Scottish Referendum - Too Little Too Late?

By this time next week we’ll have a pretty good idea of the outcome of what has to be the most exciting event in British politics since women were granted the right to vote. In the last week or so the political temperature, both north and south, has undoubtedly been at boiling point.

We can expect to see possibly the highest turn out in our political history and the only winner here will be democracy itself.

Personally, I have always considered myself to be English, not British, so I have some sympathy for the Scots, whichever way the vote goes.

It has been interesting to observe the shift from the uncouth shouting and name calling during the televised debates, along with the threatening, negative tone of the arguments put forward by the ‘NO’ campaigners, to the current situation, where it is now quite clear who is getting to call all the shots. By standing firm, those in the ‘YES’ camp look all set to extract concessions previously unheard of, in an attempt to salvage the union.

Witnessing the unseemly rush north of the border by the main parties’ political leaders this week, in a desperate effort to save their own bacon, was embarrassing in the least; as was their whining, pleading tone.

This is all reminiscent of a marriage in which one spouse, over a long period of time behaves with selfish, arrogant disregard for the other, until eventually the injured party decides that enough is indeed enough. Feeling that they have retained the upper hand all along, it is then, caught by surprise, that the aggressor realises that this time around, the injured party means what they say, and divorce is indeed on the cards. All too late, and realising what is at risk, usually in the financial stakes, there ensues an earnest, beseeching apology, as they hang onto the coat-tails, endeavouring to appease, kiss and make up. Until they get their own way that is. Then, safe in the knowledge that their ploy has worked, it’s back to business as usual.

There is undeniably much at stake here, but I am in no doubt that should the ‘YES’ crusaders see the vote go their way that it is England, and what little will be left of the United Kingdom, that will be the losers; and we only have ourselves to blame. Whilst we continue to have a London centric government in place, regardless of the political persuasion, the rest of the country will continue to suffer as a result of policies that are intended to court the votes of the constituencies that are deemed to matter most to those who want to hang onto the benefits of being in power.

For once we have seen all parties in agreement, which in itself is sufficient to raise suspicions. The haste with which, at the last minute, they have rallied round, abandoning all sense of decorum, is all too little too late.

Were I a Scot I’d extract every last concession I could while the going is good. If only the rest of the country were able to follow suit. Then perhaps we’d get what we deserve, not the crumbs they see fit to throw us every once in a while to keep the proletariat quiet.

To my mind the only person to have come out it so far with her head held high is the Queen, resisting all the underhand attempts to be bounced into publicly taking sides. Meanwhile, I’m stocking up on the whisky, just in case.