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CAMPAIGNING FOR SCOTLAND
(Owned, Edited and Printed in Scotland since November 1926)
Compiled by Jim Lynch
[Issue 45 - 13 April 2001]

SHOCK, HORROR, DISMAY!

This was the attitude of the Scottish media at the fact that Sir Sean Connery used the word "Independence" in his speech accepting the William Wallace Award on 5 April 2001 Now even those with the most rudimentary knowledge of Sir Sean Connery are aware that he is and has been committed to Scottish Independence for at least 35 years, and speaking in Washington on the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, it would have been news if he had not mentioned Scottish Independence; however, any time they can knock him, and the Scottish National Party , they will do so.

There was an exception; writing in the Herald, Robbie Dinwoodie said "Nothing rankles more with the Labour Party in Scotland than the fact that the nation’s only true international superstar is a supporter of the SNP." This is undoubtedly the case, and as commented last week Labour have used Sir Sean Connery to suit their own ends; his words on the day, which upset them and their press pals were as follows "And we can do more. Scotland is blossoming once again - coming into its own as a distinctive and, I believe, will soon be an equal and independent member of the community of nations. Sir William Wallace would have liked that. So do I!" 

Full text of Sir Sean’s address can be seen here!

You can see the SI's tribute to US Tartan Day 2001 here

AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

Well, we do think that the whole issue of an Ambassador to America is rather extraordinary, as SNP proposals for Scottish representation in Embassies abroad have always met with scorn from the Labour Party, the Tory Party, the second class Tories (better known as the Lib Dems) and the whole London establishment in general. Of course, this proposal comes from the First Minister, Henry McLeish, and has just as predictably been greeted with scorn by Westminster MPs and the Tories, who have no Westminster MPs; the Lib Dems have not yet been told how to treat it.

The idea has a great deal of merit; Scotland has suffered from a lack of representation abroad, particularly as far as tourism is concerned, and a civil servant dedicated to promoting Scotland and based at the British Embassy has been welcomed by the British Ambassador in Washington. It is intended that the diplomat, whoever he or she might be, will report directly to the Scottish government, bypassing the Foreign Office.

We do understand the fears of the Unionist parties; they believe that all things should run through London, irrespective of whether that works to Scotland’s detriment, as it does in most cases. Think of the mess London made of fishing as just one example, but London must have control, and the implementation of dedicated Scottish representative in Embassies in many capital cities would send a clear signal that Scotland would do her own thing, and not be hidebound by London. It terrifies the Unionists, who see the prospect of power evaporating.

The SNP welcomed the proposal, even if we were a bit sceptical about how Henry McLeish pulled it out of his hat; it would seem that it was news to his Labour Cabinet colleagues as well. They read about it first in the press; this puts Mr McLeish on a par with Mr Tony Blair, as his Cabinet colleagues, and Her Majesty the Queen (God bless her) learned that the election was postponed by reading it in the Sun. We also think that Mr Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, may not be amused; in April 1999, he said "The SNP’s divorce plans (A la Sir Sean Connery) mean that their first priority would have to be embassies abroad , not education at home."

However, there are sinister portents around; the Daily Record, which has always opposed the Parliament, is scathing about Mr McLeish’s proposals, and in fact it spends so much venom on this it sounds like a Tory paper!

AND SPEAKING OF EDUCATION...

It would seem that all is not well with our old acquantance, the Scottish Qualifications Authority. You may recall that last year it made an appalling mess of the Scottish examination system, and left thousands of pupils waiting for their results, and thousands of pupils getting the wrong results. Despite reassurances from dear old Uncle Sam (No, not the American one, Sam Galbraith the Minister who said he was not in charge) the whole of last year’s examination programme was a shambles; the Chief Executive, Ron Tuck, resigned, the Board of Directors was fired by Jack McConnell when he took over from Mr Galbraith, and we were assured that everything would be put right for this year

About £800000 is to be paid to local authorities to compensate them for the losses they incurred last year due to the SQA mess; the SQA is already £3 million over budget after spending additional money on new computer systems and bringing in extra staff, so that will put it at nearly £4 million. They have also appointed three new general managers to oversee finance, information services and human resources; they will be paid about £50000 a year each and the appointments have caused uproar among current staff, as it is being alleged that some of the appointees did not even apply for the posts. The chief executive, Mr Bill Morton, has refused to give concrete assurances about the performance of the SQA, but says it will be better than last year, not a particularly difficult benchmark, one would have thought.

