Where’s the euphoria? Are Boris Johnson and Michael Grove doing leps and yips inside but showing the world their sober face, in case people might see them as power-hungry fanatics gloating in victory? Or are they in fact genuinely a bit scared at the monster they’ve created, which threatens to run havoc through Britain, including putting at risk the composition of the UK itself? Hard to say – I’d lean towards the first, given the monstrous egos of both men.
Meanwhile, the word this morning is that Nicola Sturgeon figures the Scottish Assembly must give its imprimatur to the BREXIT referendum result, and she won’t be encouraging her members to do any such thing. What applies to Scotland may well apply here too. Mike Nesbitt and Colum Eastwood were both on TV this morning, making noises that suggest the Stormont Assembly also has a say. In fact, we were told that the Westminster parliament could vote on the referendum results and, if they defeated the motion, then bingo! The crisis wouldn’t have got off the ground.
Except that it’d look odd for the Mother Parliament to dance to the tune played by a regional assembly, much less to fly in the face of public opinion in the form of the referendum result. That said, there may well be those who voted BREXIT would welcome the chance to change their minds.
One thing is out in the open: Nicola Sturgeon seems intent on holding another Scottish independence referendum. Yeah, you say, and the Scots will bottle it again. They always do when it comes down to the wire. And you could be right. But consider this. A poll in the Sunday Post, which is a fairly conservative newspaper with a readership mainly of older people, has just reported that 59% of its readers would vote Yes in a second independence referendum. The Sunday Herald, which would have a younger readership profile, reports that 80% would vote Yes. And the Daily Record, which was opposed to Scottish independence last time out, has declared that were a second referendum held, it would recommend a Yes to Scottish independence.
It’s no exaggeration to describe the BREXIT outcome as a political bomb-shell. As Gerry Adams tweeted shortly after the results were announced: ‘Interesting times’.
Seems England went on a bender, got absolutely smashed, woke up wondering who was in the bed with them, rushed out to the nearest NHS Special Clinic, whose staff panicked and is trying to storm the Channel Tunnel and beg for asylum in France.
I’ve just been watching a Sunday afternoon, relaxed home interview on Sky News with Michael Heseltine.
Sitting comfortably in his warm rural mansion, with an ordnance survey map of his land on the wall behind him, he pontificates to working class people, about the perils of the exit.
I rest my case.
Jim Sillars, former SNP, campaigner for a brexit, stated the day before the vote that Nicola sturgeon hadn’t got a mandate to call a referendum in the event of a brexit. In her last manifesto it was merely stated that in the event of a brexit, a 2nd referendum ‘could be considered’. Thus the SNP were elected on that manifesto. They can’t go to Downing Street and say they have a mandate. A new general election would have to happen to obtain that mandate. Bottom line is Downing Street don’t have to grant her demand………that’s unless Downing Street want to of course, but that’s another matter.
I’ve never seen so many smacked are faces after a victory.
Priceless seeing Máirtín Ó Muilleoir on BBC NI this morning lecturing Theresa on her irresponsiblity – and herself looking like she had just been caught with her fingers in the till.
Fintan O’Toole writing in the Guardian (24.6.16) described the Good Friday Agreement as:
“…the greatest modern achievement of British diplomacy…”
He went on to state that:
“English nationalists have placed a bomb under the peace process…I never imagined then that I would ever feel bitter about England again. But I do feel bitter now, because England has done a very bad day’s work for Ireland. It is dragging Irish history along in its triumphal wake, like tin cans tied to a wedding car.
All but a few diehards had learned to live with the partition of the island of Ireland…”
Perhaps Mr O’Toole ought to reflect on the role played by others in the negotiations that led to the Good Friday Agreement and the fact that it was the threat of more guns and gunboats that forced many people to live with partition. Comments about partition made by Mary Lou McDonald were also hastily stifled today, during RTÉ’s, The Week In Politics.
Emotional reactions, Trump soundbites and turmoil in the Labour Party are poor substitutes for a proper analysis of the thinking that led to the spectacular failure of Turf Accountants to back Brexit. It would also be interesting to know how many individuals have been killed or maimed in the Middle East since Hilary Benn spoke in support of air strikes in Syria in 2015.
It remains a fact that thousands of individuals resent austerity measures being imposed throughout Europe by faceless, unelected bureaucrats. Citizens and some Trade Union leaders, remain disillusioned with a range of political leaders and more importantly are prepared to challenge political orthodoxy and vote for alternative political leaders and structures. It is refreshing to hear and see Ms Sturgeon articulate the issue of sovereignty and democratic accountability in Scotland with a sense of urgency and determination.
Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.
would someone please ask Martin mc Guinness if he would like the queen of england to pay his massive sallary in sterling or euros?
typo “Ive never seen so many smacked arse faces after a victory.”
Scottish media are upping the ante in the hope of rowing in the brexit camp. They’ll calm down once the picture becomes more clear – I.e access to free market and free movement are signed up to.
