The closure of the UK Parliament for the summer holidays this week marked the end of my first political “year” with the SNP Group at Westminster, albeit a truncated one under unusual circumstances. Having served in Holyrood much is similar and familiar, even if anachronistic in style and reeking of snobbery. Staff are remarkably helpful and individual members can be exceedingly pleasant.
But this isn’t our Parliament and we’re most certainly not amongst friends.
Last month the Tory government published its white paper on EU migration post-Brexit. As a result, I spent my day arguing positively for immigration on social media, sharing fact-based articles showing that EU migration has had a very positive impact on the UK’s economy in the last decade.
However, one of my tweets was particularly popular, in which I specifically mentioned my personal experience with Scottish attitudes towards immigration.
Twitter is meant to be short and fleeting, leaving little room for telling long, nuanced stories. But the story behind this tweet is one I find worth telling, and I think it reflects incredibly well on the fact that there’s a bright, open future ahead of Scotland. I hope you find what follows to be worthwhile.
This article originally appeared on Allan’s blog. Reproduced with permission.
Dear Richard Leonard,
You can accept this letter as my formal resignation from membership of the Labour Party. And you may not like to hear that you are the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Last month saw the first meeting between the UK Brexit delegation and the EU’s, and by many accounts it fell far short of the UK’s expectations. David Davis spent months drumming up the “strong and stable” approach which would see both the divorce deal and the subsequent post-Brexit trade deal negotiated simultaneously. He was told by everyone that this wouldn’t happen, but simply brushed off the warnings. When push came to shove, he finally accepted that he’d have to negotiate the divorce deal first.
This is just the latest in a long string of failures and ineptitudes over the course of the UK’s handling of the whole farcical process and it got me thinking. If Scotland had voted Yes in 2014, what would it have looked like if the Scottish Government had handled that vote the way the UK has managed Brexit?
The complete series so far. If you’ve got a story like this to tell, or you know anyone who does, Phantom Power want to hear from you – drop them a line.
Aidan on The shifting sands of memory: “Well wouldn’t you look at that: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/30/west-papua-independence-petition-is-rebuffed-at-un” May 23, 05:58
Oneliner on The shifting sands of memory: “Does England have a Navy? Yep the MOD – such a cracking good employer that we have to bail them…” May 22, 22:58
Wullie B on The shifting sands of memory: “It was once said that the sun never set on the British empire, what they forgot to put was the…” May 22, 22:56
James on The shifting sands of memory: ““Aidan” Mind and take yer Big Book of Unionist Myths with you in case you get stuck.” May 22, 22:55
Wullie B on The shifting sands of memory: “You do realise that no note over £5 whether printed in Scotland or England is legal tender dont you” May 22, 22:29
Aidan on The shifting sands of memory: “Great news – I’ll be in Estonia, but can you link me to where I can watch the hearing online,…” May 22, 22:14
Alf Baird on The shifting sands of memory: “Thanks James, I recollect this aspect may be included in the ‘markers of colonialism’ but I will check to see…” May 22, 22:02
robertkknight on The shifting sands of memory: “So tell me, Agent X, how many battered (second) wives do you recon have been warned against leaving their abusive…” May 22, 21:46
sarah on The shifting sands of memory: “Well done, Salvo/Liberation.scot, and the SSRG team. Having a “big” legal eagle change his mind after 59 years will wake…” May 22, 21:42
Hatey McHateface on The shifting sands of memory: ““after they clearly lost Indyref” Of course, Barbie, the Yes campaign won the Indy Referendum. The behaviour of the SNP…” May 22, 21:05
Hatey McHateface on The shifting sands of memory: “The Romans were all gone from Britain, not just Scotland, by 410. The Scots started coming over from Ireland to…” May 22, 20:39
Geri on The shifting sands of memory: “The massive fly in yer ointment is that the Union between Scotland & England wasn’t territorial. What Scotland entered the…” May 22, 20:38
agent x on The shifting sands of memory: “Ah so Scotland is responsible for the evil British Empire. “The British Empire, at its peak, encompassed a vast network…” May 22, 20:24
Scot Finlayson on The shifting sands of memory: “The English needed our soldiers to win themselves an Empire, the Scottish Highlander was known to be the greatest fighting…” May 22, 20:06
Hatey McHateface on The shifting sands of memory: “Haud oan noo, Bob. The regulars on here don’t like “former states of the Soviet Union” “determining their own path”.…” May 22, 19:34
Hatey McHateface on The shifting sands of memory: “According to that article, HMS Glasgow will be followed by another 7 Clyde-built ships of the same design. Looks like…” May 22, 19:27
Marie on The shifting sands of memory: “Yep – merely crumbs off the table – kept to placate elite Scots in the day and used to hoodwink…” May 22, 19:22
agent x on The shifting sands of memory: ““Did any of the above prevent the people of the Republic of Ireland determining their own path? I didn’t think…” May 22, 19:18
James Jones on Just a couple more shots: “‘In law, people are either male or female.’ Also in real life, in nature. You can choose to play-act like…” May 22, 19:04
Hatey McHateface on The shifting sands of memory: ““You have problems matey” Not as many or as serious as you have Barbie, if your post is anything to…” May 22, 19:03
robertkknight on The shifting sands of memory: “Did any of the above prevent the people of the Republic of Ireland determining their own path? I didn’t think…” May 22, 18:50
Aidan on The shifting sands of memory: “@Mia – there are many reasons why Scotland cannot qualify for NSGT status, but the most definitive one is the…” May 22, 18:44
agent x on The shifting sands of memory: ““The Duchess of Rothesay officially named a new Royal Navy warship in Glasgow with a traditional statement – as she…” May 22, 18:20
Mia on The shifting sands of memory: ““but this whole Salvo thing is a total dead end” If you are so convinced it is a dead end,…” May 22, 18:08
James Cheyne on The shifting sands of memory: “Alf, Do you know if Salvo have copied the Statement by present Westminster parliament that a debate was held by…” May 22, 18:01
Mia on The shifting sands of memory: ““In which case the people behind it will go silent on this particular initiative” Nonsense. There is absolute no reason…” May 22, 17:53
agent x on The shifting sands of memory: “Can I just check something please? When Scotland decides to walk away from the Union on Monday morning will they…” May 22, 17:34