A document produced by the trade unions representing SQA staff is anything but reassuring; this highlights poor relations between management and staff, serious misgivings about data management, higher workloads with no extra cash, information technology unable to cope, stress and morale problems, and bonuses for senior staff, but not for the PBI (poor bloody infantry - to use an army expression). Michael Russell, Shadow Minister for Children & Education, has asked Jack McConnell, the Education Minister, if he has approved the £10000 bonuses for senior managers if things go well. Mr Russell said no information on the bonuses had been given to the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee, which has been keeping a close eye on the Scottish Qualifications Authority

We are not sure if the Committee knows why the examination papers are being printed in England again this year, in spite of last year’s substantial delivery problems; the official answer given was "Security", which means they trust the English more than the Scots..

It looks as if there is a lot of whistling in the dark going on, and more than whistling. There could be trouble ahead.

STUC IN THE PAST

Just like old times, the Scottish Trade Union Congress met in Aberdeen; it looked as if the meeting was full, but as everyone was sitting at tables, this filled the hall nicely. The First Minister, Mr Henry McLeish, did attend and speak, going on about "Hard choices", and somehow equating that phrase with ignoring votes in the Scottish Parliament, better known as "Keep voting till we get what we want"; we suppose that as the meeting was in Aberdeen he had to say something about fishing, but it is not clear what he did say!

Mrs Helen Liddell, current Secretary of State for Scotland, also addressed the meeting, and her remarks were directed first against the Tory Party in general and Sir Malcolm Rifkind in particular; Riffers in a newspaper reply, because he was not invited to the Congress, said something to the effect that Mrs Liddell should be careful about what people were doing 10 years ago! ( 10 years ago, Mrs Liddell was the personal assistant of the thief Robert Maxwell.) A slip of the cursor almost had me spelling Liddell with two small ls at the front, in the same way as I seem to recall her assistant George ffoulkes spelling his name in the late Sixties.

So what is Mrs Liddell up to? Well, she attacked the SNP by trotting out the 1979 vote of confidence when an inept Labour government lost, because Callaghan refused to make the Devolution issue (Their policy) a three line whip, and thus forfeited SNP support, having already scunnered the Liberals. The SNP voted on an issue of principle, an unknown trait in the Labour Party. So quite simply, she has to talk up the Tories; people in the Labour Party and the Tories do not like considering that anyone else can muscle in on the act, and Mrs Liddell knows that the Tories have absolutely no chance of forming the government at the next election. However, this would mean that the Scots would feel free to vote SNP, so she has to frighten them with a non existent Tory bogeyman. (Yes, we know William Hague helps!) She used again the phrase "Hague’s little helpers", a bit of an inconsistency when she’s promoting Hague’s policies, and in direct opposition to Henry McLeish, who is being accused of promoting SNP policies; maybe they should talk!

AND NOT INVITED TO THE FEAST

So here we have the Scottish Trade Union Congress, meeting in Aberdeen, within a few weeks of a General Election, and they invite Henry McLeish, Labour First Minister, and Mrs Helen Liddell, Labour Secretary of State for Scotland, but they do not invite John Swinney, Leader of the SNP. John did attend the Congress, and spoke to a fringe meeting of Scottish trade unionists about the threat to Scottish jobs posed by the government’s commitment to the Private Finance Initiative. This of course, was something Labour were bitterly opposed to in opposition, and have now out toried the Tories. In his address, John said "The Tories used Scotland as a guinea pig to test the Poll Tax, and now New Labour are using Scotland in exactly the same way to test PFI funding of health and school building projects.

