Scotland’s Lost Mandates

 

Quebec often comes up, even the newly formed UK Supreme court comparing our ancient Scotland nation to the Canadian state. 

 

If you look up ‘secession’ – it takes many forms – from quietly agreed separations or federal governance to fierce tribal warfare, for example in Africa. So following on from the keenness to compare Scotland to the state of Quebec, (rather than other small nations such as Iceland or Finland) Its interesting to note that after Quebec’s independence referendum, Canada agreed to more self determination for Quebec. 

 

Unlike the British state or UK, which immediately turned to English votes for English laws and Brexit - and to restricting Scotland’s self determination even more. So the British state attempted to pull even tighter with muscular unionism! – leading to all the “stresses and strains” across the UK, and the calls of reform, which are all akin to a parent refusing to allow their fifteen year old to grow up!

 

Looking back to the calls for both Scotland’s and Ireland’s home rule before the great war 1914 – the British state across the 1900s became ever more centralised. This has held the UK back, no longer able to exploit its lost empire, most of the wealth has been held in the south east while the rest of the UK declines. Of course Scottish secession, as a threat to the British state, will be keenly on MI5s radar.

 

Nicola Sturgeon, was she too managerial? The SNP had large mandates, with 56 of the 59 Scottish MPs in 2015…why was this not enough – what more of a mandate is required? We really must wonder. Did she get bogged down in detail rather than seeing the bigger picture?

 

Journalist Ian MacWhirter wondered why the two biggest political figures of Scotland’s 25 years of devolution, have ended their political careers mired in police investigations – and that Scottish politics is far too intertwined with the Scottish justice system. 

 

But surely the Big Debate across the UK is between a centralized state and a more federal one? If we compare to say Spain or other European nations, in Spain each state collects their own taxes. Quebec collects its own taxes and VAT, immigration policies, laws, trade etc. etc. 

 

Independence is a journey – as Scotland already has it own law system, Parliament, central bank, civil servants – it is partly on its way. Scotland only has control of 20% of its welfare, expenditure and 40% of tax. 

 

The happiest and most successful countries are those based on fairness of opportunities where private schools have been abolished and there’s not a two tier system – that is the small nation of Finland. 

 

“Economic Growth”, the favourite slogan of Starmer’s Labour, is not the successful formula for a happy nation. Would federalism work here UK, with so much power centralised in Westminster? Probably not. The debate is therefore between – where does sovereignty lie – with Westminster or the people?

 

Change Forward Scotland Needs for 2025

 

Education is the key and foundation. Without a solid, well educated workforce how can any country move forward? Many new independent countries recognised this – specifically Ireland and Estonia. Apart from funding, there are several ways to achieve solid education for all

1. All teachers should have a masters degree.

2. Teach to the higher average, not the lower average, to raise standards. Yes slower learners and late starters need to be encouraged and a good start at kindergarten or pre-schools is the key to giving ALL children the right start in education - with a focus on personal development and structural play. 

With many 4 year olds now held back to start P1 until they are ta least five and a half - this can make the more formal learning of reading books mean children are more emotionally and developmentally ready to learn having developed concentration skills, an interest in books, number and size skills, oral language etc. 

 

3. Eliminate private schools. Private schools mean a secure network and privileged bubble. They mean a two tier society. Those educated privately have only limited understanding of the rest of society that they have often never met or worked with. They believe they are a “cut above” the rest. 

 

4. A good start. Without a good start to education, the rest of the 10 years of school can be wasted.

The focus must be on quality early years. 

 

 ‘The Age of disruption needs a different kind of Scotland’ Gerry Hassan writes we needs radical ideas to move Scotland forward with independence, Sunday National 29^th December 2024. He writes of the unequal opportunities and expectations. While I agree we need new ideas – why vote for independence if it will only be more of the same failing economic models. He doesn’t offer concrete details of priorities, but mostly theoretical views. 

