Musings from the Merse
Friday, January 18, 2008
Scotland the new Slovenia?
A Mr Alex Orr writes from Embra to the Berwickshire, bemoaning the fact that Scotland can only look on from the sidelines as Slovenia, the first of the new member states to hold the Presidency of the EU, having signed up 'only three years ago', sets and influences the agenda, including climate change, energy policy, ratification of the EU treaty, standardisation of urinals, and the other great issues of the day. If only Scotland were independent what mighty things she could do across the water is the sub text.For the moment she has to be content with running the UK via our Scottish PM. I think an independent Scotland might find itself fairly disappointed by what a minnow can achieve in the six months it has the titular 'power' in the Union-as compared with the actual influence that Scots already have at Westminister. Every day and it sometimes seems, for ever.
I wonder if this Mr Orr is any relation to our local Orrs-seemingly coming from the same SNP stable. It is thus intriguing to see another letter from a Paul Whitehouse who describes himself as the SNP prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. Hoy! Hold on a minute. What has happened to the indefatigable Mrs Orr. She has valiantly contested all kinds of elections in the Borders for the SNP. Surely she should be given a chance for a crack at a seat in Westminster once Mr Brown has enough bottle to actually hold a general election. If not I hope she will be suitably rewarded for her services to the party when the saltire of an Independent Scotland is eventually raised over the Castle.
Ambassador to Slovenia.
Perhaps
A Mr Alex Orr writes from Embra to the Berwickshire, bemoaning the fact that Scotland can only look on from the sidelines as Slovenia, the first of the new member states to hold the Presidency of the EU, having signed up 'only three years ago', sets and influences the agenda, including climate change, energy policy, ratification of the EU treaty, standardisation of urinals, and the other great issues of the day. If only Scotland were independent what mighty things she could do across the water is the sub text.For the moment she has to be content with running the UK via our Scottish PM. I think an independent Scotland might find itself fairly disappointed by what a minnow can achieve in the six months it has the titular 'power' in the Union-as compared with the actual influence that Scots already have at Westminister. Every day and it sometimes seems, for ever.
I wonder if this Mr Orr is any relation to our local Orrs-seemingly coming from the same SNP stable. It is thus intriguing to see another letter from a Paul Whitehouse who describes himself as the SNP prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk. Hoy! Hold on a minute. What has happened to the indefatigable Mrs Orr. She has valiantly contested all kinds of elections in the Borders for the SNP. Surely she should be given a chance for a crack at a seat in Westminster once Mr Brown has enough bottle to actually hold a general election. If not I hope she will be suitably rewarded for her services to the party when the saltire of an Independent Scotland is eventually raised over the Castle.
Ambassador to Slovenia.
Perhaps
Labels: EU, Scottish politics, Slovenia, SNP
Comments:
Paul Whitehouse? It's not that bloke on the TV who thinks he's a bit of a comedian is it? Then again he may be the legitimate child of that woman who was saving us all from the nasty stuff on the TV.
Hi Richard and "Huttonian"
Someone alerted me to this posting - i.e. that I may find it amusing. I am indeed the said Paul Wheelhouse who is PPC for the BRS seat. Huttonian, we have met some years back (my wife and I met you at a training course in Houndwood for BCCF when we both served on Co'path CC). Anyway, my regards - hope all is well.
Richard, we have not met, but we have exchanged e-mails previously during the May elections on the subject of windfarms, when you passed some advice to Aileen Orr. If I can help,let me know.
Huttonian - Aileen has not been dropped, but has chosen to stand in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale this time, from where she originally hails.
Anyway, I have heard the "Paul Whitehouse" one a few times before, but what makes me cringe to be connected in any way to Dubya Bush even if it was only a play on words......Not that the reference to Mary Whitehouse was too flattering for that matter! I can assure you there is no connection, illegitimate or otherwise.
Anyway, best regards and keep on with your irreverent musing /havering, respectively.
Regards
Paul
Someone alerted me to this posting - i.e. that I may find it amusing. I am indeed the said Paul Wheelhouse who is PPC for the BRS seat. Huttonian, we have met some years back (my wife and I met you at a training course in Houndwood for BCCF when we both served on Co'path CC). Anyway, my regards - hope all is well.
Richard, we have not met, but we have exchanged e-mails previously during the May elections on the subject of windfarms, when you passed some advice to Aileen Orr. If I can help,let me know.
Huttonian - Aileen has not been dropped, but has chosen to stand in Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale this time, from where she originally hails.
Anyway, I have heard the "Paul Whitehouse" one a few times before, but what makes me cringe to be connected in any way to Dubya Bush even if it was only a play on words......Not that the reference to Mary Whitehouse was too flattering for that matter! I can assure you there is no connection, illegitimate or otherwise.
