The Scottish Executive, 1999-2007

SNP are only dull, gray socialists with an unpleasant sense of nationalistic inferiority. The sleazy Blair et al are responsible for allowing a Scots sense of victimisation to develop into a nascent independence movement in Scotland, thus possibly destroying one of the most successful and tolerant unions in the history of civilisation. I say this as someone who had Scottish grandparents, a half Scots wife, and Scots relations living in that lovely, if soggy, country. I love Scotland. As much as they dislike Westminster, the mere fact that the ‘Scottish government’ sidelines the ancient symbols is an indication of how like New Labour the SNP really are. In thrall to the new, the false god of the future and youth, they are tartan obsessed pygmies with no sense of history. They have no idea of how much better it is to be British and Scots, than to be merely the whingeing citizens of a small, foggy, cold outpost of Europe lashed by the North Sea, with the political and emotional impact on the world stage as perhaps Latvia has. Arthur Hermann, the Georgetown history professor, said all the formidible energies and genius of Scotland were frustrated and largely unknown until the country united with England. English money and tolerance gave the Scots wings and they “made the modern world”. If the end of the United Kingdom is imminent, it is as powerful an example of something ending with a whimper I can think of.

Too true, Andrew; too true. But our Beloved Comrade wants to make a ‘government’ to rival (and even depose in the affection of the Scottish public) that of Westminster… silly man that he is!

And to think that the Rt Hon Alex Salmond went to St Andrews, you’d think that he’d have more appreciation for tradition. Bah!

David:

Factually, Blairism has little to do with it. The failure of the 1979 devolution referendum maybe has more to do with it… Or Thatcher’s use of Scotland as perennial guinea-pig. After all, a Labour government did pass the Scotland Act (not that I support Labour…..).

Agree with the heraldry bit, but the name change is one of the best things the SNP has done.
It may be bland, but it does inspire confidence and responsibility in the devolved parliament, whereas the Executive name was meaningless to most people.

Plus the decision to not call it the Scottish Government right from the start was obviously political – best not to let the natives get ideas above their station :)