INTELLIGENT leaders learn early there are three ways to cope with demands for change. One, is to hope it will all go away. Another is to figure out why folks are upset and devise ways to meet their needs. A third response is to completely deny the need for change and to double down on the old way of doing things.
The Tories tried the first, and it failed. In their conceit, they see no immediate future in the second. So, now they have decided on option three. How do I know this? Read on. Here is the latest outburst from their new-fangled UPIC (Union Policy Implementation Committee).
It was always likely that a group with such an unlovely name would have a less than charming chair. It is no surprise, therefore, to learn that it is headed by Michael Gove.
UPIC has drawn up a programme: to fight the Scottish elections “hard” rather than offer up constitutional concessions in advance; simultaneously launch a campaign to persuade Scots of the benefits of Union; thirdly to oppose a referendum and hope that causes the SNP to fight among themselves over tactics and fourth to only later consider further devolution and then only as part of wider reforms across the UK.
It is hard not to think this was written by a 10-year-old with no experience of Scotland and its people. (On reflection, I do a disservice to all 10-year-olds). It is incoherent and contradictory.
Let’s look at each of these notions in turn. What exactly does it mean to fight the Scottish elections “hard”? For a start, it means that UPIC is evidently unimpressed by the performance of the Scottish Tories to date. And they believe is hugely important NOT to offer constitutional concessions in advance.
Someone needs to have a word, then, with Gordon Brown who has been hauling his sorry ass around the television channels saying exactly the opposite. Worse, it is reported he is doing this after consultations with … Michael Gove! If this means anything it must be that the chair of UPIC is undermining his own committee.
Then we come to number two – “a campaign to persuade Scots of the benefits of the Union”. Since no one has yet discovered any such advantages over the years, this can only mean a rerun of Project Fear. The benefits – in short – will likely be this: “If you continue to misbehave (that is, not vote our way) you will be punished.” In other words, the beatings will continue until morale improves.
READ MORE: Why size really does matter when it comes to drafting a constitution
Next, we come to SNP in-fighting as a “strategy” to save the Union. Here you do get the impression that a grown up came into the room while this nonsense was being written. But again, it misses the point. While there may well be SNP in-fighting that does not apply to the much larger Yes movement which is pretty united.
Moreover, it is by no means uncommon for there to be some rancour in secessionist movements.
In what became the US, all sorts of folks fighting the British for independence had very uneasy relationships. Even when independence was secured these sour connections continued, to the extent that Alexander Hamilton (the man, not the musical) took such exception to vice president Van Burren that they fought an illegal duel. A day later Hamilton was dead, mortally wounded in the affray.
At this point in the UPIC meeting, the grown up left the room and the children went back to playing. Read this: “To only later consider further devolution and then only as part of wider reforms across the UK.”
Where is the appetite “across the UK” for such constitutional reforms?
Conveniently, the answer may be found in a new Sunday Times poll. The ST reports that “the poll lays bare the apathy about the future of the Union in England”. It showed that English voters were evenly divided over whether they would prefer Scotland to stay.
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Why should folks in England put up with massive constitutional upheaval that they do not wish simply to “keep” Scotland? And does anyone honestly believe that the Tories, often hugely opposed to radical constitutional change, have the slightest intention of asking them? Of course not.
Looking at these UPIC vapourings, fair-minded Unionists must despair. While they may be an increasingly endangered species, there are genuine right-of–centre folks, now styling themselves as home-rulers, who regard some sort of devolution on steroids as preferable to independence.
For them, doubling down makes no sense. They know it will be counter-productive, as it will simply encourage the indy-curious to complete their journey to Yes.
Marsha Scott of WFI is the next guest on the TNT show At 7pm on Wednesday
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