Anyway, best regards and keep on with your irreverent musing /havering, respectively.
Regards
Paul
# posted by 
: 11:28 PM
: 11:28 PM
Greetings Paul. Sorry to have taken your name in vain! THat training session was good but the Berwickshire Community Council website never took off. Good to hear that Mrs Orr is having another go. Bruce's spider had nothing on her!
Hi "Huttonian"
Don't worry, I can take a joke with the best of them. If you can't stand the heat, etc.... If you start up a Spitting Image series I would be rather worried! It was a favourite programme of mine at the time, but it might be different if I were ever to be featured.
Aileen is indeed a strong character and she knows that area very well indeed, so I am sure she will do well.
The BCCF website was a failure, sadly. I genuinely thought it could work. However, I think it was undermined by more than one portal site starting up at the same time, but unfortunately there was little enthusiasm for the concept of communities loading up information
for themselves -even among some who actually backed the project to the hilt.
Perhaps it was too early for some villages who were only then getting access to community PCs and broadand for the first time.
I appreciate you are not a natural supporter, but if our paths cross, don't be stranger.
All the best.
Paul.
Don't worry, I can take a joke with the best of them. If you can't stand the heat, etc.... If you start up a Spitting Image series I would be rather worried! It was a favourite programme of mine at the time, but it might be different if I were ever to be featured.
Aileen is indeed a strong character and she knows that area very well indeed, so I am sure she will do well.
The BCCF website was a failure, sadly. I genuinely thought it could work. However, I think it was undermined by more than one portal site starting up at the same time, but unfortunately there was little enthusiasm for the concept of communities loading up information
for themselves -even among some who actually backed the project to the hilt.
Perhaps it was too early for some villages who were only then getting access to community PCs and broadand for the first time.
I appreciate you are not a natural supporter, but if our paths cross, don't be stranger.
All the best.
Paul.
# posted by : 10:31 PM
: 10:31 PM
I'll watch your career with interest. No I am not a SNP supporter on the main issue of independence-as a former British Ambassador I would hate to represent a fractured UK with the loss of clout that would involve. I think we have moved beyond the narrow nationalism stage-united we stand as British and as Europeans
No problem Huttonian. I do sincerely respect your opinion, and those of people with your views, even if I don't agree with you entirely. It might surprise you that I was not always in favour of Independence, myself, unlike Aileen who has been a member for 38 years or so.
However, as an economist there are very many strong arguments in favour of Independence as a means by which we can up our game as a country. I have always had an emotional pull to self-determination, but it now most firmly tempered with hard edged economics and a genuine sense that the UK is an entity for which its era has passed. Europe's most successful states are those which are small and nimble in terms of ability to develop distinctive policy in response to changes in the external environment. The Nordic countries are oft-cited, but there are others.
I certainly appreciate your experience in diplomatic circles and I would be intersted to hear of any concerns you have. I hope people of your experience will have a valuable role to play in Scotland's future, especially if we do get the opporunity to develop our own diplomatic service. Perhaps some time we will have a civilised chat over a drink if ever we meet and enjoy some banter on the subject. I don't expect either of us will change our position, but we may enjoy the conversation.
I will be off-line for a few days. IT woes...... But I have enjoyed the dialogue.
Best regards.
Paul.
However, as an economist there are very many strong arguments in favour of Independence as a means by which we can up our game as a country. I have always had an emotional pull to self-determination, but it now most firmly tempered with hard edged economics and a genuine sense that the UK is an entity for which its era has passed. Europe's most successful states are those which are small and nimble in terms of ability to develop distinctive policy in response to changes in the external environment. The Nordic countries are oft-cited, but there are others.
I certainly appreciate your experience in diplomatic circles and I would be intersted to hear of any concerns you have. I hope people of your experience will have a valuable role to play in Scotland's future, especially if we do get the opporunity to develop our own diplomatic service. Perhaps some time we will have a civilised chat over a drink if ever we meet and enjoy some banter on the subject. I don't expect either of us will change our position, but we may enjoy the conversation.
I will be off-line for a few days. IT woes...... But I have enjoyed the dialogue.
Best regards.
Paul.
# posted by : 11:59 PM
: 11:59 PM
In my book the UK is by far he most sucessful EU state. 4th or 5th biggest economy in the world and with the clout in the international arena to 'box above its weight'Believe me if you travel you will find that the UK enjoys a very high reputation especially in international development. I see no advantage to anyone breaking up the union into its component parts. Giving Scotland more control over its own affairs is fine but creating three small countries out of one significant union makes no sense. Mr Salmond should travel the world a bit and get a bit of perspective on the role of these islands in the larger scheme of things. Don't worry about diplomats for a Scottish Foreign Service. In my time 60% of the senior diplomats were from Alba!
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