Some thoughts on Scottish Independence and NO

I'll be honest I was firmly in the No camp because of my complete and utter loathing for Salmond and his cronies who, for me, were actually worse than the UK based political elite but in the last day of the campaign was minded to hope for Yes, just to see them in the mess that would happen.

It was becoming more clear that the bigoted hatred being shown was a lot more than just nasty politics, so I was, briefly, minded to think let the idiots get on with it.

My hope for a Yes was conditional though I wanted it to be a complete Independence with absolutely no support given by what was left of the UK, in any form and for the Scots to be treated like all other European 'friends' and as foreign nations until they became members of it.

I wanted to see them weak, to see them squirming and in a mire.

I saw the benefits for England, especially the economical ones, even things like Trident being moved here, the net reduction in benefit bills etc. and my lust for a Yes coupled with my disdain for the morons branding their fellow Scots as traitors, for daring not to have the same idiotic rationale as themselves, grew even stronger. 

Now though my gratitude for No has returned, Salmond and Co. have been shown for the twonks they are and while my anger at the bigoted morons remains, the response of the international and business communities, the strengthening of the pound, the increase in share values etc. and all that will mean for the economy and our long term success will be a real positive.

Sadly though while the economic news is good I fear for what the No will bring to our politics.

The much praised turnout was, for me, little more than a navel gazing reaction and I firmly believe if those voting NO had been arsed (forgive the tone) to get out and vote in the last General Election the entire mess would have not existed.

Salmond & Co.would be the Scottish equivalent of Griffin and the Neanderthals of 3 letters we have here with the rest of us being as strong as what is now being envisaged and I also believe, as part of that, because of the strength of what Scotland would have been the powers that Call Me Dave, Ed and Cleggy went cap in hand with would have already been obtain.

I fear the outpouring of demands for votes at 16 & 17 will bring about an even worse pandering to individual groups, bringing about worse outcomes than those the likes of tuition fees did while at the same time create an even further divide by those able to vote now.

I also sadly do not note believe that the No vote will be the wake up that Labour needs, there is already talk of Prescott's plan, albeit with different names being used, for a 'devolution for England' something that was rejected and that is the same reason why I do not feel No will inspire any form of listening by the political elite.

Much as I despise Salmond, for the damage he caused, I admire the game he played, how he outsmarted the Westminister Elite and my only hope is that what he achieved so easy is seen as what it is with our political masters seen as what they are as well.

It is, for me, the only way the change in our politics that most want will ever happen.

Some thoughts on Rotherham

Been waiting to hear what Great Leader Ed had to say before I wrote this.

I'll start with the obvious and say we all know who is responsible for the issue, in terms of perpetrators, and, as per usual, there are the excuses and sadly still sufficient excuse makes to make folk wonder what the hell needs to happen before something is done about them.

Ruzwana Bashir makes it very clear here that the issues solely isn't one of some Asian men on white women and girls, they are just as bad in their own community, towards their own women and others have made very good points on the role of the idiot left and the part they played in the 'fear factor' that some seem to have when not just dealing with these individuals but the mentality they appear to have when even thinking of how to deal with these issues but, for me, while the above can not and must not be ignored the failures of Rotherham, Rochdale and others is down to the very same issues that have led to deaths through crime and massive failings in the health service, especially things like Mid Staffs and others.

That issue is the lack of accountability within the hierarchy of the public sector and the woeful inability to manage processes in place to protect us.

We can largely thank localism for it, the process of letting 'local people who know best for the area' get on with the job, but we can not and must not ignore the role played by the 'political elite' and those sat at the top table making policy, rules and regulations for all without ensuring and insisting they are followed through or adhered to correctly.

Look on any council website and you will find 'strategies', 'key objectives', 'master plans' and the like to deal with every situation, most brought about by something that has previously gone wrong, a Baby P for example and a directive from an Ed, Dave or Cleggy type passed down to prevent them in future and in the worse cases them from ever happening and we need to ask those at the very top why, with these protections in place are we being failed.

Until accountability is in place and proper monitoring done we will only ever become aware of problems after events like Rotherham have taken place, that creates victims and, for me, is a price to high to pay.