THERE was little to be surprised about in the Cabinet documents from Margaret Thatcher’s government released yesterday.
But many Scots who lived through the time may have to reassess their opinion of Thatcher’s then Secretary of State for Scotland George Younger.
It was seemingly only pressure from Younger, who threatened to resign over cuts, that stopped Thatcher wielding the axe.
What is unsettling is how that discussion in Cabinet and that review from David Willetts has just about set the narrative for the Tories’ relationship with Scotland ever since. Willetts said the Scots were “pampered” and a “juicy target” for spending cuts. Hammer the Scots, he told the Prime Minister, and win votes from the English.
That adviser later became an MP and served in the Cabinet of David Cameron. He was a member of government during the referendum and, indeed, right up until the General Election. He then retired and found himself elevated to the Lords.
You have to wonder if he gave Cameron the same advice he gave to Thatcher: Hammer the Scots and win the election. We saw that resentment being put forward by the Tories again and again during the General Election campaign.
It started right back on the morning on September 19, when Cameron learned that 55 per cent of Scots had voted No. Out he came from 10 Downing Street, stood on the steps, addressed the world’s media and said: “We have heard the voice of Scotland and now the millions of the voices of England must be heard. The question of English votes for English laws, the so-called West Lothian question, deserves a decisive answer.”
Now, 14 months down the line, we see what that answer was. A hotch-potch of standing orders that makes Scotland’s MPs, effectively, second class.
In another document, Willetts said the “envious North of England” might “welcome an attack on the pampered Scots”.
Depressingly, that attitude is as prevalent in the Tory party today as it was 30 years ago.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here