The Flag in the Wind
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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
Compiled by Jim Lynch
[6 October 2000]

FLYING THE FLAG

When you are in a different place, you sometimes see things differently. Now that’s a piece of pretentious pomposity to restart after being on holiday. However, it refers to the title "Flag in the Wind"; I looked at the site in a Cyber Cafe in Assissi in Italy, and there was no Flag flying! On return, I spoke to the Editor, Kenneth Fee, and when he had looked at the site in Biarritz, no Flag flew there either! (Note the significance, Assissi for piety, Biarritz for sin and gambling - tut tut!)

According to the Webmaster, it has to do with Low Graphics on the receiving end, and cannot be adjusted from our end. So, when I look at my screen, in the box opposite the Scots Independent Logo, there is a blue and white Saltire, flying, which is one of the reasons the site named itself "The Flag in the Wind"; I don’t know what you can do if you do not have the Flag, but perhaps the Webmaster can advise?

COALS TO NEWCASTLE

Keeping on the holiday theme, as I boarded the plane in Rome coming home, an American sitting in Business Class said to me "You’re going back to Scotland, and you’re taking Scotch?". My quick response as I proceeded up the aisle was "Well, it’s half the price in Italy that it is in Scotland". There was no time for learned discussions as to why when you are in any country their national drink is always cheaper than it is at home, but of course Britain has to be different, probably because it is Scotch whisky! There was not enough time either to comment on the dearest fuel, although we are the largest producer of the same.

Foreigners think we’re daft.

THE WINNING TICKET

The last item about holiday; on our first Sunday in Rome, we visited the Coliseum. There were six of us, my wife and I, and four members of the Co-op Party, affiliated to Her Majesty’s Loyal, British Imperial Labour Party, and the price was 10000 Lira each, about £3.00. We asked about concessions, as we were all grey panthers, and after some confusion about nationality, "Are you English?" and conflicting responses, I produced my SNP Membership Card. We were all allowed in free!

Naturally, I never passed any comment for the next two weeks, not half!

EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES

Oops, that’s the wrong flower! It should be "Everything’s coming up Thistles", but it doesn’t have quite the same ring. We refer, of course to the latest Opinion Polls, which make woeful reading for the English Parties.

The most consistent and reliable poll is System Three, published by the Glasgow Herald every month; this is as under:

When we look at the above, the biggest fluctuation is in May, when Labour went up six points, and the SNP went down five points. Probably coincidence, but was Donald Dewar not having a heart operation around that time? On the other hand, it may have been Tony Blair’s baby, Leo; whatever, our opponents always have learned and cogent reasons for explaining why they are doing well, but are very dismissive of the polls when they are not doing well. Would the SNP react like that? Perish the thought!

Incidentally, I have heard that over the last couple of weeks, the Tories topped the Opinion Polls in England, while simultaneously coming bottom of the polls in Scotland; now who said "It’s a funny old world".

Another quote from Mrs Thatcher, which I picked up from my calendar this week ;"If a woman like Eva Peron with no ideals can get that far, think how far I can go with all the ideals I have". Not far enough, dear Margaret, not far enough.

CONFERENCE 2000

A full report of the SNP’s Annual Conference will appear in the Scots Independent which will be published this week, and as I was not there I can only comment on the Election results. Very pleased that John Swinney has become the National Convener, and he will bring his own individual style to the post; he is a completely different type from Alex Salmond, and he also has a completely different political landscape to operate in; speaking personally, I am enthused and looking forward to the SNP making great strides towards Independence.

HELL HATH NO FURY

Like a politician scorned, to adapt a phrase. We refer of course, to the churlish way New Labour has treated Dennis Canavan; when we look at some of the numpties occupying the New Labour benches, we blanch at the judgement inflicted on Dennis Canavan of "Not good enough". Surely a sign of the petty mindedness of genial Uncle Donald Dewar, the man who blocked Sir Sean Connery’s knighthood, and who stopped New Labour advertising in the Glasgow Herald because they gave fair coverage to the SNP.

It would be untrue to give the impression that we in the SNP have always loved Dennis Canavan; politics is a rough old game, and we have heaped abuse on Dennis over the years, but we were not supposed to be his friends and soulmates, and possibly we liked him more than they did. As it is, his decision to stand down and create a by election, as they have spurned his olive branches, is a very apposite "Hell mend ye".

With regard to the preceding paragraph, the old Arab proverb comes to mind "The enemy of my enemy is my friend".

FINAL POINTS

Less than usual this week, but until I catch up with what has been happening no comment should be made (Never stopped me before). Anyway, back to a new Convener, the SNP ahead for the Scottish Parliament and level for Westminster, New Labour in disarray, a by election pending; oh and the Scotsman’s increased it’s price by 50% - knew there would be some drawback. Must go away more often.