Scottish independence referendum 2014

English: Gordon Brown (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dr Alf is right about foreign correspondents and newspapers being able to put their finger on an issue with their external perspective as the Japan Times has done vis-a-vis Gordon Brown’s intervention in the Scottish Referendum campaign.

Gordon Brown did re-energize the “No” campaign which was lacklustre and cowed at grass-roots level by intimidation, bullying, social media insults, particularly on Twitter and disrupted by the BBC who were deliberately partisan and failed to put forward the key facts about the Barnett Formula.
Gordon Brown as Prime Minister was pugilistic, ill-tempered and dishonest but in the Prime Ministerial debates was lacklustre.

This time round he was the reincarnation of his late father a stern Calvinistic preacher thumping his Bible and delivering the threat of fire and brimstone to his flock unless they resumed the path of righteousness.

What was not mentioned, of course, is the bribe that encouraged Scottish pensioners and those that have continued to benefit from English largess, to come forward on their zimmer-frames , walking sticks and mobility scooters and vote “No”.

Not only do the Scots get to keep the Barnett Formula worth £3,500 gbp a head, not the £1300 gbp quoted by the BBC, but they also get free tuition fees, free prescription charges, free Adult Social Care, the lion’s share of EU budget rebates in Regional Selective Assistance or whatever it is now called, more money for the NHS, and now more tax raising powers, the retention of their own Parliament and more say over their own affairs.

The bribe was enough to get people thinking about what they might lose but Gordon Brown tipped them over the edge and through his intervention caused Alex Salmond who “peaked too early” to resign.

John Gelmini

Logo of Global Times (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a sobering editorial from China’s important daily newspaper, Global Times. This Chinese tabloid is under the auspices of the People’s Daily newspaper, and focuses on international issues. It differentiates itself from other Chinese newspapers, in part through its more populist approach to journalism, coupled with a tendency to court controversy.

Referendum result no triumph for UK – Global Times.

The article worries that the UK will be torn apart by escalating pressures for devolved power. It believes that this will have a negative impact on the UK’s trade and growth.

Personally, I relate to the argument of the Global Times. Look at the example of Local Authorities in the UK, at how badly and wastefully they have been run, with appalling quality standards in important services, like care for the elderly. For me, each devolved power decision is likely to risk creating more waste, like the local authorities. For a more detailed insight into UK local authorities, open this link.

Thoughts?