Scotland Be Brave

At the end of February, the UK government decided to hold a cabinet meeting outside London's Downing Street. They headed for Portlethen, a few miles south of Aberdeen. In Scotland. Those of you who read my inane ramblings from outside the UK may ask what is particularly noteworthy about this. Well, this is the second time the UK government has held a cabinet meeting in Scotland. The second time, that is, in 90 years. The fact the people of Scotland will vote in a referendum in less than seven months from now, on 18th September, on whether to become an independent nation is, I'm sure, a pure coincidence...

There has been a fair amount of rhetoric emanating from London in recent weeks about how Scotland would be better off remaining as part of the UK. The independence referendum has been on the agenda since the Scottish National Party won an overall majority in the Scottish Parliamentary elections in 2011 but it's as if the powers-that-be in London have only just realised a history-making decision is imminent.

Scotland hasn't just changed in the last few months or since the SNP came to power. It's a country that has changed since the days of the Thatcher government, when the Scots felt they were being treated like second class citizens. Most Scots voted for the Labour Party in the 1980s. They saw this as the best way to get rid of the despised Margaret Thatcher whose policies changed Britain as a country. However, millions of people in the south and south-east of England adored Thatcher and what she stood for - the term 'free enterprise' was prevalent at the time which was a metaphor for making money no matter what the social consequences - and the Conservatives waltzed into power in three general elections.

It was clear the Scots were fed up of being governed - and dictated to - by a government few of them had voted for. So, three decades later, the momentum is such that Scotland's people will, for the first time, choose their own destiny rather than have it decided for them by people they didn't elect in London.

The latest opinion polls have the 'No' campaign ahead. However, the gap is narrowing. It seems panic has set in for the Prime Minister and Alistair Darling, head of the Better Together campaign. They have come out with a whole raft of claims in an attempt to demean the case for independence  - with many of their arguments having the opposite effect and encouraging people, particularly young people, to vote 'Yes' come 18 September.

The Better Together campaign has, predictably, seized on comments from the European Commissioner José Manuel Barroso who said it would be very difficult for an independent Scotland to gain entry to the European Union. It's worth noting that Barroso is Portuguese. Portugal's neighbours are Spain who are determined not to let Catalonia have a similar referendum of independence. The Better Together people have ignored this and cited Barroso's comments as another reason for Scotland remaining part of the UK. However, after the next UK General Election, where the likelihood is Scotland will be stuck with another government no one here has voted for, there are plans for another referendum where the people will be asked if the UK should remain in or pull out of the European Union. In essence, if the Scots say no to independence, citing so-called vulnerability for being out of the EU as a reason, they may find the UK pulling out in any case. Again, it matters not what the Scots want in any EU referendum - it will be the people of England who will decide for us.

The Better Together campaign keep saying Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond is not prepared to tell us what currency we will be using and has no Plan B. The currency 'issue' has been thrown in as a scare tactic by Westminster. There is no reason why an independent Scotland would not remain in pound sterling which, as the currency of the UK as it stands, is as much Scotland's currency as the rest of the UK.  Would the London based government really put English (and Welsh and Northern Irish) businesses at serious risk by saying you can't do business in sterling with Scotland?

Days after Westminster said Scotland wouldn't be able to keep the pound, David Cameron was in Scotland telling everyone that it would be better for everyone if the oil was protected and administered by Westminster. This is principally because, without North Sea oil revenue, the pound sterling would be in crisis. It's also worth remembering that if there is a Yes vote then Scotland won't be independent until 2016.  It's AFTER the vote that the debt/currency/taxation issues start to get ironed out and they'll be the manifesto promises from the parties wanting to run the independent Scotland. The present diatribe from the Tories in England is self-protection. But what about Standard Life's threat to pull out of an independent Scotland I hear you ask? The crucial bit here is that Standard Life have said they may relocate if Scotland doesn't get the currency union it is entitled to. That's one helluva big 'if'. The pound sterling is as much Scotland's as it is the rest of the UK. Financial organisations like Standard Life are uncomfortable with change. They'll have five year business plans in place which may need to be revised should Scotland become independent  -  and even at that the rules and regulations in Scotland would need to change from how they are at the moment. And there's no reason to suggest that will happen.

Alistair Darling came out with a memorable quote when he said “People have to understand that, if the polls say yes, there is no going back. The result is binding.” This is one of the few statements Darling has said which I agree with.  How many countries who have gained their independence in modern times have wanted to return to their previous status? You could ask a Better Together campaigner but the answer you will get is 'none'.

