{"id":645,"date":"2013-04-05T20:59:52","date_gmt":"2013-04-05T20:59:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=645"},"modified":"2015-05-08T21:05:28","modified_gmt":"2015-05-08T21:05:28","slug":"various-irritants-on-april-fools-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scotsindependent.scot\/?p=645","title":{"rendered":"Various irritants on April Fools Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

St Andrews<\/strong><\/h2>\n

On Monday 1st<\/sup> April I was reading with great interest a report about the Principal of St Andrew\u2019s University, expressing her view that \u00a39000 was a good price to pay for a degree from that institution; this, on the front page of the Herald, named the Principal as Professor Louise Richardson.\u00a0 The report continued on Page 2, with a picture of Louise Robertson; in fairness they also did an interview and profile on her on Page 13.
\nSuch slips are commonplace in the Herald these days, but no correction was noted the following day, but then they had another slip that took up that space.
\nI also noted that the university was hailed by the Herald as the alma mater of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge;\u00a0 the Duke was given the title by his granny, and the Duchess hers by marrying him.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In this democratic world we might have expected a mention of\u00a0 another son of that august institution, First Minister Alex Salmond, a person who has made a significant contribution to this country, by his own efforts \u2013 but that\u2019s the Republican in me<\/p>\n

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Alexei Sayle<\/h2>\n

I noted also that Alexei Sayle, a Liverpudlian comedian, has expressed his concern that Scottish Independence will leave England with a permanent Tory government.\u00a0 When we consider that there are 59 Scottish MPs \u2013 only one of them a Tory – and 533 English MPs, then 40 Welsh and 18 Irish it seems that it matters little how the Scots vote.\u00a0 We are a minority in the democratic system, and I cannot remember off hand how many years the Scots voted Labour and were then ruled by the Tories.<\/p>\n

No offence Mr Sayle, but we would like to have the Government we voted for, and not the one elected by your compatriots.<\/p>\n

For instance, \u201cScotland is ruled by a party which has one MP, even if camouflaged by a sad squad of Liberal accomplices\u201d, to quote from the late Jimmy Halliday.<\/p>\n

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Nuclear submarines<\/h2>\n

I also see that plans are being made to break up the 7 decommissioned nuclear submarines left at Rosyth, with all the hazards of nuclear waste.\u00a0 All should remember that the Nuclear submarine base was transferred from Rosyth to Devonport\u00a0 in the 1990s by the then Defence Secretary, Malcolm Rifkind in a previous Tory Government.\u00a0 The justification then was that it would be much cheaper and more convenient.\u00a0 The work required to adapt Devonport ran into billions, but the jobs had gone to the South Coast of England to bolster up Tory votes, and Scotland was left with 7 rotting hulks;\u00a0 England made the gain but Scotland was left with the pain.\u00a0 When half built aircraft carriers can be towed into Rosyth surely the hulks can be towed to Devonport?<\/p>\n

When the Tories lost in 1997, Mr Rifkind lost his seat, in fact there were no Tories elected in Scotland in 1997;\u00a0 unfortunately Labour did nothing to move the hulks either. Mr Rifkind surfaced again in London, Kensington South, I think.\u00a0 I cannot remember if he lost that seat in 2010 but he is now in the House of Lords.<\/p>\n

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Scotland First<\/h2>\n

And lo and behold, has not the current Tory leader in Scotland come up with a braw slogan for the Scottish Tories!\u00a0 I remember back in the Seventies the SNP slogan was \u201cPut Scotland First\u201d, and I was very pleased when in 1974 I got a new car whose registration number was PSF 305 M.\u00a0 I was proud of that, because I was an active member of the SNP, campaigning for Scottish Independence \u2013 no change there.<\/p>\n

Anyone who thinks the Tories could justify a \u201cScotland First\u201d slogan needs their head examined.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Previous month\u2019s editorial<\/strong><\/p>\n

As threatened in previous Flags, here is the latest editorial.<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n

March Editorial<\/b><\/p>\n

The Golden Age for London<\/b><\/h2>\n

Whenever I feel the need to while away the weary hour, I go to my computer and read again the noble words of\u00a0 the then Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, speaking at the Lord Mayor\u2019s Banquet in the Guildhall on 20th<\/sup> June 2007.\u00a0 Mark that date well.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo I congratulate you Lord Mayor and the City of London on these remarkable achievements, an era that history will record as the beginning of a new golden age for the City of London.<\/p>\n

And I believe the lesson we learn from the success of the City has ramifications far beyond the City itself – that we are leading because we are first in putting to work exactly that set of qualities that is needed for global success:<\/p>\n