Iain MacWhirter: Disunited Kingdom talk Edinburgh book festival 2015:

Iain MacWhirter - Disunited Kingdom: How Westminster Won a Referendum but Lost Scotland

Award- winning Scottish journalist and political commentator for the Herald Iain MacWhirter, has written his second book on the Scottish Referendum 'Disunited Kingdom" How Westminster won a Referendum but Lost Scotland".  
He writes that the SNP 167 pages indie light White Paper was pretty much the same as what Regions in other federal states enjoy. We may say that there is a fine line between Indie light and Federal states that pretty much run all their own affairs. He argues that the Union has been presented as a partnership of equals and of two nations joining together – as a moral union in 1707, which has now been broken by the chancellor George Osborne.

MacWhirter takes a broad and informed view as an insider of both Westminster and Holyrood politics. He also reported frequently on the Scottish Referendum, in the Herald and Sunday Herald. His first book was The Road to Referendum. He gave a talk at Edinburgh book festival 2015 about how inspirational the whole Referendum process was and how it engaged so many different voice

In MacWhirter’s view nationalism in Europe has now replaced class warfare. "Decline of industrial class politics and the rise of regionalism in Europe, nationalism is proving to be a new organising principle in democratic engagement."  

He writes that, "Young people see independence as the only viable challenge to globalization and the dominance of neo liberalisation."  Civic nationalism allows for a means of progressing the democratic process.

For him an independent Scotland would be a better society. There is a huge democratic deficit between Scotland and England and are now on very different paths. He argues that baby steps devolution is not workable and it would be better from a position of implicit sovereignty strength through independence to then remake the UK holistically. To then work to establish new ground rules to work alongside the other UK nations. This is pretty much the thinking that I believed with regard to Scotland and that federalism will not be achievable through Westminster.

He has visited many other federal states to gather information on how their Federalism works. The Scottish Parliament is NOT the strongest devolved parliament in the world. Regions like Quebec or Alaska are practically independent as we in the UK would describe it. – they control ALL their taxes, economy, borrowing etc. Only foreign affairs and defence are shared. 

*MacWhirter had three main reasons for his decision to vote for Scottish Independence

The first reason was that England sees little need for Federalism and seems happy with the Westminster system. The second was the SNP White Paper (at 167 pages) of indie light – was in affect so light and safe, how was it independence at all? So much would remain the same.  Real Independence statements are normally short ones......!

I agree - playing it safe may have been the right thing five years ago - but now we need to be more radical!  Otherwise what's the point? 

His third, and most important reason, was Osborne's saying that Scotland could not use its pound, while all those south of Hadrian's Wall could.  Even though the two countries are big trading partners.  In his mind this broke the moral union. 

I agree with many of his arguments with some reservation. MacWhirter doesn’t feel that the UK is a repressive state. In my view unless Labour politicians leave the House of Lords – this is still a country of patronage, elitism and inequality. The UK is a top-down hierarchy. The Land Reform Bill is also crucial too with the gross ownership of Scottish land by only a few. 

Also at the Union of the Parliaments there was a great deal of coercion placed on the Scottish Parliament – historian Tom Devine writes that troops were positioned at the border and in Northern Ireland, England also refused to trade with Scotland (Tom Devine, The Scottish Nation). Most of Scotland at the time was strongly opposed to the Union. Of course there were back then some advantages of the Union, as all the political elite left Edinburgh for London with James VI and his court!  Which meant the great thinkers were free to have their discussions and we had the Scottish Enlightenment.

The English press appeared to believe that the SNP was about right wing thugs and attempted to portray this in the media. Nothing could be further from the truth. The grassroots indie campaign was energetic and inspired and led by articulate artists, journalists, scientists and business people from all walks of life.

*MacWhirter presented Westminster Live for ten years before returning to Scotland in 1999 to present Holyrood Live in 1999. He wrote Road to Referendum.

Crosby, Stills and Nash, Concert Hall

CSN played a quality set at Glasgow concert hall

I'm a fan of perfect male harmonies. There were so many great examples during the 60s - The Everly brothers, The Hollies, The Beatles. And then there was the southern California sound of the Beach Boys, The Byrd's - followed by Crosby, Stills and Nash (CSN) and later the Eagles.  

