Sordid, corrupt, immoral.
The definition of sleaze, that is.
Not an apposite description of the Tory Party, right? The political party claiming to best represent the Union and its interests.
A party now apparently in tune with the aspirations of the majority of the Scottish people, if you believe the "expert" commentaries which followed on from the Scottish Conservative Party conference in Troon last week.
At the conference, SNP bashing reached new heights - almost messianic in its fervour - revealing yet again a party blinkered and bereft of any visionary ideas.
Yet, as verbal attack after verbal attack was launched in Troon, a crisis of titanic proportions was unfolding some 500 miles away, in Westminster, which has all but deluged the perceived green shoots of Tory political recovery in Scotland.
The timing of the 'cash for access' crisis couldn't be bettered as a conference backdrop and aftermath.
It's forced prime minister David Cameron to publish a list of major party donors who have attended dinner at 10 Downing Street in a bid to draw a line under the whole sordid affair. But the latest move has not stopped opposition howls for a public inquiry.
Former Tory co-treasurer Peter Cruddas sparked the crisis when he claimed in secret filming by undercover Sunday Times reporters that individuals could secure meetings with ministers and influence policy formation in return for a “premier league” donation of around £250,000.
Mr Cruddas resigned.
Mr Cameron denounced the revelations as "completely unacceptable" and there would be an internal party inquiry into the affair.
Same old, same old.
Sordid, corrupt, immoral.
The definition of sleaze.
It's time to ditch the Union.
Monday 26 March 2012
Saturday 24 March 2012
Scottish independence scaremongering increases in volume
Unionist scaremongering continues to increase in shrillness and volume as Conservative leader and UK prime minister David Cameron, home secretary Theresa May and even former Northern Ireland first minister Lord Trimble all lined up this week to add their political tuppence worth to the Scottish independence referendum debate.
As expected, negativity dominated the Scottish Conservative Party conference, held in Troon in Ayrshire, and proved beyond doubt the Tories have learned little from their massive defeat at the hands of the SNP in last year's Scottish Parliament elections.
Of course, the same can be said of Labour and the Lib Dems, the two other mainstream unionist parties. All three have consistently shown they are little more than parties of fear.
Mr Cameron told the party faithful for too long they had allowed the SNP to claim ownership of patriotism. The Scottish Saltire, he said, the flag of a proud nation, was not the symbol of one party.
He accused the SNP of spreading the idea loving your country meant you had no choice but to go it alone and believing in the Union was somehow treasonous.
Ms May warned an independent Scotland would mean an open border and mass immigration; Lord Trimble attacked separation claiming it was tantamount to "doing violence" to the "British component" of every Scot.
There were other vitriolic anti-SNP voices raised at the conference, too. These included Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson who implored Labour and Lib Dems to put differences aside and join her in a united stand against the SNP.
So there we have it, the whole might and power of the British and Scottish establishments ranged against one solitary party. Stand by for a summer dominated by scare stories, dirty tactics and character assassinations.
However, a word of caution for those hiding behind the scenes, pulling the strings. Should by your conniving and underhanded tactics you actually win, and Scotland votes to retain the Union, don't think for a moment it spells the end of the independence campaign. Far from it. It'll just be the beginning.
As expected, negativity dominated the Scottish Conservative Party conference, held in Troon in Ayrshire, and proved beyond doubt the Tories have learned little from their massive defeat at the hands of the SNP in last year's Scottish Parliament elections.
Of course, the same can be said of Labour and the Lib Dems, the two other mainstream unionist parties. All three have consistently shown they are little more than parties of fear.
Mr Cameron told the party faithful for too long they had allowed the SNP to claim ownership of patriotism. The Scottish Saltire, he said, the flag of a proud nation, was not the symbol of one party.
He accused the SNP of spreading the idea loving your country meant you had no choice but to go it alone and believing in the Union was somehow treasonous.
Ms May warned an independent Scotland would mean an open border and mass immigration; Lord Trimble attacked separation claiming it was tantamount to "doing violence" to the "British component" of every Scot.
There were other vitriolic anti-SNP voices raised at the conference, too. These included Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson who implored Labour and Lib Dems to put differences aside and join her in a united stand against the SNP.
So there we have it, the whole might and power of the British and Scottish establishments ranged against one solitary party. Stand by for a summer dominated by scare stories, dirty tactics and character assassinations.
However, a word of caution for those hiding behind the scenes, pulling the strings. Should by your conniving and underhanded tactics you actually win, and Scotland votes to retain the Union, don't think for a moment it spells the end of the independence campaign. Far from it. It'll just be the beginning.
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