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CAMPAIGNING FOR
SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
Compiled by Jim Lynch
[12 January 2001]
FALKIRK - POST POST SCRIPT
We commented last week on the secret meetings between the Labour Party and Falkirk FC over the withdrawal of a Back the Bairns candidate at the By Election of 21 Dec 2000. The price of withdrawal was an accelerated consideration of the structure plan by the Scottish Government, down from 40 weeks to 10 weeks. However, there are still persistent rumours that the word came down from Millbank , Labour HQ in London, that the appearance of a Back the Bairns candidate would result in the aforesaid structure plan being binned; obviously a matter of interpretation. The word appears to have been delivered by the man who chaired the meeting, Michael Connarty, Labour MP for Falkirk East, and a former head of Falkirk Council.
The structure plan should be cleared by the end of February.
THE WHITE FLAG CLUB
 The currently styled First Minister, Henry McLeish, has raised a veritable forest of hackles in Westminster; in an article in a Sunday newspaper he referred to the "Government" when talking of the Scottish Executive, and anti devolutionists like Sir Thomas Dalyell, Bart, of the Binns are protesting about this word. Sir Thomas is better known as Tam Dalyell MP, but we like to give him his full title, out of courtesy, as we did with Major (Retd) Joyce in the Falkirk By Election The use of the term "Government" has also infuriated Brian Wilson, Deputy Secretary of State for Scotland until May this year, and anything which infuriates Brian Wilson can’t be bad.
So what was Mr McLeish up to? He said that the term "Scottish Executive" referred both to the Administration and to the Civil Service, and he was looking to clear any confusion in the minds of the public (the word "Government" received the approval of 71% of the public in an STV Poll); the fact that he caused alarm and despondency in the ranks of the Labour MPs at Westminster did not seem to be worry him, but it did produce a swift reaction from Tony Blair , via his press spokesman, Alastair Campbell. The word is verboten, and in the words of a senior Labour member, "They can call themselves the White Heather Club if they like". We think Mr McLeish’s rapid withdrawal merits the name of the White Flag Club.
One of the dangers of devolution from a Nationalist point of view was that people were given the impression that it could do a lot more than it had power to do, and that some might even confuse this with Independence; the bad press given to Labour as it continued with its hegemonic West of Scotland policies was directed at the Parliament, and affected all MSPs. A case in point is the new Parliament building; the site was chosen by the Secretary of State for Scotland, the plans were approved, the architect chosen, and work commenced all before the Parliament was even elected. The aforesaid Secretary of State was the late Donald Dewar, no doubt acting under instructions from Millbank , but it was the Parliament collectively which was blamed for a Labour shambles.
Now that the word "Government" is out in the open, the next change will be in the name of the First Minister (No, John Swinney will not take over until 2003); will Mr McLeish continue to be First Minister, will he be styled First Secretary, he couldn’t be Prime Minister, could he? As he will still have to dance to the Westminster tune, we like the term Governor General.
While Mr McLeish will have to abide by Mr Blair’s instructions, what would be the reaction if it was Prime Minister Hague, or more likely, would First Minister Swinney meekly comply with either Prime Minister Blair or Prime Minister Hague?
NOT GONE FISHING - FISHING GONE
Alex Salmond MSP, MP, has accused the Scottish Executive and the Government (Yes Edinburgh and London) of selling the pass on Scottish fishing interests. The official note of the European Commission meeting on 19 Dec 2000 suggest that Britain would accept the key aspects of the cut in fishing quotas. The UK delegation, led by a London official, seemed to have a lack of knowledge about fishing, and the proposals would not conserve cod stocks. The lack of awareness is not new; when Britain entered the Community 30 years ago, they could have stopped the proposals for a common fisheries policy, but were so desperate to get in they sold the pass then as well. Sir Con O’Neill, a senior Foreign Official said "The fisheries question was economic peanuts, but political dynamite", and the fact that 80% of the landings were from Scottish waters was immaterial.
We have yet to see why First Minister Henry McLeish, downgraded the post of Fisheries Minister and tacked it on to another portfolio; perhaps acting under instructions, and him from Methil, too.
RAIDERS OF THE LOST TITLES
 We are pleased that the Private Member’s Bill to abolish landlords’ rights to demand casualty payments from tenants received Parliamentary approval; the Bill was presented by Adam Ingram, SNP MSP, and had the support of the Executive. This is one instance of a wrong which has been crying out for redress, but which gathered dust at Westminster because it was not important, and where have we heard that before?
We hope that the Bill will become law more quickly than Tommy Sheridan’s Warrant Sale Bill; this has been deferred and will not become law until 2002, because the Executive have not as yet come up with the thumbscrews to enforce payment another way. How strange, two pieces of sixteenth century injustice, and the fast track is given to the one which penalises worthy citizens, while the unfortunates are left. That’s the penalty of having Tories masquerading as Labour, or is it the other way about?
ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
The First Minister, in his Sunday newspaper article said "I can assure you that the Government, which is putting in more cash than Professor McCrone recommended, will not be found wanting". So, Mr McLeish acknowledges that the Scottish Executive is the Government (Before he heard from Tony Blair) and that the teachers were going to do all right. Now what has changed in less than a week? Well.there seems to be a dispute between the Executive and COSLA as to who is paying for it all (The taxpayer) and there also seems to be the hand of the English Education Secretary, David Blunkett, interfering somewhere, because apparently England cannot afford it. Mr McConnell, Scottish Education Minister, has publicised the figure of 21.5% over three years, but no details are available; the negotiations have been going on for months, but the meeting to discuss them broke up after five minutes.
