St Andrew's Day

Today is November 30th, St Andrew's Day. Scotland's National Day.

It's not an official public holiday here, although it is being observed in certain quarters. Moves are afoot to make it a holiday.

Next year, there will be elections for the Scottish Parliament, for the 3rd time since certain powers were devolved from central government in London to the Scottish Executive. The current Scottish administration is a mixture of Labour and Liberal Democrats, with Conservatives and Scottish Nationalists (SNP) in the opposition. It is deemed likely that the SNP will make substantial gains in the May 2007 poll, and could even form an administration.

The SNP wants independence for Scotland from the rest of the United Kingdom [which incorporates England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland]. The year 2007 carries special significance, as the Act of Union between England and Scotland was enacted in 1707, i.e. 300 years ago. In order for independence to work, Scotland needs a sound economic base. The SNP leader, Alex Salmond proposes to take the oil revenues from platforms in the North Sea to Scotland, away from the UK.

That isn't going to happen.
Is it now. Central government in London, ceding the oil millions to Edinburgh?
Like heck they will.

The SNP play on Scots nationalist feelings, with figures like Sean Connery (he who couldn't master the Lord of the Rings plot, only to lose out on a quarter of a billion), hearkening back to historic figures like Bonnie Prince Charlie and William Wallace. All fine and dandy.

The only thing is that the rivalry between England and Scotland is proverbial. The depth of this negativity came sharply into focus during the Football World Cup this summer. England were in the finals, Scotland were not. People in Scotland who decorated themselves in English colours (the flag of St George) were assaulted; the images of the disabled man and the 7-year old boy who suffered that fate are a painful memory. It is stupid beyond belief, because England and Scotland are constituent parts of the United Kingdom.

Separating Scotland would only fan those flames, and is economically speaking nonsensical. Devolution has worked reasonably well, helping to focus on Scottish issues. The infamous Mid Lothian question still needs to be addressed. This is the issue where Scottish MPs are allowed to vote in the UK parliament on matters pertaining only to England, whereas English MPs do not have the same rights regarding Scotland, as the debates on Scottish affairs are now conducted in Edinburgh, out of reach of English MPs, if you like.

Leaving all this tedious politics to one side, I would like to wish Scots, home and abroad (you're better off abroad with the weather we're having today, check this link) a happy St Andrews Day.