War on Democracy
There are rumblings coming from number 10 and 11 Downing street. The new threat comes not from the Middle East but from the north. The insurgents this time are threatening to go to the ballot box and bring down another oppressive and corrupt regime. Yes, in the spring of 2007 Scotland will have national elections to form its next devolved parliament. To the great chagrin of New Labour, Scots look like voting in the Scottish National Party - separatists bent on independence.
This is not new movement by any means (it was formed over 70 years ago), so you may well wonder what’s brought this change of public opinion in Scotland? The reason, I wager, is the failure, fatal to every politician: the failure to listen. Just ask President Bush about his recent thumpin’ in the mid-term elections. Could Scotland be reacting to Blair’s failure to listen too? I bloody hope so!
The threat is so real that both Blair and Brown have brought out their big guns to fight back. These being fear, doubt and uncertainty (FUD) and yet more failed Blair policies and lack of backbone on foreign policy. If I were a Labour MP I’d want Blair out before the election next Spring, just ask the Republicans if it was a good idea to wait to let Rumsfeld go until after the election. I dare you!
