The Westminster New Labour regime is on to its third Secretary of State for Scotland since Alex Salmond became Prime Minister of Scotland.
Angus Robertson, leader for the Scottish National Party at the Westminster parliament remarked:
"Des Browne's departure shows just how much of a dog's dinner Gordon Brown has made of his reshuffle...It would have been far better to admit that the game is up for the Scotland Office – which is clearly just a publicly funded campaigning vehicle for the Labour Party....This is another missed opportunity to accept the new political framework in these islands."
One source close to the Westminster New Labour Leader, quoted in the Scotsman, said last night:
"Jim [Murphy, 'tasked' to destroy the SNP and restore New Labour rule in Scotland, ed.] will be energetic and want to show what he can do. He will take Salmond on..."
As many commentors in the Scottish press are pointing out, under devolution the constitutional role of the Scottish Office is to represent the Scottish Government and people in United Kingdom matters in the United Kingdom government.
Update
Murphy lived in South Africa in the 1980s. 'He returned aged 18, after refusing conscription into the country's army, and was president of the National Union of Students while studying at Strathclyde University.' (Sunday Herald)
A Draft Dodger. Refusing to serve in his adopted country's army won't go down well in Scotland, not with the Scottish record of military service.
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3 comments:
For me its not the fact he was a draft dodger.
Obviously some conscientous objectors just don't like war and violence to resolve problems.
Its the fact that as a draft dodger he then votes in strongly favour of the Iraq War.
He's a typical Labour hypocrite.
Hmm, not sure if you're up to date on Scottish attitudes here, Hats.
South Africa is second in evildom only to England, and anyone opposing any kind of military authority at all is likely to become a folk hero.
Leftism and dependency are the rules of the day now, all that martial patriotism is only for the wrinklies these days.
He'll do fine in the new Scotland.
The trouble with being a girl is that you don't get faced with the army service problem. Girls can insist on fighting but they don't have to insist on not fighting.
Nevertheless, with my family intertwined with Italy, the draft has some importance. The gist of the views seems to be this:
It is an honour to be required to serve your country.
It is possible that your country is not currently in keeping with your hopes for it; or you will not accept the uses to which your services might be put.
Nevertheless, you must answer the call and opt for facing the consequences of being in the wrong time or place.
You do not skip off out of the country declaring, all of a sudden, that the country is a bad place.
Only, this is all high falutin'ly proper but you are likely to have a nasty time of it if you don't skip for elsewhere. So you have a choice: make a fuss now and brave the consequences; or serve until you are faced with unacceptable acts, then brave the consequences.
Which brings up the question,'How can you judge now what your comrades might be and what choices you might make in circumstances you have not lived?'
Anyway, the honourable thing is to report in bravely and make your choices.
It is not acceptable to dodge that.
Italian 18 year old boys have reported in when called. Then they work it out. And are often very brave ideed, in all sorts of ways. But they don't go and live in another country and pretend such a choice is honourable.
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