"The SNP, by contrast, have proposed building badly needed schools and hospitals through a not for profit Scottish Trust for Public Investment, which could access money far more cheaply and strip out the private profit premium." Now there’s a thought; the Labour Party are trying to deflect criticism by renaming Private Finance Initiative as Public Private Partnerships, PPP - so let us call their PPP as Private Profit Premium.

John Swinney said that a Scottish Trust for Public Investment would save the Scottish taxpayer £3 billion on current PFI deals.

One of these days we look forward to the STUC representing the interest of Scottish workers, and ceasing to be the voice of the Labour Party; it is likely that most members of unions do not support Labour, and it is perhaps time for another campaign to stop Trade Union members from paying the political levy, which goes straight to the Labour Party.

Request that the rule to allow members to "Opt in" to the political contribution, rather than having to "Opt out" have been consistently refused; we wonder what the European Commission on Human Rights would think about that?

DOUBLESPEAK

We referred last week under Foot in the Mouth Notes to the fact that Ms Wendy Alexander, the Minister for Enterprise had issued a press statement that £6.5 million of European money would be available for help with the foot and mouth crisis, when in fact the money had nothing at all to do with foot and mouth. The issue was raised again by Christine Grahame SNP MSP for the South of Scotland; during the statement in the Scottish Parliament on EU Structural Funding on Thursday, Ms Grahame said "Wendy Alexander has misled people and businesses in the South of Scotland about financial support during the foot and mouth crisis and that is an extremely serious issue. On Monday, she issued a press release linking European money to helping businesses in the South of Scotland affected by the foot and mouth crisis. But the package announced this morning has nothing to do with foot and mouth. Business men and women in the South of Scotland need honesty and delivery from Ministers - not recycling and spin."

The package was not announced by Ms Alexander of course; she got the headline then went to America, where she was infuriated by the Scottish Parliament video produced for Tartan Day because it was "Too nationalistic", and she left the hapless Finance Minister, Angus Mackay to carry the can for her opportunism. The money is to help build a 256 seater cinema and for transport measures.

Ms Alexander did appear on the Holyrood programme on Sunday, and while I watched it I had to wait for the Monday papers to know what she said. And for why? Well if I am trying to get away with something I unconsciously speak very quickly, and Ms Alexander was speaking very quickly indeed. She reminded me of some newsreaders, mainly on commercial radio, whom I am convinced are on piece work as they must be paid for as many words as they can cram in, whether they can be understood or not. However, I tend to think of it as managementconsultantspeak, where by the time the brain catches up with what is being said the speaker is on to something else but "You have been informed".

It would seem that Ms Alexander was defending the appointment of "Ambassadors" by Henry McLeish, but that would be before she read the Daily Record. (See above)

AND VAT CAN BE DONE?

Shadow Enterprise Minister, Kenny MacAskill MSP, and Alastair Morgan, the SNP’s MP and MSP for Galloway and Upper Nithsdale, made the following proposals; current EU legislation allows VAT on certain goods and services to be reduced from 17.5% to 5%, and the SNP propose to implement this reduction across the tourism sector, making accommodation and visitor attractions 12.5% cheaper. People are being asked to holiday and home , and we also need to bring back people from abroad, and the SNP sees cutting prices as the best way of doing this.

Alastair Morgan said "In the face of this crisis, long term success of Scottish tourism is dependent on short term survival. The number of people through the doors over the coming few months will be critical to the hard pressed industry."

The statement listed the EU Directives which allowed for the variation in the rates, and said that tourism is worth £2.5 billion a year to Scotland, and employs 180000 people; losses in the sector as a result of foot and mouth are estimated at about £335 million. It indicated that short breaks are Scotland’s primary market, and that the average expenditure on a spring holiday in Scotland is £450.

PRICE REDUCTION COMPARISON

We know that the Treasury is awash with money, and it could just be that as the General Election has been deferred and the Chancellor will worry about voters forgetting just how "generous" he was in giving some of their own money back, well here’s a way to boost government popularity. (You have to appeal to the politician’s better instincts, and never mind political expediency.)