Could it be that the money will be given, but at a sacrifice of working conditions? Already there is talk of longer hours and less holidays. Teaching is an extremely stressful occupation and the education system has been chopped and changed, with this or that wonderful and wacky ideas being foisted on teachers and children in the name of progress. At least the Scottish Executive has a chance to get it right. (I am not and never have been a teacher, and my encounters with them in my younger days were not that happy).
FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES
Our Southern reporter tells us that the Ticket Collector who reported Mrs Cherie Blair for travelling without a ticket has been charged with being drunk on duty; he also tells us that the policeman who arrested Euan Blair for being drunk has been charged with possession of drugs.
We expect that the policemen who stopped Jack Straw’s car for speeding will shortly be charged with driving without due care and attention; their defence will be that they were too busy watching their backs.
 On the instructions of the Crown Office, Badar Islam has been given back the £5000 he received from Mohammad Sarwar MP at the time of the 1997 General Election; it was alleged that Mr Sarwar gave the money (in a blue plastic bag), as a bribe, but Mr Sarwar said it was a loan. Mr Sarwar was found not guilty of corruption, but has said he does not want the money back, and Mr Islam can keep it.
Mr Blair is embarrassed at receiving millions of pounds from millionaires, and it becoming public knowledge; it would seem that the Labour Party in Glasgow do things differently.
Puzzled as to why the Scotsman newspaper gave prominence to the choice of children’s names in the UK, with some comment about Scotland, while the Herald gave tables for both Scotland and England.
Well, as the Scotsman published on New Year’s Day when all Scottish shops were closed, we are not puzzled; must help the circulation, but couldn’t find a shop open.
Richard Branson is miffed at not getting the Lottery, and is threatening to set up one of his own.
Most people thought he had; it’s called Virgin Trains.
Scottish local authorities are challenging the Scottish Executive over the proposed award of a maintenance contract for trunk roads to a private company; the Clyde Solway Consortium represents the following authorities: South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, Glasgow, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and West Dunbartonshire. They claim the contract for trunk roads from Gretna to Greenock is worth about £200 million, and 270 full time jobs.
North Lanarkshire Council has signed a 10 year contract with Anglian Water to maintain and repair council houses and public buildings; the deal is worth £325 million.
DATES
IN HISTORY
13 January 603
Death of St Kentigern (or Mungo), patron saint of Glasgow.
16 January 1874
Birth of Robert Service, poet, in Preston, his Scottish father was from
Kilwinning. Raised in Ayrshire he emigrated to Canada and through his
poetry became known as the 'Bard of the Yokon'.
17 January 1746
The Jacobite Army, led by Lord George Murray, defeated Government forces
under General Hawley. The last Jocobite victory.
THE
REBELS CEILIDH SONG BOOK
THE
THISTLE O' SCOTLAND
SUAICHEANTAS NA H-ALBA
(As sung by Willie Main)
O, the Thistle o' scotland was famous of
auld,
Wi' its toorie sae snod and its bristles sae bauld;
Tis the Badge o' my Country, it's aye dear tae me,
and thocht o' them baith brings the licht tae ma e'e.
It's strength and its beauty the storm
never harms;
It stan's on its guard like a warrior in arms;
Yet its down is as saft as the gull's on the sea,
And its tassle as bricht as my Jeanie's blue e'e.
Chorus:
O, my country, what wonder yer fame's gane afar;
For yer sons hae been great baith in peace and in war;
While the sang and the tale live they'll aye win respect,
The lads neath the bonnets wi' thistles bedeckt.
Chorus:
Lang syne the invaders cam owre to our shore,
And fiercely our Thistle they scutched and they tore;
When they maist thocht it deid, twas then it up bore,
And it bloomed on their graves quite as strong as before.
Chorus:
My blessings be yours. Is there Scotcsman ava
Wad stan' by and see ony harm on ye fa' ?
Is there gentle or semple wha lives in our land
Wad refuse to drink health to the Thistle sae grand.
Chrous:
See the Songbook
in our features section
A
KIST O FERLIES
A Keek at the Guid Scots Tung
By Peter D Wright
(Note: All
words underlined in this section are RealAudio links)
See
Scots Language in our Features Section
THE
MONTHLY PRIZE CROSSWORD
Each month the Scots
Independent Newspaper offers a prize crossword and we're now offering this
online in the Flag in the Wind as well. Should you complete
the crossword by the deadline you can fax it over to the SI and the first
correct one opened on the closing date will win a £10.00 book token.
SI Prize Crossword No. 13
[Clicking on the picture will bring
up a life size version which you can copy to your desktop or print out]
AND
AS WE CONTINUE.........
If you read our first issue of The Flag
in the Wind you will know that this is a weekly Internet commentary on
the Scottish political scene; if you desire further erudition click on
Archives.
THE
SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY
The Scots Independent Newspaper is
independent of the Scottish National Party, but we support the Party
in its drive for Independence; while space precludes us commenting on
all the issues raised by the 35 MSPs, 6 MPS and 2 MEPs, also the Party
Office Bearers, we have provided a link to the SNP Website.
THE FLAG
IN THE WIND
The above was the title of a book written
in the early Fifties by John MacDonald MacCormick, one of the founder
members of the Scottish National Party in 1934. The sub-title was
"The Story of the National Movement in Scotland". His comment in
the book said "It is perhaps in the symbols which men use that their
deepest sentiments are most readily expressed. Flags as well as straws
show which way the wind is blowing". A
fuller account appears under Features.
WE WOULD
WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK
The Flag in the Wind would
welcome your feedback on what you think of this weekly service. Happy to
receive any comments or suggestions. Simply email webmaster@scotsindependent.org
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