Today's post is political because momentous things happen when a country gets to vote whether or not to leave the Kingdom. I will not be at all offended if you skip on to the next blog! Linds
Today is the day that the future of the United Kingdom hangs in balance. It is really quite surreal, because the TV has been full of the referendum talk for weeks and today, there is silence, because legally, they cannot be seen to influence in either direction. This noble idea may have been around forever, but it is the first time I have noticed it.
So, the news is about everything except what is happening north of the border. Until 9 pm tonight, and then, throughout the night and into tomorrow and possibly forever, the talk will be about how Scotland voted. And the consequences for both Scotland and for the whole of the UK. Not so much United, should they vote to leave.
Someone suggested that we would have to become rUK - Rest of UK.
Right now, I think it could go either way. And, should Scotland vote to leave, everything changes. Should they vote to stay, the government will have to make good on all those carrots waved to induce co-operation.
You see, it is not as straightforward as it may seem. Our politicians tend to think the UK consists of everything within the M25, aka London, and that the rest of the country is populated by village people who are not very bright. Simple. Lazy. Workshy.
I am quite unashamedly stating what I see as fact today.
Not one politician even considered for a second that the Yes vote may just win. Supreme complacency. The No vote didn't even have a real face or agenda until recent weeks. However, things changed last week when the polls suddenly had the Yes vote in the lead and in an instant, all panic stations were fully manned. But, by the very politicians who caused the "distance from London = forgotten badlands" idea in the first place, so I suspect that didn't go down too well.
Should the No vote win, the political future of the top politicians will be on very shaky ground. Only there is no-one looming in the shadows ready to take over, apart from Boris, of course. Boris is the Mayor of London. No politician would want to dissolution of the Kingdom to be on his watch. Nor would I want to be Mr Cameron at the next audience with the Queen, should that happen.
And if the Yes vote wins, I just wonder how the government is going to keep the rest of the UK intact. Wales. Northern Ireland. Cornwall. Even Yorkshire, could be next.
A win by the No vote means making good on all those hasty promises. That is going to be difficult.
Interesting times.
The other epic challenge will be how to reconcile the Scottish people after today, because no matter which side wins, and passions are very very high today, when the country is split 50/50, it will not be simple to restore balance.
And could it ever be the same?
Tomorrow will bring the answers.
5 comments:
This is a good post, great summary. No way to overstate any of it - it's a big deal!
We have been following the issue closely. The results are just starting to be posted and will continue through the evening for us.
When we visited Scotland last year we of course heard talk about separation. I can see both sides. How does a nation severe those ties, which are much more entwined than say the colonies of Canada and Australia.
Interesting to note that the Queen is at Balmoral this time of year.
Thanks for your good post. Vee mentioned it to me.
Deanna
I enjoyed reading your summary so much that I find myself watching C-Span,which is carrying BBC News live. Now I am wondering if you are watching, too, in real time. Will be interested in the follow-up blog post.
Excellent post! Your remark about how the politicians view everything outside of London is supported by the fact that when you are driving on some M road (I think toward Yorkshire), there is a large road sign that reads, 'The North.' I kinda think that says it all, as though nothing north of there is worth mentioning specifically. At least that was my (American) impression when we visited.
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