We do not know what the attitude of the Scottish Tourist Board will be to this proposal, but as they are telling their Quality Assurance inspectors to avoid going to Dumfries and Galloway, we should perhaps be questionning their judgment; the local MP & MSP, Alastair Morgan is jumping mad at their attitude. "This sort of attitude is frankly ridiculous and I have called on the Tourism Minister to ensure the policy is reversed, to explain why this ruling was put in place in the first instance and to make public the view of the STB on Dumfries and Galloway

He concluded "Instead of avoiding the area the STB should be promoting it as it remains an excellent tourist destination for visitors from Scotland and further afield."

FOOT IN THE MOUTH NOTES

The 15 minute video produced by the Scottish Executive for the American market at a cost of £30000, and including clips of Sir Sean Connery and items about Bruce and Wallace, is apparently to be scrapped. The reasons range from the TV companies want to be paid for showing it, to the inclusion of the song Dixie; although unbeknownst to many on this side of the Atlantic, and a lot on the other side, the Confederate song is strongly associated with pro slavery.

We are not sure if the Scottish Executive is employing the Countess of Wessex’s public relations company or not.

A recent research survey in Aberdeen has shown that people with higher levels of intelligence live longer.

I seem to recall some years ago a similar survey showed that people of higher intelligence were more likely to be unhappy; maybe their lives just seem longer.

Scots have a notoriously unhealthy diet, and suffer record levels of heart disease.

We think that the Executive’s refusal for a tie up scheme for fishing boats is part of a cunning health plan to do away with fish suppers, a staple part of the diet.

Listening to some commentators, we cannot understand why the US Secretary of State has not been given a higher profile in the spy plane dispute with China, as he obviously is related.

They keep referring to Ko Linn Powell.

The spy plane incident, and the US reaction is causing alarm all round the world, with fears of a return to the Cold War.

I suppose that’s the problem of a Bush in the China shop.

The press has been fulsome about Tesco the supermarket giant creating new jobs, 900 in Scotland over the next six months.

It does not appear to have dawned on the aforesaid press that people only eat a certain amount of food, and 900 jobs created means more than 900 jobs lost elsewhere; the correct term should be job transfer.

We note that Alastair Morrison, the Tourism Minister, is on holiday in Italy this week, but we make no comment.

We are sure that the political commentators are all whiter than white; it is appropriate this week to say "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

There is news this week that the trade dispute between Britain and the United States over bananas has now been settled.

Neither Britain nor the United States grow bananas.

SCOTTISH FOOD, TRADITIONS AND CUSTOMS

The custom of giving eggs at the time of the Spring Equinox was known to the early Egyptians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Gauls and many other people. This ancient fertility symbol was adapted by early Christianity in connection with the miracle of the Resurrection and the Feast of Eggs became attached to the celebration of Easter. In Scotland eggs were also used in the Beltane rites ( 1 May ), and like bannocks, were rolled downhill in imitation of the movement of the sun. In Christian times, the rolling of the egg is supposed to represent the rolling away of the the stone from the tomb of the risen Christ.

See our Scottish Food, Traditions and Customs in our Features section

DATES IN HISTORY

THE REBELS CEILIDH SONG BOOK

Auld Lang Syne
(Burns)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And days of auld lang syne?

Chorus
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We twa hae run about the braes
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fitt,
Sin' auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine:
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere!
Andgie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waughs
For auld lang syne.

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)

• cauf kintra: birth-place; native district

• fyle: befoul; deface; make dirty

• hert: heart

• oo: wool

• oo-mull: tweed mill

• stirup-dram: parting drink

• Steik ane's hert: Harden one's heart
  
  He played the pipes in Aiberdeen
  Fin I wis a bit loon,
  An pipes an temper, weel-a-wat,
  War aften oot o tune.
  
  His favourite springs war "Monymus",
  "The Braes o Tullimet",
  He'd mairch to "Aden's Barren Rock"
  Till reamin owre wi sweat.
  
  frae 'The Piper o Aiberdeen' - George Abel

See Scots Language in our Features Section
for other poems, stories, sayings and words in the Scots language

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. 16
[Clicking on the picture will bring up a life size version which you can copy to your desktop or print out]