 

Its important to set priorities to move forward. But a sound economy needs to underpin this – otherwise where is the money to fund public service? While Scotland is rich in resources, we also need to harness our potential for innovation, business education, opportunities for all, immigration (we need young workers), and prioritise education for all. Finland decided to abolish private education, as they felt this system was holding the country back. 

 

British Peerages and Titles

 

The British House of Lords is the second biggest unelected second chamber in the world – after China! Britain’s archaic constitution of 1690. Britain is an outlier in Europe – the only nation that continues to give nobility privileges such as tax avoidance. 

 

Is Britain the only nation that continues to revere and believe in a hierarchy with the monarch at the top? In Great Britain, nobility and titles are part of the peerage, which is a social class of titled people who share in the responsibility of government. The five ranks of British nobility, in descending order of precedence, are:

 

·       Duke: The highest and most exclusive rank

·       Marquess: The second most senior rank

·       Earl: The third rank

·       Viscount: The fourth rank

·       Baron: The lowest rank 

Titles can be hereditary or granted. Until 1999, peers were exempt from jury duty and entitled to sit in the House of Lords. Some things to know about British nobility and titles include

French Revolution!

 

**France – There is no nobility, its legal status was abolished 1789, while there are titles with no privileges.

There is no such thing as nobility in France today. French courts have held that the concept of nobility is incompatible with the equality of all citizens before the law proclaimed in the Declaration of the Rights of Man, part of the Constitution of 1958. There are titles, which are considered part of the legal name, and entitled to the same protections in French civil and criminal courts, even though they give no privilege or precedence (the way they do in Great Britain). Regulation of titles is carried out by a bureau of the Ministry of Justice. The President has ceased to confer or confirm titles, but the French state still verifies them,  civil courts can protect them, criminal courts can prosecute their abuse.

 

History - 

1.     the abolition of feudalism and privileges in 1789, which did away with the legal status of nobility,

2.     the restoration of titles in 1808 by Napoleon, and their confirmation by the successive monarchical regimes until 1870

3.     the fact that the successive republican regimes have never passed any laws on the subject of titles.

The Revolution did away with nobility and titles, titles were restored (not nobility), and the Republic has not done anything about titles. French nobiliary law is mostly based on court cases. At present, titles have not been abolished. The final establishment of a Republic in 1875 left them in a kind of limbo, and it took a succession of court cases to define the jurisprudence, which is now well established. 

 

 

*Germany  - Abolished the legal recognition of nobility in 1919, while titles are still used. The Weimar Constitution of 1919 removed legal privileges and disadvantages of birth or rank. Current status - Titles of nobility are only valid as part of a name and may no longer be conferred.

 

August 1919, at the beginning of Weimer Republic (1918 – 1933) Germany's new constitution abolished royalty and nobility, and the respective legal privileges and immunities appertaining to an individual, a family or any heirs. Today, German nobility is no longer conferred by the Federal Republic of Germany (1949–present), and constitutionally the descendants of German noble families do not enjoy legal privileges.The Nobility of the German Empire was similar to nobility of the Austrian empire developed during the Holy Roman Empire and both ended in 1919 when they were abolished, and legal status and privileges were revoked.

 

*Austria - In 1919, Austrian nobility was abolished under the First Austrian Republic (1919–1934) and the and legal recognition of hereditary titles and aristocratic particles and use as part of surnames was banned. Today, Austrian nobility is no longer conferred by the Republic of Austria (1945–present), and the official use of noble titles, is a minor offence under Austrian law for Austrian citizens

 

* Denmark - The Danish constitution of 1849 stripped the nobility of its privileges, though the titles remained.

