The auld year was hardly ‘oot’ before the Tories and the right-wing media were urging us to suspend the awful reality of a soulless coalition government, deny the worst attack on our living standards for a generation and enjoy instead the prospect of the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee raising our national spirit and battered morale!
Then we had the news that Mrs Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep, was to hit our movie screens in The Iron Lady at the same time as a debate was opening up about giving her a state funeral, despite the former PM being one of the most divisive figures in British political history.
For Scots, this was not the best way to celebrate 2012!
No one will disagree, though, with celebrating the remarkable life and achievements of the Queen and her contribution to post-war Britain.
As a member of her Privy Council and someone who has met her on many occasions, there is no doubt in my mind that the Queen generates real affection and respect.
The jubilee will allow us to acknowledge an extraordinary person, a life of real public service and her significant interest in Scots and Scotland. Her life and work shouldn’t be used by a cynical government to sweeten the bitter pill of Tory austerity and divisive policies. The Queen can stand on her own achievements.
The London Olympics will not have the same impact north of the border. We have already paid a heavy price for these Games. UK funding for sports and culture in Scotland has been drastically cut, the Games will largely benefit London and the South-East and the sporting legacy is likely to be marginal outwith London.
Successive governments have failed to see the potential for the Games to unite Britain rather than to divide it. The concept of Britishness is under pressure and unless we begin to understand the issues of identity, aspiration and nationality throughout Britain, we are likely to create further instability and inequalities. The Games’ sport and competitive success will be the magnet for most of us, not the spectacle itself, nor the commercialism now associated with large global events.
Our politicians and civic and religious leaders should set out their vision, inspiration, idealism and hope for a better future beyond austerity and worsening inequalities. The lack of vision is depressing.
People want leadership and to improve their lives and contribute to building a better Britain or Scotland, beyond being asked to make financial, short-term sacrifices. Where are these cynical, mean-spirited rhetoric and deeply unfair policies leading us? There is real anxiety about the future.
We are not providing any vision for our young people and seem incapable of capturing their imagination, idealism and hopes for the future. Most of us witnessed over Christmas: unsustainable materialism, a relentless assault on our senses through advertising and a society where superficiality, greed and rampant consumerism are in danger of destroying any sense of solidarity or concern for each other.
Margaret Thatcher’s comment, “there is no such thing as society” is all too easily being realised in a world where our politicians lack optimism and confidence in our future.
Why are they so afraid of the ‘vision thing’?
Political parties also need to enthuse and inspire the electors, embrace a bigger, bolder and optimistic vision for Britain’s future, and appeal to our idealism and ambition; and our higher self.
In Scotland, with the notable exception of Alex Salmond’s still incomplete vision of nationhood through independence, a more confident Scotland on the world stage and his enthusiastic embrace of the green economy and renewable energy, other political leaders have been silent on a vision for our country.
This tends to reinforce the SNP’s claim that only they speak for Scotland. But do they? This is a real problem for Labour as they seek to renew their identity in Scotland. Labour has to: promote substance over superficiality; stop thinking Westminster has a monopoly on the big ideas; take itself more seriously in Scotland; rid itself of the notion that by having a vision for Scotland this in some way cuts across being part of Britain; be confident enough to provide an alternative narrative to independence; and, by having a vision, reach out to a more progressive and inclusive alliance of people and supporters.
People want to know where Labour stands on the future of our country – who and what we are, and where do we want to be. It’s about the future of our nation not nationalism, about identity not independence and about progressive policies not populism. This is about a vision for Scotland.
Having the vision
Then we had the news that Mrs Thatcher, played by Meryl Streep, was to hit our movie screens in The Iron Lady at the same time as a debate was opening up about giving her a state funeral, despite the former PM being one of the most divisive figures in British political history.
For Scots, this was not the best way to celebrate 2012!
No one will disagree, though, with celebrating the remarkable life and achievements of the Queen and her contribution to post-war Britain.
As a member of her Privy Council and someone who has met her on many occasions, there is no doubt in my mind that the Queen generates real affection and respect.
The jubilee will allow us to acknowledge an extraordinary person, a life of real public service and her significant interest in Scots and Scotland. Her life and work shouldn’t be used by a cynical government to sweeten the bitter pill of Tory austerity and divisive policies. The Queen can stand on her own achievements.
The London Olympics will not have the same impact north of the border. We have already paid a heavy price for these Games. UK funding for sports and culture in Scotland has been drastically cut, the Games will largely benefit London and the South-East and the sporting legacy is likely to be marginal outwith London.
Successive governments have failed to see the potential for the Games to unite Britain rather than to divide it. The concept of Britishness is under pressure and unless we begin to understand the issues of identity, aspiration and nationality throughout Britain, we are likely to create further instability and inequalities. The Games’ sport and competitive success will be the magnet for most of us, not the spectacle itself, nor the commercialism now associated with large global events.
Our politicians and civic and religious leaders should set out their vision, inspiration, idealism and hope for a better future beyond austerity and worsening inequalities. The lack of vision is depressing.
People want leadership and to improve their lives and contribute to building a better Britain or Scotland, beyond being asked to make financial, short-term sacrifices. Where are these cynical, mean-spirited rhetoric and deeply unfair policies leading us? There is real anxiety about the future.
We are not providing any vision for our young people and seem incapable of capturing their imagination, idealism and hopes for the future. Most of us witnessed over Christmas: unsustainable materialism, a relentless assault on our senses through advertising and a society where superficiality, greed and rampant consumerism are in danger of destroying any sense of solidarity or concern for each other.
Margaret Thatcher’s comment, “there is no such thing as society” is all too easily being realised in a world where our politicians lack optimism and confidence in our future.
Why are they so afraid of the ‘vision thing’?
Political parties also need to enthuse and inspire the electors, embrace a bigger, bolder and optimistic vision for Britain’s future, and appeal to our idealism and ambition; and our higher self.
In Scotland, with the notable exception of Alex Salmond’s still incomplete vision of nationhood through independence, a more confident Scotland on the world stage and his enthusiastic embrace of the green economy and renewable energy, other political leaders have been silent on a vision for our country.
This tends to reinforce the SNP’s claim that only they speak for Scotland. But do they? This is a real problem for Labour as they seek to renew their identity in Scotland. Labour has to: promote substance over superficiality; stop thinking Westminster has a monopoly on the big ideas; take itself more seriously in Scotland; rid itself of the notion that by having a vision for Scotland this in some way cuts across being part of Britain; be confident enough to provide an alternative narrative to independence; and, by having a vision, reach out to a more progressive and inclusive alliance of people and supporters.
People want to know where Labour stands on the future of our country – who and what we are, and where do we want to be. It’s about the future of our nation not nationalism, about identity not independence and about progressive policies not populism. This is about a vision for Scotland.