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Archive for September, 2014

 

Gordon Brown

Gordon Brown – passionately defending the ‘Vote No’ cause

A once in a lifetime event that captured the imagination of the world over – that was the Scottish referendum. Some hailed it as a courageous act of democracy on behalf of the British Government, others a needless leap into the unknown. And it very nearly was. At least now the question is settled for a generation.

Despite the media’s talk of a comfortable victory, it was to me, a very close shave. Let’s not forget that close to half of the population voted for independence. I shudder to think what a ‘Yes’ victory would have done to our standing in the world, let alone the administrative mess and cost of untangling Scotland from the United Kingdom.

As the Queen, Westminster Village, British citizens in their majority and Brussels breathe a collective sigh of relief, we can only applaud the victory of the ‘No’ camp and the Scottish people in general for the way this referendum was run. Politicians across Europe are calling it ‘a class act’ – serving as a lesson in democracy to our troubled world. And the manner in which the separatists conceded their defeat will hopefully quickly heal the wounds of the last few days, weeks and months.

Ironically, this victory is likely to weaken Westminster as it picks through the promises and wrestles over their implementation. The Scottish ‘Yes’ camp lost, but Scotland emerges stronger.

I must say that I was surprised at Alex Salmond’s quick resignation. Pushing party politics aside, dare I say that Gordon Brown deserves a shot at the newly open top job?

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After watching the BBC’s “Last Night at the Proms”, I was filled with an immense sense of pride. Proud to be English – at the same time, British. I witnessed live, a coming together of the British nation. Everyone was so happy in the Royal Albert Hall, particularly the Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo! There was an atmosphere of ‘Britishness’. Four nations together. Is all of this “togetherness” going to be spoilt by one person’s ego? No, I don’t think so!

Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo Photo: BBC

Finnish conductor Sakari Oramo
Photo: BBC

The Britain of today, the United Kingdom, after all, is a Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the free! We are free. We should not be mesmerized by one person filled with his own self-importance North of the Border. Andrew Marr’s The Politics Show, is an excellent example of Britishness. Let us hope that common sense reigns and we still remain a Land of Hope and Glory after Thursday 18th September 2014. And thanks to my Scottish friends for helping out on occasions!

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