Darling's former boss, ex Prime Minister Gordon Brown has also joined the 'no' campaign. Are we seriously expected to trust the economic advice of the man who, as Chancellor, masterminded the collapse of the economy? The man integral in changing the regulations to allow greed and corruption in the financial sector? The man who now says Scotland couldn't afford to be independent? Brown has come out with a plan to devolve more tax-raising powers to Scotland if there is a no vote. How generous  - but one must ask why he didn't come up with this plan when he had the power to do so i.e. when he was Prime Minister.

I've heard some Labour supporters say they've become disillusioned with the Labour Party and would vote 'Yes' come September 18th - only they don't like Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond or some of the policies of the Scottish National Party. This is somewhat missing a very important point. The referendum in September is not about Alex Salmond or the SNP government. It's about deciding whether Scotland should be an independent country or not. If it's a 'Yes' vote, there will be a general election in Scotland to decide who will govern the country. Personally, I'm not overly concerned about who the next government of Scotland is. Labour, SNP, Lib-Dems, Scottish Socialists, Greens - I would say Conservatives but that's stretching things - it matters not to me. I just want Scotland to govern itself and not be run by London as a kind of afterthought. It's a misconception to think voting 'Yes' is a vote for Salmond and the SNP - it isn't.

There are less than six months to go until Scotland's future is decided - by the people of Scotland. An opportunity to have a better Scotland, one that controls  its own matters, one where the people of Scotland are placed first. Yes, an independent Scotland will make mistakes and errors of judgement. But these will be by Scots and not an old Etonian in London who only comes north of Hadrian's Wall when he has to.

I sincerely hope that, in the years that follow the referendum, Scots aren't struggling with their lives; dismayed by being governed by politicians hundreds of miles away, the majority of whom don't really care about Scotland; aren't despising another Conservative government making its 'tough decisions' on Scotland - you can be sure even if the whole of Scotland votes Labour in 2015 the government of the UK will be decided the hugely populated south of England. And aren't regretting that, in September 2014, they passed up the chance of several lifetimes.

Scotland the Brave is a famous anthem. In September, Scots can opt for a better future, one of hope, one which will be determined by Scots themselves. Don't be frightened by the scare stories emanating from London. We can do it. We just need to have faith in ourselves, our own ability to determine our own future - not have it decided for us by London. I want my two daughters and four grandchildren to have a great future, one they can look forward to with hope, optimism and pride. Will that be the case if we're still ruled by London?

We may never get such a chance again.  It's almost time. Time for Scotland to be brave.

Starting Out in the World

A wee face opens its eyes and begins to take in its surroundings. My fourth grandchild, Max, is just two weeks old and may well be contemplating why he arrived in the world six weeks early. He may also have heard his Dad going on about Hibernian FC at great length and will look to his proud Papa to steer him towards Edinburgh's proper football team, the famous Heart of Midlothian. They may have fallen on hard times but by the time Max is ready to go to a football match, normal service will have been resumed and Hearts will be back.

The arrival of Max makes it two grandsons and two grand-daughters for the Auld Reekie Ranter. It's daughter Michaela's first child and, of course, she is a very proud mum. And I am also very proud of her.

However,  this also means spiralling costs for birthdays and Christmas. The brats bairns can expect only an apple and an orange from me come December 25th - I mean, I'm not made of money...

Slainte!

Mirror in the Bathroom

The bathroom. The smallest room in the house but, arguably, the most important (although there's no argument when I stagger back home after consuming several pints of foaming ale of an evening and my bladder is screaming for relief) However, it's a room that can be taken for granted. No one spends too long there - only through necessity and the need for a bath or shower.

I fancied some mirrored furniture - for our bathroom. I know, it's a sign of the times. There's something classy about the cabinet (pictured above) The only downside is I see my ugly mug in it every day and, therefore, a reminder of my advancing years.

Sometimes I feel my age - particularly when returning home from Hearts games this season - and the strain and pressures of work and recent family events appear to be taking their toll. When I read the other day that well-known trade union leader Bob Crowe died suddenly of a heart attack at just 52, it made me think. I turned 52 three weeks ago and last week marked 17 years since my father died suddenly in similar circumstances at just 58.

Now, while I admired the bathroom cabinets I saw while surfing the net the other day, what would really impress me if there was one which reflected back an image of George Clooney when I looked at it.

Sadly, miracles don't happen in my life...

Sponsored Video: An Unexpected Guest - Dominic West

The Beat

A few weeks ago, I read that The Beat were heading to Edinburgh. I immediately dropped everything and purchased tickets to see the legendary ska band. I've seen The Beat several times now and they never disappoint - Saturday's gig in Scotland's capital city was a brilliant as ever.

In the intimate, although some might say claustrophobic, atmosphere of The Liquid Room, Ranking Roger and son belted out all the classics much to the delight of the appreciative audience. Mirror in the Bathroom, Too Nice to Talk To, Hands Off, She's Mind and Tears of a Clown were greeted with raucous applause. Even three decades later, Stand Down Margaret  - an 80s plea to the former Prime Minister to go - brought a huge ovation, particularly from those of us who suffered under the policies of the Thatcher government.

