics and culture. Frequently as a Scot I have been asked to speak properly or in fact told you must be very grateful to be here. Can you imagine? Though I would not say that this is the norm my identity is certainly greeted with a degree of ridicule that wouldn't be extended to other nationalities. The Cornish who can be categorised as culturally distinct have a completely different approach. It's clear to decipher the line that separates Scots from the English, though we might not be able to specify exactly what it is. With the Cornish that line becomes almost invisible, though it's there and the Scots and the Cornish stand on the same side.

Since the election of the Scottish National Party in Scotland the Scotland debate has for good reason increased in enormity. I remember being informed of the first SNP win quite clearly, to say that people were surprised south of the border was a bit of an understatement. That surprise within the English populous lead to the belief that Scotland had gone right wing and had become to their dismay entirely anti-english, which was not the case. It's a strange set of affairs when you have to explain that the SNP find them selves in the unusual position of being more left wing than Labour. In the lead up to the Scottish election in 2007 the Scots had now begun to understand that the Scottish Labour Party was nothing more than a mouth piece for Westminster policy, which was not what the Scottish people wanted. The Scottish people wanted a more autonomous national platform that protected their interests which the SNP offered. Not only this due to proportional representation Scotland had a far more fluid way of expressing these views at the ballot box, instead of being stuck with the Westminster first past the post system that primarily leaves Westminster politics in a two horse race. In 2011 once the SNP won majority leadership in Scotland the questions and accusations started flooding in and from complete strangers too uninvited in coffee shops and everything. They simply didn't understand the Scottish agenda and the mainstream media didn't help much. “Do you think Scotland will vote for independence?” “If it wants to, yes.” “You'll never survive on your own.” “New Zealand seems to be doing rather well and it's only got a population of 4 million.” “You're too poor.” “How can a nation be poor when it controls world whisky supply? Oh and we have oil.” It's nice to be able to have conversations that totally alter another persons perspectives. And it's not their fault they don't know, it's to do with propaganda. The Yes Campaign have 365 days to unravel 400 years of propaganda.

For most English people it would be hard for them to understand that Scottish independence finds itself up for discussion in Scottish playgrounds but it does. I have no idea how it got there especially predating the release of Braveheart. I think the stealing of the Stone of Destiny has something to do with it. I mean it's a pretty romantic idea that a stolen ancient stone that belongs to Scotland sits in a foreign country under a another monarchs throne. Education also plays a huge role in this, it wasn't until quite late on that I discovered that the Queen was not the Queen of England but in fact the Queen of the United Kingdom via mutual agreement. That is what we are up against on both sides. It's quite fantastical that one of England's most famous monarch died unmarried and childless and yet few follow the dots to put two and two together.

I have to be honest few in my social circle are voting no. Which leaves me with little understanding of the intricacies of the no campaign. Though I do disagree with the brandishing of the No Campaign as 'Project Fear'. I don't think people involved in the Yes Campaign understand that those voting for the status quo to remain in the UK are scared. The reason they are scared much like other segments of the UK is that they have been exposed to imperialist propaganda all their lives and find it easier to believe the lies and to dismiss the truth. The imperial centre London is not the be all and end all of what is going on in the UK. In England in particular it is obvious that just about all systems are running on the brink of collapse from transport to health services. I think the best remedy for anybody intending to vote no is to put them in the waiting room of an English NHS hospital and then take them to the worst Scottish hospital and see if they can notice the difference. Maybe it's time to start taking the Scots on tours south of the border to expand there cultural knowledge of the UK and we won't be going to London. Take your eyes of the spectacle of Westminster, the monarchy and celebrity life. Adventures into lesser known England might change a few minds completely about the state of the Union, no psychiatric beds, no social housing, whole families living in B & B's; that will make you sit up and pay attention.

For some strange reason when I think about those considering voting no an image creeps into my mind. I see a family picnic on the shores of a loch on the day of independence and a giant mushroom cloud appearing above the mountains on the other side of the loch. Why do I think of this? Well because life without nuclear weapons would clearly mean that the rest of the world would want to bomb us. Does that include the remaining part of the UK? The strange thing is that people really think that we would be threatened. I find it hard to believe that the cold war mentality of nuclear wipe out is still alive and well. Avoiding nuclear wipe out is exactly why you would want to get rid of  nuclear deterrents. My only fear is that the UK will forget to inform the appropriate parties when the time comes. “Oh yeah we don't control that bit any more” and we take the flak anyway. Despite this minor problem I believe that Scotland as a small nation will be able to get on with things quite nicely.

Other things that have cropped up for me in conversation about independence is the prospect of war, border control, passports, the role of the SNP post independence and the lack of experience of Scottish politicians on an international arena. These revelations crack me up as I wonder what the main role of the British Empire has been over the last century. Mainly giving back what was not ours in the first place. Is it not fitting that this should end in returning the sovereignty of the four nations and well cutting the Cornish some slack. Most nations recognise that there is little to gain from preventing states from becoming independent, as neo-colonialism turns quite a good profit these days. Not that I think that would be the case with an independent Scotland, though I wouldn't put it past them. More than this through the procedure of retuning sovereignty the UK has become pretty good at handling the passport issue. For some highly bizarre reason people seem to think that all Scottish people will have their passports revoked on September the 19^th 2014 unless they swear allegiance to the UK. This completely overlooks long standing arrangements that the UK has with other nations such as Ireland, that address border control also. Never mind that we issue passports to places like the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands and some residents of Hong Kong. So unless the UK decide to throw an unsightly hissy fit, I doubt passport and border control will be much of an issue. A vote for independence is not a vote for the SNP, should we vote yes in the independence referendum we then get to build a new parliament in 2016. In the new parliament one has to assume that many things will change due to the increased responsibilities of the Scottish nation. In addition many Scottish Westminster politicians who wish to continue their political careers will have to take a place in the newly formed Scottish government. The list of politicians might include Gordon Brown, Alastair Darling, Menzies Campbell and Charles Kennedy providing Scotland with experienced international politicians.

Why am I so interested in all this I've live outside of Scotland for ten years and now live in South Africa? Well it's where I'm from and one day where I hope to return to. Hey and at least somebody is paying attention with one year to go. It's not like the potential break up of the UK in one years time is making the UK headlines as it should. Where is Scotland's official countdown timer aren't we a little more significant than the Olympics?