History - The Danish nobility was granted social, economic, and political privileges in the 16th century in exchange for their military service to the king. Some of the families still own and reside in castles or country houses. A minority of nobles still belong to the elite and they can be guests at royal events, are objects of media coverage, for example Kanal 4s TV hostess Caroline Fleming née Baroness Luel-Brockdorff. Some of them own and manage companies or have leading positions within business, banking, diplomacy and NGOs

 

 

*Holland – After Constitutional reform 1848 the privileges of the Dutch nobility were abolished and they lost their constitutional roles. The only privileges they were alllowed were titles and coats of arms. They became civilians with a noble title. Nobility became a small elite class consisting of families recognized as noble, and with or without a title in the Kingdome of the Netherlands

Alex Salmond A Man for our Times

 

Alex Salmond 1954 - 2024

I met Alex Salmond once at the Edinburgh book festival and shook his hand out of respect. He seemed to thrive on the situation, when he chatted amicably with renowned Scots author Iain Banks. He was there for a photo shoot and to host a talk with Iain, as he did each year. He also attended Edinburgh festival each year, often giving a series of interviews. He was clearly a man of robust intellect, charisma and character. He thrived on good debate and was also greatly respected at Westminster.

Alex Salmond has been the towering figure of our times, both in Scotland and abroad and across the UK. He brought Scotland close to independence and led the Indyref 2014 campaign. He was Scotland's first minister from 2007 to 2014, as well as a MP at Westminster from 1987 to 2010. He took the SNP from the fringes to the centre of Scottish politics. He developed Scotland’s wind energy – today Scotland’s wind powers 100% of our electricity – at a time when England's Tories short-sightedly vetoed turbines. He was also an astute politician – with charisma and high intellect. He believed that if Scots knew their own history, many more would vote for an independent Scotland.

Iain Banks & Alex Salmond at Edinburgh

While he appreciated the significance of Scots history and culture, he believed it was the economic arguments that would sway those Scots yet to be persuaded, that our freedom was the best way forward – not a backward step but a progressive one, not about any ‘Braveheart' imagining, but about a modern state. Perhaps he realised he didn’t go far enough in 2014, basically advocating home rule for Scotland, with a shared currency rather than full independence. 

Even Labour recognises that the present UK system isn’t working. The UK needs to move to a modern state. One thing we can be sure of, there are bad actors, disrupters and spies causing chaos among our Scottish politics. I experienced this at the Indyref 2014, with shouting at voters as they walked into the Polling stations. I’ve heard that people were also intimated at work – with town hall meetings where employees where asked to raise their hands to show how they intended to vote! I assume all these acts of aggression are illegal and anti-democratic.

I always enjoyed when Salmond came on TV debate shows. He was eloquent and forceful with sound arguments. He thrived on debates, because he had an informed hinterland. Unlike so many of the fake, ill-informed present day politicians, who appear shallow. Perhaps it was his grounding at St Andrews university. 

Many advocate that Philosophy and History should be taught to all children throughout school and not only for a couple of years. Critical thought and analysis is essential for a future modern state. Education is the key for our future, as Salmond recognised and he was rightly very proud of Scotland’s free university tuition. Scotland boasts four leading and ancient universities. Sadly, a major weakness in Scotland is our lack of press, media and broadcasting. There’s the constant barrage in the mainstream British press of negativity to put Scotland down. 

But Salmond showed Scots how to stand tall and proud, on the world stage – as we once did before. Scotland gave the world innovations, scholarship, and enlightened thought. Salmond leaves a profound and deep legacy. Will we ever see his like again - “the dream will never die” Thank you Alex for raising us up again.    

Alex Salmond true Jacobin

He was a Jacobin reformer and he spoke truth amongst the lies. And he forged a path ahead where none existed before him and held his head high. Will we see his like again - for Scots freedom and all your bonnets so blue! The dream shall never die.....

 

Remembering IndyRef 2014

 

Its now ten years since indyref 2014 – and that glorious summer – that wonderful exhilaration of hope of building a better Scotland! One where our voices mattered, and where we could build a new constitution, real accountable and local democracy, and harness our potential. 

 

Today we might be celebrating….. Instead in the press its all ‘doom and gloom’ of broken Britain, of all the industrial closures here and business losses, the cost of living crisis and the scandals, that no lengthy enquiry will ever fix, except to pay lawyers vast amounts. Brexit means a 27% drop in exports and 32% drop in imports, more than a quarter of all trade. So many empty promises, never fulfilled. We were lied to. The vow, EU membership, Devo Max.

