Clocks trending Simon says

More of a crossword clue than the title of a podcast episode; but it has been that sort of week. Daylight Savings gets 'talked out', social media is discussed by youngsters. And Simon Hughes mumbles about devolution. And Lesley is going to be a token Tory...now if that doesn't pique your interest into listening to this week's 'Lesley Riddoch Podcast' - I don't know what will. 

Comments

[Mike Vickers]

Sorry for repeating what I said in my email on Lesley’s column but it is still relevant to this week’s pod.
“If the UK were to become federal then we would have England being 51 million, Scotland 5 million, Wales being 3 million and Northern Ireland 2 million. The nearest comparison that comes to mind is Denmark, Iceland and Greenland.
You quote Baden Wurttemberg, but Germany unlike the UK and despite German Unification after 1870 has had a federal structure for centuries right back to the Holy Roman Empire. The German Lander are all much the same size ~ 5 million (there are bigger ones 12 million and Bremen is only 600 thousand).
In any overarching UK parliament, given England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland parliaments, England would still be the very dominant partner. It’s all a question of balance and the figures don’t, unless you can devise a way to break up England. But as you point out Prescott failed miserably to get the north east to vote for a degree of autonomy and if ever there should have been a hope then that is the area to go for with a history of Percy independence (and I forgot to bring in the 1936 Jarrow March).
You are right, federalism is an unlikely target for the UK; so where does this leave DevoMax?”

To the German Lander they were much powerful before German Reunification – no not 1870 but 1990 (time passes) – when the federal government moved back to Berlin – but that’s an aside.

The main question remains – what does DevoMax give Scotland that Independence doesn’t – a perpetuating discussion on what facilities does Scotland get in return for what it pays the UK government. But what else? OK I know it’s not a fair comparison but both Iceland and Greenland have eventually broken away from Denmark (as of course that N country did some 200 years ago).

On another of your points, what is the Scottish Parliament going to do over the next 1000 days – anything positive or will it still be arguing about a third way. If Mr McLeish has good ideas on DevoMax ‘Bring it on’. Will Wendy return to put some life back into the Scottish Parliament – let’s have a by-election soon – not just the simpering Salmond.
Hope this evening’s debate goes well and Lesley supports the Tory corner.

[pollok]

Mike the only reason that I can see for Lesleys insistence that someone/Labour has to fight for another option. Is that Lesley is pro independence , but is smart enough to know the people of Scotland aren't that stupid.
So the separatists will need to have something to show for all their windbaggery. And in the long run if the Nats get extra powers from DevoMax they will only use in their campaign to put pressure on the union.
The one positive I take from this debate is that it has helped Lesleys to be more honest about her braveheart
tendencies.