The Gig

On stage CSN have set up three Indian carpets and Nash dances often in the centre in his bare feet., Stills plays full on rock n roll guitar and David Crosby has striking white hair now.

They began with strong rock band songs with their impressive vocal harmonies and backed by a quality band. They performed their hits - Marrakesh Express, What's' That sound, Southern Cross, Love the One Your With. 

In the second half they each showcased their own material - Nash with the reconciled Myself at Last, Stills rocking up the energy with throbbing guitar on Virtual World and Crosby with a mesmerising What Makes It So.

It was notable that Crosby has more blues and jazz influences in his song writing.  At one point Crosby said – that Nash wrote anthems the world enjoyed to sing, Stills wrote the rock and roll and was one of the top rock guitarists, while he, Crosby wrote the weird stuff!  The trio finished their set with two of their biggest hits - Teach Your Children and Judy Blue Eyes - which got the audience to their feet.

Impressions

This is very much a trio of equals – vocally and musically, coming together and also following their own musical individual styles.

The combination of their distinctive styles, also the American, Canadian and British mix, produces a unique blend of rock, blues and melodic pop.  Impressive gig.

From the outset, the band decided not to be locked into a group structure. They used their surnames to ensure independence and so the band could not continue without one of them.

There is today a resurgence of harmony singing with the popularity of a cappella choirs, and the popularity of films like Pitch Perfect.  

Celts: Arts and Identity

The first major exhibition in 40 years of the Art, History and Culture of the Celts. The National Museum of Scotland in collaboration with the British Museum London – tells the story of the Celts over 2,500 years.

 Now at the British museum and from March 2016 at the National museum Scotland.

In 2009, four gold torcs were found at Blair Drummond Stirling by David Booth (first tiw with metal detector!). The four torcs made between 300 and 100 BC show connections across Iron Age Europe – two are spirally ribbons, characteristics of Scotland and Ireland. The other two show French and Mediterranean style. The word Celtic still resonates today in politics, religion and identity.

The Celts were people in Iron Age and Medieval Europe who spoke Celtic languages and had cultural similarities. Celtic culture diversified into that of the Gaels (Irish, Scottish and Manx) and the Brythonic Celts (Welsh, Cornish, and Bretons) of the medieval and modern periods. During the Renaissance, 1700, it was used to describe the cultures of Brittany, Ireland, Scotland.

 

Notably here in Glasgow for the biggest world folk festival Celtic Connections. (no mention on the museum’s site). Where have all these exhibits been hiding all these years – in museum basements?

The British museum states the Celts are not one genetic race – I am not sure I understand what they mean? Were the Vikings or Romans one genetic race? For me it is more about sense of place, culture, heritage and history. 

http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/celts.aspx

Kilmartin Glen

Stone structures Kilmartin Glen

I have just been reading about the stone age cathedral at Brodgar of Ness - a site recently found in Orkney of an ancient temple older than Stonehenge or the Pyramids and the largest Neolithic stone structures in Britain. Over 10,000 people attended great ceremonies here. I was amazed to learn about! Historian McHardy claims that civilization as we know it, did not begin in the south and then travel northwards.

And also of the stone structures at Kilmartin Glen in Stuart Hardy's 'Scotland Future History'. I have some images of 'Kilmartin Glen' from a few years ago. I had no idea the significance of them - having learnt all about the Tudors doing my higher History in Edinburgh!

Scotland's history is changing. What pasture of the Scottish past should we pass on to future generations?

McHardy suggests we should stop all this teaching of Roman empire building, encouraged by the elite to perpetuate myths of superiority, and start to look at other stories of working together instead. The most successful and happiest countries are not those that subjugate and keep down-trodden one segment of society, as if the pie is too small to be shared.

"There is a subject called British history, but as far as I can discover it consists of English history, with an occasional side-glance at Scotland at times when Scotland crossed England's path. This is a society devoted to the study and furtherance of Scottish history, and it seems a little odd to me that this educational policy should still prevail. It is calculated to condition the Scottish mind into turning instinctively towards London with the submission of the Moslem turning towards Mecca."  Lord Cooper, President of the court of Session, to the Scottish history Society 1948.

My blog here on Hardy's 'Scotland's Future History' - http://www.musicfootnotes.com/scotlands-future-history-by-stuart.html