You have a sensible head Cal
England are in a position of strength and in time it will become clear who the nugget heads are
I look forward to the downfall of the EU, Scotland will never be in it
Sturgeon is bluffing just like SF. The establishment which they are part of were caught out and I do agree it is amusing to witness the slapped arse faces of the ‘good guys’. Not only that, the bullying,shouting,intimidation by the ‘good guys’ on those who voted leave really does reveal their hypocrisy. The gravy train is being derailed and they arnt happy and now democracy is to be rejected. A re run of the referendum could really divide and embitter the British people even more.
Bottom line is thus, rather than calling 17 million odd people racist and bigots perhaps they could address the real reasons they voted leave. Working class communities voted in their droves; they arnt all bigots. They might not have attended universities but that doesn’t mean they havnt any intelligence. In fact judging by the rubbish taught in schools etc these days they probably have more wit than the academics.
If you believe the spiel that’s doing the rounds that people that voted leave are now signing a petition for a re run cos they ‘didn’t know’ what they were doing then you’ll believe anything. The arrogance to claim older folk selfishly stole young people’s future is disgraceful. What I knew and believed 20 yrs ago compared to now allows me to believe older people understand more. Alas this arrogance, in which our youth have been sucked into, is primarily why people voted leave I.e me me me. Greed is good. The old people are a waste of time and resources. It’s no wonder the EU is permitting euthanasia…….cull the useless eaters and prevent them causing anymore upsets to the EU program.
These young people may well thank the ‘selfish old people’ for this vote. After all they’ll be old one day too and of course they havnt noticed yet, but the future of the elderly isn’t going to get any easier that’s for sure.
It is indeed bullshit. Any attempt to force a rerun will lead to rioting and destruction on the streets. There is no going back.
Scotland does want independence, but they would not have the bottle to go into Europe without England.
In fact I would strongly recommend that they didn’t and that Ireland also didn’t.
They will be chewed up by the EU and both countries will be emasculated.
The UK is finished though, we have a choice to create a new one on both islands or to abandon England and stick with Europe.
If the deal was right, I would prefer Britain and Ireland stuck together outside of the EU.
It is the best opportunity we will ever have to unite this island and redefine the relationship we want between the nations of both islands.
I do not want Ireland to end up no different than the state of California is to the US and that is what we will become consumed within Europe.
The majority of people who voted Yes to Scottish Independence in 2014 were young people and the majority of No voters were older people. To see now that a majority of older people may vote Yes to Scottish Independence and a large majority of younger people will vote yes too, then that is clearly grounds for a new referendum. Of course that doesn’t include the fact Scotland is being dragged out of the EU against its will, which should make a second Indy referendum inevitable. Every single region in Scotland voted to remain. Where as every single region in Wales voted for Brexit. You see a clear and deep divide in Britain.
There was talk Scotland could veto a Brexit but I cant see that happening because then the English/Welsh could say they are being stuck in the EU against their will. The only way that Scotland can stay in the EU now is if they go for Independence and I think that’s likely now. Back in 2014 most polls regarded a Scottish exit from the UK as “unlikely”, its now changed to “Likely”. If a vote was held tomorrow for Scottish Independence I would say 60-40 would vote for Independence, and hence the break up of the UK. In some ways I don’t think the likes of Boris Johnson would care if Scotland (and the North of Ireland) left the UK, that would just ensure that England/Wales would always have a Tory Government and would be better off economically.
So where would that leave the North of Ireland if Scotland left the UK? As Sam McBride of the Newsletter said last night on TV (with a worried look on his face): “that would cause very serious talks about Northern Ireland’s future with Dublin to be held very quickly and it would destabilize everything if Scotland were to go Independent”…..
Interesting times, indeed…..
Unfortunately there is nothing that the devolved administrations can do about it as all matters concerning external relations are a reserved matter for Westminster.
The Brexit camp campaigned on the basis that the EU was undemocratic without ever giving a thought that the only part of the so called UK with any power is England and what the English decide the rest of us have to put up with no matter how much we dislike it.
It just goes to show how ineffectual and unimportant the Assembly is, as at the end of the day they are subject to the whims of the English electorate.
“Meanwhile, the word this morning is that Nicola Sturgeon figures the Scottish Assembly must give its imprimatur to the BREXIT referendum result, and she won’t be encouraging her members to do any such thing”.
It is feasible that should the Scottish government refuse to ratify Brexit that the only mechanism for Westminister to enforce Brexit would be to dissolve the devolved institutions.
Now how would that make the Scottish feel?
Angry yes, but now without the administration to constitutionally organise for their own independence. If I were an SNP official I would organise their own national referendum before Westminster removes their ability to do so.
“It is feasible that should the Scottish government refuse to ratify Brexit that the only mechanism for Westminister to enforce Brexit would be to dissolve the devolved institutions.”
No it’s not.