A great night, as I had anticipated - and, as always, The Beat always deliver.

The Leaving of Liverpool

The guvn'r and I decided to try to banish the winter blues with a wee mini break in Liverpool. It's been a few years since I've been in the city and much has changed since my last visit.

What hasn't changed is the pride Liverpudlians take in their city. Strolling through the city centre, I was struck by the vibrancy of the people just going about their every day business. Scousers are proud to be Scouse and quite rightly so. In the bustling city centre, people move purposefully in search of bargain buys from shops eager to attract custom by declaring sales, buy one get another free and that all stock must go. As in other working class cities such as Glasgow there is a sense of togetherness, a sense of an army of working class people joining the fight against austerity and, consequentially, poverty.

Although we were there only a couple of days we managed to take in the hugely impressive Beatles Story Museum, the very moving The Museum of Slavery and the informative Titanic Exhibition. The following day we visited the truly magnificent Liverpool Cathedral - the older one, which was a sight to behold both outside and inside.

However, much as we enjoyed our trip to the north-west of England - battered as it was by hurricane winds on Wednesday night - the leaving of Liverpool left a stain on our visit for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, we opted to travel by train  - and by First Trans-Pennine Railways. Those of you who have read these pages before (and I give thanks to you both) may have noted my various diatribes about First Group who try and run bus and train services across the country. Our journey down to Liverpool via Wigan was reasonable enough; the train was on time and we got complimentary coffee and sandwiches which is customary for travelling first class. However, our return journey on Thursday afternoon was not quite as smooth.

We checked the news regarding the chaos the winter storm had brought the night before. The west coast main line had been closed for two hours on Wednesday evening due to the severe weather so we expected there would be delays caused by the knock-on effect. Upon arrival at Wigan North-West at 2.30pm for our connection back to Auld Reekie, we were greeted by the news that our train had indeed been delayed. There was no indication of how long; the station announcer merely stated the train 'had not yet left Manchester Oxford Road'.

We sat in the chill of the passengers' waiting room at Wigan North-West station along with other disgruntled passengers. As we did, the14:38 Virgin train to Glasgow Central pulled in - bang on time. This seemed something of a curiosity as this train had left Manchester some half an hour earlier - the same route as the delayed First Trans-Pennine train. After half an hour in the freezing waiting room, the announcements about our train had ceased. The arrivals/departure screen merely flickered that the 15:38 Virgin train to Edinburgh would also be on time. Eventually, the news on the screen was that our train was scheduled to arrive at 15:41 - nearly one hour late. Once we got on the train and settled down, trying to get some feeling into numb bones, the train conductor apologised for the late arrival. This wasn't down to any weather conditions, or any weather-related debris on the track. It was down to the train driver not turning up. Mother Nature, I could take. Human nature i.e. a thoughtless action from a Worst Group employee, I couldn't. There was to be no offer of a hot drink until we reached Preston 20 minutes later. Another down-trodden Worst Group employee scampered on to the train at that point, his arms full of hastily prepared sandwiches and a catering trolley. When I asked for a cup of hot chocolate, he returned with a bottle of cold water. I was beginning to think Worst Group were paying me back for my criticism of their operations all these years.

We arrived back in Edinburgh more than an hour late. Once home, I checked my credit card details on-line as I regularly do. I was concerned to discover a pending transaction of £75 which I couldn't account for. When I telephoned the credit card company in the morning they advised it was the Thistle Hotel in Liverpool. When I checked out there on Thursday morning they charged me the agreed amount and gave me a receipt. A telephone call to the hotel on Friday morning resulted in the news that, once I had left the hotel, they charged another £76 for meals for two nights - despite this having been paid for. Eventually, this was sorted out but I was somewhat alarmed that the hotel had, in effect, used my credit card without my permission. One the one hand, the hotel did apologise. On the other hand, I was furious that they had deducted this amount without telling me - they had my email address and mobile telephone number but chose to use neither.

It put a wee bit of a dampener on what was, overall, a decent wee break. Liverpool is a fine city although customer service is not always a strong point (querying a departure time of a city tour with the bus driver I was told I would need to go round the corner and wait for half an hour - 'I'm on me break' she told me; the following day, another driver from the sightseeing tour operator told us it wouldn't be worth getting on his bus as half the city had been closed due to storm damage) However, the Thistle Hotel charging us twice for meals did nothing to allay the stereotype built up by some people of Scousers being prepared to rob their own Granny.

I think the guvn'r and I shall return to Liverpool. Only next time, we'll travel south by Virgin Trains rather than Worst Group. And we we'll be giving the Thistle Hotel something of a wide berth.

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