At the weekend there were two stories dominating the news. The protest during the Olympic flame relay in London and, also in the 'smoke', the news that Prince Philip had been admitted to hospital with a chest infection. As a new week begins, the story dominating the news bulletins tonight is that the long running inquest into the deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and her companian Dodi Al Fayed has returned a verdict of 'Unlawful Killing'. As opposed to what other kind of killing, I'm not entirely sure. But the huge cost involved for the inquest and the cost of keeping Phil the Greek in a hospital bed for a couple of nights will doubtless be passed on to us - the taxpayer. And at this point, I feel the need for another rant.
As a Scottish nationalist, I've often asked the question - what does the British royal family actually do for Scotland? In my view, not a great deal. Scotland, on the other hand, provides royal residency at Holyrood Palace, here in Edinburgh, Balmoral in north-east Scotland and at the Castle of Mey in Caithness. There are probably others but I can't be bothered to mention them although like thousands of other Scots, my taxes do help pay for their upkeep.
I heard on BBC Radio Five Live at the weekend that Prince Philip, despite being in his eighties, keeps rude health as does his octaganerian wife, Liz. The Queen Mother lived for over one hundred years and we're supposed to admire the longevity of a family whom, history decrees, shoud never have been in the position they are in any case (the abdication of King Edward VIII in 1936 saw to that) Republicans like me will see it as hardly surprising the Royals enjoy such good health - we taxpayers are paying for their healthcare.
When Scotland does achieve independence - and the day is not far off now - I sincerely hope that the next step is to make our nation a republic. The Royal family are an expensive millstone round our nation's neck. Many people in Scotland live in poverty and in poor health - the two are not unconnected - whilst millions of pounds is spent every year keeping the Windsor family in the luxury to which they're accustomed. Money that is taken from the hard working people of Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, money that we could all do with in the daily struggle to make ends meet.
I don't care if Prince Philip has a bit of a cough. I'm not bothered if Prince Harry returns to active duty with the army in Iraq. And I'm not particularly interested in the outcome of an inquest into the deaths of two people more than a decade ago. What I do care about is the people of Scotland. Particularly those living in poverty and those desperately trying to avoid it.
That's what should be making the news headlines in this country.
4 comments:
Your not a Rangers man are you mate, hmmm?
Is it not the case that you and I are elder statesmen of the wee huns?
Two mistakes here
'Elder' appears a misnomer where we are concerned.
'Wee huns' do not exist.
Well, they would not exist if I was given that Kalashnikov at Xmas.....
News is increasingly sensational and enterinfotainment focussed. We are about to enter a more focussed discussion about booting the Queen and her family out of a role in Australia. Probably another five years I would say.
Couldn't agree with you more about independence. Scotland just has to go for it. There will never be a good time. A good time would have been 20 years ago. Lots of oil revenues and EEC money. Less of that around now. Look what Ireland did without the oil money.
Post a Comment