The SNP aided by the BBC seem to have got above themselves. They both seem to forget that in September 2014, in a turnout significantly in excess of the 2015 General Election turnout (85% versus 71%) Scottish Independence was soundly rejected by Scottish voters. The 55% No campaign beating the the 45% for Yes.
Both also seem to have lost sight of the fact that, while the SNP captured a total of 56 of the 59 seats available within Scotland, they actually gained less than 50% of the votes cast.
Now we have the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, who is not even a member of the UK Parliament, thinking that she can rule the Westminster roost. Truth is, she is most likely to have trouble controlling her own newly elected Westminster MPs who are acting like an uncouth rabble and are being egged on by Ms Sturgeon's, predecessor Alex Salmond and one will soon have to question if the dual role - Scottish First Minister and SNP Leader are compatible.
Time for some perspective.
Scotland represents less than 10% of the population of the UK, less than 10% of the UK economy and less than 10% of the seats at Westminster. The SNP popular vote of 1.454 million was dwarfed by UKIP's 3.88 million and even by the Lib Dems 2.41 million - so when it comes to 'speaking for the people' a sense of proportion wouldn't be out of place. Yes, the SNP gained 56 seats while UKIP only gained 1 and the Lib Dems just 8 and yes that is a reflection of the 'first past the post' system but that is the system that the UK chose to retain, when given a choice. However, as said, the SNP are always a minority party.
Out of courtesy, and, I hope, only for that reason, David Cameron trooped up to Edinburgh, post election and held talks with Ms Sturgeon about fulfilling the Conservative plans on implementing the Smith Commission. This is something which, while it represents even greater power for the Holyrood parliament, is actually opposed by Sturgeon - supposedly on the grounds that it doesn't go far enough. Leave aside that the policy, called Full Fiscal Autonomy, was developed by Scottish politicians, Sturgeon fears FFA. She fears this (and that is why Cameron must rigorously pursue it), because Sturgeon and the SNP will then be found wanting. The Scottish economy simply cannot fund the lavish policies that the SNP push, based on its own economy. It absolutely needs funding from the UK Exchequer. The loonies that thuggishly follow the SNP will spout on about Scotland's oil and so on, though they have been (mercifully) quite since the significant post IndyRef decline in oil prices, but the simple fact is that Scotland needs funding from the UK, indeed, let's not be coy, they need funding from England.
She is also fearful because the SNP are being found out, in their own back-yard. The SNP controlled parliament at Holyrood has presided over a frightening decline in educational attainment and standards, coupled with a significant reduction in the number of students from poor families, attending university. We might expect a re-branded and hopefully suitably chastened Scottish Labour Party, along with the Conservatives and Lib Dems, will focus on these and other failings on the already existing devolved powers, when the next Holyrood elections are held, in 2016.
To hear the newly elected SNP Westminster MPs you would think that they have a mandate for governing the UK. Simple truth is that they don't. They don't even have a Scottish mandate! They need to wind in their necks and get down to the real business of representing all of their constituents - those that voted for them and those that, in equal proportion, didn't vote for them.
And while we are on the subject of people losing their sense of proportion, let's be clear. Scotland had its Independence Referendum and everyone agreed, including Salmond, Sturgeon and the SNP, that this was a once in a generation event. Now the UK Government is planning to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. This will be a countrywide referendum and will apply to the whole country and the results will be for the whole country. If a majority of people in Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire or even 35 Acacia Avenue, Solihull vote to remain in the EU while the majority vote to exit, then we all exit. Ms Sturgeon has put forward a warped sense of democracy, as discussed here.
I am sure that the SNP and Yes voters retain a sour taste in their mouth after the IndyRef vote loss but now the SNP need to shut-up and get on with the job that they were elected to do!
Both also seem to have lost sight of the fact that, while the SNP captured a total of 56 of the 59 seats available within Scotland, they actually gained less than 50% of the votes cast.
Now we have the SNP leader, Nicola Sturgeon, who is not even a member of the UK Parliament, thinking that she can rule the Westminster roost. Truth is, she is most likely to have trouble controlling her own newly elected Westminster MPs who are acting like an uncouth rabble and are being egged on by Ms Sturgeon's, predecessor Alex Salmond and one will soon have to question if the dual role - Scottish First Minister and SNP Leader are compatible.
Time for some perspective.
Scotland represents less than 10% of the population of the UK, less than 10% of the UK economy and less than 10% of the seats at Westminster. The SNP popular vote of 1.454 million was dwarfed by UKIP's 3.88 million and even by the Lib Dems 2.41 million - so when it comes to 'speaking for the people' a sense of proportion wouldn't be out of place. Yes, the SNP gained 56 seats while UKIP only gained 1 and the Lib Dems just 8 and yes that is a reflection of the 'first past the post' system but that is the system that the UK chose to retain, when given a choice. However, as said, the SNP are always a minority party.
Out of courtesy, and, I hope, only for that reason, David Cameron trooped up to Edinburgh, post election and held talks with Ms Sturgeon about fulfilling the Conservative plans on implementing the Smith Commission. This is something which, while it represents even greater power for the Holyrood parliament, is actually opposed by Sturgeon - supposedly on the grounds that it doesn't go far enough. Leave aside that the policy, called Full Fiscal Autonomy, was developed by Scottish politicians, Sturgeon fears FFA. She fears this (and that is why Cameron must rigorously pursue it), because Sturgeon and the SNP will then be found wanting. The Scottish economy simply cannot fund the lavish policies that the SNP push, based on its own economy. It absolutely needs funding from the UK Exchequer. The loonies that thuggishly follow the SNP will spout on about Scotland's oil and so on, though they have been (mercifully) quite since the significant post IndyRef decline in oil prices, but the simple fact is that Scotland needs funding from the UK, indeed, let's not be coy, they need funding from England.
She is also fearful because the SNP are being found out, in their own back-yard. The SNP controlled parliament at Holyrood has presided over a frightening decline in educational attainment and standards, coupled with a significant reduction in the number of students from poor families, attending university. We might expect a re-branded and hopefully suitably chastened Scottish Labour Party, along with the Conservatives and Lib Dems, will focus on these and other failings on the already existing devolved powers, when the next Holyrood elections are held, in 2016.
To hear the newly elected SNP Westminster MPs you would think that they have a mandate for governing the UK. Simple truth is that they don't. They don't even have a Scottish mandate! They need to wind in their necks and get down to the real business of representing all of their constituents - those that voted for them and those that, in equal proportion, didn't vote for them.
And while we are on the subject of people losing their sense of proportion, let's be clear. Scotland had its Independence Referendum and everyone agreed, including Salmond, Sturgeon and the SNP, that this was a once in a generation event. Now the UK Government is planning to hold a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union. This will be a countrywide referendum and will apply to the whole country and the results will be for the whole country. If a majority of people in Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire or even 35 Acacia Avenue, Solihull vote to remain in the EU while the majority vote to exit, then we all exit. Ms Sturgeon has put forward a warped sense of democracy, as discussed here.
I am sure that the SNP and Yes voters retain a sour taste in their mouth after the IndyRef vote loss but now the SNP need to shut-up and get on with the job that they were elected to do!
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