 

For me the indyref was all about Scotland having real local government as I’ve seen working abroad In both Europe and America. About freedom. About having a voice. Independence, where we could use all our great resources to protect the vulnerable, invest in children and offer opportunities. Instead we’re stuck. Independence – where the Scottish state or nation had its own media, immigration, energy policy, control of VAT: all the crucial levers to be a successful state or trading nation Independence and inter-dependence in Europe.

 

Instead Scotland is stuck and bitterly divided, with little hope, except for austerity mark 2 under Starmer’s Labour. It looks like Westminster is deliberately running Scotland down, with de-industrialization and closure of Grangemouth, while funding Stanlow refinery, north west England with 600 million for carbon capture and hydrogen. As well as millions for a petrochemical plant over in Antwerp.

 

All to keep Scotland dependent instead, as the last colony. Unionist believers may well ask, why would Westminster wish to do this, the most obvious answer is lack of interest, but also to use Scotland resources as it has done the past 100 years to prop up London. I don’t believe the Barnett formula, GERS figures or the BBC, which glosses over serious issues and finishes with some cute story to boost us up. The BBC is not serious, investigative journalism.

 

Many feel we needed analysis of 2014: for me by far the biggest issue was the independence side having no broadcasting, especially for older people not online. The UKs mainstream media puts out constant negativity slogans: SNP bad, SNP bad, Scotland bad/ failings, Nicola bad.  So that Scots have little faith or belief in themselves compared to Norwegians, Danish, Finnish or Irish. A constant stream of negativity. How do we reach Mail and BBC readers?

 

Lets not fool ourselves or believe the false rhetoric of the London press. Since Thatcher all the focus has been in protecting London\s banks and property, while the rest of the country works to protect this globalized future. And their failed economic model. And suffers for it. So that doesn’t fill me with much hope. I think of all the great writers, artists, scholars and poets, who’ve gone before – and wrote of Scotland the Brave, or Scots wa Hae, or the Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle….It all feels a pipe dream. (The Proclaimers, Letter from America, Dougie Maclean’s Caledonia, Hamish Henderson’s Freedom Come All Ye.)

  

Is it already too late? In the media I read of Ireland’s writers and successes on the world stage, but what of the great Scots writers and poets of today, who are hardly ever mentioned. We’re already too late for any Green Revolution – Denmark started decades ago. 

First we need the EU’s protection to thrive. Poll figures confirm that imagined future appeals to the broadest range of Scots. Look at Irelands success model to follow. In the EU nations are both sovereign and inter dependent. Scotland can have both. I’d like to see more mature, consensual debate in the Scottish parliament moving forward. I’d like to see Scotland as a integral part of a more modern Britain, where each nation and region has its own sovereign state legislature and governance, but with far, far more local say. Maybe we need to redefine what is meant by independence and inter-dependence. We don’t have to have central control!

 

I like to hope Scotland has a bright future for our young people. How do we move forward? We must focus more on the future, on education and younger voices. It took twenty years for the Scottish parliament (1979 to 1999). Many Scots simply need time to consider. Another big flaw 2014 was the questions over pensions.

 

This question has never been about identity – because all who live in Scotland are able to vote here. So over this past decade, what improvements have there been exactly under the UK union? Because I can’t think of any!   

 

Joseph Stiglitz Road to freedom, Edinburgh book festival 2024

 

 

Stiglitz is a Nobel Laureate,  worked for the world bank and a chief economist under Clinton -  His new book, Road to Freedom, looks at the role of the state and the idea of freedom, and his theories of Progressive Capitalism. That there are no free market he said, we have the rule of law, property – there are always trade offs. He recommends that the enlightenment of 250 years ago should be taught in schools. It’s the reason we live better today.  

