Look up, and you can see Scotland from anywhere in the UK. SCOTLAND should have a strong voice at Westminster. That much is certain.
We are a berth for the UK’s nuclear submarines. We build the ships of the Royal Navy. We are so popular (and important) bears fly off our coasts and sneaky submarines sneak around our fishing boats.
We contribute to the UK’s economy and the fabric of the country as a whole (regardless of the denial brigade) so much, London could never bear to let us go. It’s true!
And – yes - we house a collection of 700 year old judges hell bent on protecting their highly secretive and dubiously achieved judicial wealth from prying eyes.
It is also true our little, big, country is a possible candidate for vested interests & big business to frack for their own gain. Yes, their gain, not the wider community at large.
Vested interests, corporate boards and Chief Executives do not toast champagne over throwing free money at citizens or vital public services without some fiddle in the background. Fact.
And – sadly - we are an outpost of dodgy financial & legal services who go to extreme efforts to avoid scrutiny, accountability, regulation & transparency. Heather Heather. And some Capital.
In any case, there is a General Election this Thursday, and it is your right as a citizen - to vote.
Will anything change next week? Not really.
The NHS will still be in crisis. Statistics on crime (and everything else) will still be fiddled beyond plausibility. Increasing numbers of people across the UK will be forced to use Food Banks.
Oh .. Shocker. People in power you rely on for help will write back to you saying they cannot help.
Lord Gill – the Lord President & Lord Justice General - almost Napoleonic in title, will still be in Parliament House dancing to “Mysterious Ways” – or perhaps “Insidious Ways” - gaming out his latest military style exercise against judicial transparency on his WOPR WarGames computer.
Oh yes – and the rich get richer while the poor get poorer.
But, once every few years - when you – the electorate – are needed - it is YOUR chance to hold Government and all it’s fantasy and all it’s power – to account.
As you hold Government to account this week with your vote - think on this.
Some might say … a Government is only as good as it’s opposition. Inevitably, a Government is only as good as those who vote for it.
A strong opposition can - or at least should - hold a Government to account.
A strong, independent media often holds, and frequently advances the line on transparency and accountability - which helps hold Government to account.
Thursday 7 May 2015 is your choice, your voice, and your vote. Think. Don’t be bullied by vested interests or false and fantastical promises.
However you decide to vote, you have the right to decide for yourself. But please, do vote.
