Politics: UK: Will the Scottish National Party lead a secession of Scotland from the United Kingdom?

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Democracy is running an engaging piece, "Union in a State: a Scots eye" (Jan16,2k7):

Scotland's parliament voted to abolish itself on 16 January 1707. In 1999, devolution restored a measure of self-government. Now, Scots are contemplating independence once more. The historian and Scottish National Party candidate Christopher Harvie explains why.

Reading this viewpoint was quite a shock to me, not the historical part, but the more current account and viewpoint. Candidate Harvie may be an astute politician jockeying for his party's coming to power in the Scottish parliament, and establishing a strong bargaining position for relations afterward with the British Crown's govt. But, on the other hand, Mr Harvie also seems capable of carrying a full load of hardcore nationalist ideology under the surface of his fascinating historiographical notes, and witticisms.

Europe > UK > Scotland

Meanwhile the special election in Scotland is heating up. According to Murdo MacLeod in the Scotsman (Jan14,2k7):

Salmond says Labour MP 'has never had a real job'

THE run-up to May's Holyrood election is becoming ever more personal, with SNP leader Alex Salmond accusing a senior Labour minister of "never having had a job in his life".

In an outspoken attack on Labour's Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander, who will oversee the Labour election campaign this May, Salmond compared the minister to an overeager Sunday school pupil, and said Alexander looked ridiculous.
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Salmond's outburst has come in response to an increasingly intense and personal Labour campaign against the SNP, which recently saw First Minister Jack McConnell attack Salmond because of the Nationalist leader's laugh.

Speaking to Holyrood magazine, Salmond said of Alexander: "Douglas has never had a real job in his life. I think he practised as a solicitor for about two weeks. He has been nourished and germinated in the ranks of the Labour Party. His hand has been given to him."

Salmond, a former Royal Bank of Scotland economist, continued: "Some of us have had to get where we are without that patronage. To be an economist at the Royal Bank you have to be able to cut it. If Douglas ever gets a real job then he might be in a place to comment."

Salmond added: "The guy looks like he brushes his teeth 10 times a day and gets patted on the head. You basically want to say to him: 'It is OK, Douglas, we will still give you good marks and an extra star at Sunday school if you are really well behaved.'"

Alexander, 39, is regarded by many as Gordon Brown's most loyal political ally.

In response to Salmond's comments, a spokesman for Alexander said: "We're not going to bother commenting."

Elsewhere in the press, I noted that Scottish voters favour the SNP but not independence. In any case, the campaign promises to be something of a political slugfest.

--Politicarp

Further Research:

Scottish National Party
Scotland's Independence