He is critical of both Milton Friedman and of Friedrich Hayek and his book Road to Serfdom (1944), being taught at Stanford, and who influenced both Reagan and Thatcher in the 80s.  “Keynesian economic markets have failed, with one out-of-four unemployed. Government spending could improve economy. . retirement security made a difference and the NHS. In America the private sector has failed, with 20% GDP on worse healthcare outcomes.” Friedman argues that government’s greater role and social benefit will lead to authoritarianism."  He talked of Authoritarian capitalism, when counties have too little. By contrast in the Nordic countries, there is the strongest support for democracy.  

He spoke of American ideology and mythology around freedoms and the American revolution. Slaves are not free. And who is going to rule? What do we mean by freedom? What do we mean by freedom to do?. Recapture the nation. Freedom for potential and to achieve. 

“Should everyone have the right to own an aK47 – means others loose their freedom to live. There is also the freedom from fear. Every school now teaches what to do if a gunman enters the school. Which freedoms are more important? Freedom to live is more important.”

 

He spoke of examples – such as traffic lights, that take away your freedom and are restraints. “In a city if there are no stop lights there is chaos. Therefore traffic lights give people more freedom to do. The recent Pandemic – there were good vaccines paid for by government, a quick response. People have to pay taxes, taxes are a restraint. Some restraints will increase freedoms.”

His book looks at the issues around capitalism and freedoms. He argues that the Keynesian theories that free markets are efficient and lead to democratic markets, is disingenuous. He spoke of Pinochet in Chile – who was advised to force radical ideas on banking – but it will take twenty years to get out of the mess!   “These theories are about creating inequality, to exploit. Free to choose. Free to Exploit. No competition laws. These ideas were wrong – economically wrong. Freidman was very successful selling an idea of unrestrained markets. 

Neo Liberalism)- for successful economies and Thatcher/ Reagan followed. That market forces would lower costs. That profits will increase by scamming people and maximising profit and this is not a well being society.” Bankers get rich.

He spoke of the influence of Adam Smith (the great enlightenment theorist here in Edinburgh) and the invisible hand, will lead to successful societies. The force for innovation. And why you need regulation to direct that force. That the markets are not operating adequately. 

Stiglitz spoke of the impacts of the Scottish enlightenment thought. “How do we reason about society. We need checks and balances – and no government is perfect.  We need Collective administrations and restraints. And then we can expand everyone’s freedoms. Books 1 to 3 – unregulated: Books 4 to 5 – Role of the state.”

Clinton and Blair, followed this free market thinking. “Clinton felt their pain”. But the de-regulation of the Banking system led to the Banking crisis of 2008. The banks made a lot of money. 

Why haven’t Progressive ideas won?” “Neoliberal ideas are very profitable for a few people. Climate crisis, poverty crisis. Unrestrained markets are problematic. Failings are now so great, that Progressives might have a moment. But disaffected areas are moving to support Trump – but Trickle–down economics has failed; socialism has failed, communism has failed.”

**QUESTIONS

Are you hopeful?  - His book is based on the hope that this battle can be won. He spoke of his theories of Progressive Capitalism. Governments owning means of production, and that control management, requires too much information. We must de-centralize – for care economy and to innovate. Progressive ideas can be ideologically complex. He spoke of the growth of misinformation. And the struggle between individual rights as opposed to collective rights.

Deficits? - Two thirds trade surplus economies: one third trade deficit economies. Sum of deficits, equals sum of surpluses. He advocates a Global Reserve Currency. Deficient global demand. There is deficient global demand. 

Are Enlightenment ideas settled? – Only absorbed by a minority of the population. The education system should explain the enlightenment of 250 years ago. It’s the reason we live better today.  

Does every society need an underclass? - More people locked up here  in Britain then any other developed country -  and 25% to 30% are from children’s homes. “Some degree inequality is inevitable – but we don’t need such extreme inequality. There is 20% poverty in America.. In equality is a choice.. Biden has reduced childhood poverty with programs he introduced.”

 

Lifted Up at Edinburgh festivals 2024!

