My piece on Calman yesterday had an interesting sequel. Tom Harris MP - Westminster’s answer to the danger’s of a Scottish Labour UDI - having formerly opposed the Calman Commission, is now in favour of re-establishing it on a permanent basis - I quote Kate Devlin in the Herald – “to constantly review the devolution settlement, even if it recommends handing back some powers to Westminster”. Tom Harris says he wants to ensure that Scotland is not forced to undergo major constitutional upheaval every decade or so.
Modesty doesn’t inhibit me from saying that Tom Harris was clearly impressed by my definition yesterday of the Calman Commission as a Commission set up by a unionist opposition to defend the Union and to limit and inhibit the elected Scottish Government, and has belatedly realised the value of establishing such an instrument of colonial control on a permanent basis.
I feel he should go the whole hog and nominate himself as the chairman of the new commission, a post he would hold together with his leadership of the new Scottish Labour Party. There may be some niggling constitutional quibbles over such a dual mandate, but this solution is better than simply announcing Michael Moore as head of the new commission. To celebrate the New Scottish Labour & Unionist Party’s birth, Tom Harris should be presented with a bound copy of John McTernan’s Collected Essays, What Labour Must Do. The new party and the new Commission will of, course, need a spin doctor – one will do for both – and although a token recruitment procedure will be undertaken, there can be no doubt of identity of the successful candidate. (I offer my condolences to Lorraine Davidson, The Times and the Sunday Post.)
If I may offer a word to Tom Harris …
Scotland won’t be undergoing “major constitutional upheaval every decade or so”, it will be independent. It will achieve its independence democratically in a single referendum in which only Scottish voters will participate. I’m sure you understand that, Tom – we wouldn’t want David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy to have to intervene to ensure that Scots achieve their democratic freedom from a corrupt and unrepresentative dictatorship of wealth, power and privilege masquerading as a democracy, one that was trying to manipulate their democratic rights, would we? Or would their notorious expediency and partiality in which dictatorships they chose to topple come into force?
Here in a nutshell is why Tom has not thought his standing as "Scottish" leader through. He is chosen as Scottish Leader but rules state he must stand for Westminster in 2015 - the Leader must, in their own words, be a Parliamentarian. He is defeated in the Westminster election and must, immediately, stand down as supposed Scottish Leader. Mess ensues. Perhaps we can only hope.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that, David, and it sure as hell matters.
ReplyDeleteBut I hope he is elected as leader - it will point up his role as enforcer for Westminster and the Union. With a poor communicator as leader - e.g. Gray - the contradictions are never fully evident.
But Harris is an experienced communicator and media/PR type - he will either open up or dissemble. Either way, he blows the Union game -the new generation of Scottish media inquisitors, e.g. Isabel Fraser, Raymond Buchanan, won't let him off the hook.
Unlike Gray and the other eejits, he will see the bait and the lure, but will have to bite nonetheless.
Peter, for the life of me, I cannot see any reason why these Scottish politicos continue in denial.
ReplyDeleteFundamental changes will finish the structure they currently benefit from, yet they recklessly push on in a way that further alienates their voting public.
If Tom Harris is Mr Savvy, where is he getting his impetus from? Am I missing some black art pre-determining the continuance of the unionist feedbag in spite of polling trends showing their empire is for oot the windae?
A reasonable assumption would be that Scotland is building up to a future without Westminster.
All Scottish MPs will be redundant!
Any sensible reaction would be to try and get on the inside track, so, what are these guys on?
Not that I would crawl over broken glass to elect the bulk of them - only a hand full are worth their corn.
Not only their empire is oot the windae, their erses ur as well, Barontorc - and Ah'm roon the back pappin peas at them ...
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