 

high street performers

Weather warm and muggy this year over for the Edinburgh festivals. Who says Scotland is always cold? asks a young American girl. But the next day the humidity lifts and its clear, windy and sunny. In Scotland, often has the three seasons in one day. We meet old friends and later make our way up the very busy high street – past the excited performers, the tourists young and old, as Edinburgh comes to life again for its annual celebration of the arts, culture, drama and music, from the sublime to the idiotic. Entrancing audiences both young and old, and from near and far.

 

One of the world’s oldest and biggest Arts festivals, begun in 1947 after the war. (which might have ended all wars but didn’t)

Sunday – Bach’s St Matthews Passion. Such a wall of sound: spine-tingling and goose bumps. 

With the Festival chorus, BBC symphony orchestra and a top line up of soloists. What joyous, soul enriching and uplifting music by the genius of Bach. – and interpreted by Mendelsohn. 

 

Festival chorus & Symphony orchestra

Carmen Festival Theatre

Monday – Scottish National art gallery to see the exhibition of John Laverty. Persuasive impressions.

A major exhibition of Irish and Scots impressionist painter John Lavery July to October, 2024. He was a great journeyman, who painted extraordinary images of ordinary life in Glasgow, Spain and Morocco. His portraits have a surreal quality: both commanding and expressive. 

 

Tuesday – Carmen Opera with incredible singing and performances and unforgettable music by Bisset. What a treat! 

Paintings by Sir John Lavery July to October 2024.  ‘An Irish Impressionist: Lavery on Location’, a collaboration between the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, National Museums NI, and the National Galleries of Scotland. That capture Lavery's impressions of people and places, from his travels - Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Palm Springs, Glasgow, London, and Venice. Portraits, genre scenes, landscapes, and cityscapes. 

The Arts are under pressure like never before. Recent funding has been cut.  But art is not an extra in life or for our heritage and stories. Its central.

 

This year’s festival theme was ‘The Rituals that Unite Us’. 

 

We must hold on – to the past and to future innovations.

 

Questions of Identity

 

Tory MP Tony Hayes claims that, Welsh and Scottish identities devalues British identity.

Scottish self-determination is about how we are governed – not from the centre but locally, by those who understand Scotland’s needs and concerns. Cleary though if England/ Britain regard Scotland as a colony – and not an ancient nation – they want Scottish identity supressed. Just as they did across the empire.

 

But also if we look across the world, we can see that identities can co-exist. In Scandinavia there is a strong identity as a Nordic states, but people also feel Norwegian, Swedish, Danish and Finnish. They learn many languages from a young age.

 

In America, people firstly feel New Yorkers, Texans, mid Westerners, Californians – while they also hold a firm allegiance to their country of American states – united in their belief in liberty for all and the pursuit of happiness, freedom and democratic principles.

 

So what of the British isles? We will always be connected by geography and family ties. A major factor is the narrative of the British empire over recent centuries – with the British monarchy still head of state today across the English speaking world. Britain imposed its culture on many far away lands and islands. Teaching Caribbean islands poems such as Wordsworth To a Daffodil, even though they’d never seen one! Teaching Irish children about English rivers and Scots about English kings. Britain became dependant on exploiting other nations. Instead of replying on its own resources.

 

There’s this narratives of empire here UK – from the Romans, Ottoman, Hapsburgs, from our historic past. Many of us now hope the EU is a new model – one in which each nation retains its sovereign laws and rights of self determination, while working together collaboratively for trade, defence and security. While there remains threats of out-dated dictatorships across the world, which threaten our democracies.

 

Scottish independence is in no shape or form about Scotland not wanting to be good neighbours and friends with England, Ireland and Wales. The present voting system in Britain is not a democracy. It’s a fake.

 

Some here in Britain continue to believe in ‘centralized’ governance, as being most efficient. Surely what’s required is environmental regulations and some joined up thinking, with laws, training and quality assessment (NHS say) and high standards in education. They believe in top-down control, rather than equal rights. We are all equal under the law – or should be. With the familiar cries of the “previous government has ruined the economy.”

 

But where is the money if Britain is a rich country?? Labour continue the austerity project and false claims of no money.