The Bewilderness

Economics will not decide this referendum

Walker's World at UPI decides to take a high-level view of a question which he argues could dominate the European crisis: Grexit vs. Brexit. Taking aside the question of political surprises in the present day, why does Brexit attract such interest? The short-term demands of Tory Eurosceptics may be swept away at the next election. It is unclear that a different government would observe a refendum promise or even adhere to the referendum lock. 

Walker's emphasis on the narrow economism that characterises Europhilia demonstrates that the primacy of politics remains the key driver for these events. Economics is a backstop but an EU, unwilling to reform, will not provide Cameron with what he desires for support.

An Essex Way

The Essex Way is a long distance path that traverses the county in a north-east direction from Epping to Harwich. The landscape is agricultural; field upon field upon field. The path follows old trackways or small verges alongside yellowing swathes of wheat that are yearning for their harvest one month hence. 

Essex is not completely flat. There may not be the elevation of the downs or hills further west but the landscape undulates: gentle ups and downs that provide views. The other joy of these walks is the traverse from one village to the next: small self-contained, neat and old. The hiker will emerge from the hedge and enter a colourful world of flowers and old cottages: perhaps a welcoming pub and as centrepiece: the mediaeval church: much modernised. Next door: the war memorial, a simple cross or other device and a few names; often not enough to fill the space left for memorialisation.

At the end of the journey from Ongar to White Notley: a path that runs round Chelmsford and arcs towards Colchester, one realises that large swathes of the county are pretty and empty; the station at White Notley is a permission to travel machine and a shelter. Miss the train and wait fifty minutes for the next. 

This is the only way to see Essex.

Independence expectations north of the border

The vote for Scottish independence is a sleeping subject for the politicians at Westminster. With fourteen months till the referendum, there is little discussion of the vote or its implications in London. No doubt calculations are being made within circles gaming both the outcomes of "yes" and "no". Yet on this vote hinges the possibility of a majority Labour government.

Will Labour accede to inevitable demands that its Scottish MPs lose certain voting powers in the event of independence or further devolution? Can Miliband ignore the West Lothian question in the event of a No vote? There will be a huge clamour to raise the issue in 2014. It may even outdo Europe in the minds of recalcitrant Tories. The genuine and just outcome will be a form of federalisation.

The Guardian puffery on Alex Salmond written by an admiring Kevin McKenna focuses upon Salmond's capabilities of differentiating on the Left. The hero-worship of industrialism at the start, the demonisation of Toryism and the usual crap that Scottish national identity embodies the Grauniad's wihlist on social justice detracts from a single valid point. The independence referendum cannot single out grievances or oppression as a starter. Therefore, the campaign becomes akin to a general election campaign and will revolve, as Salmond notes, around expectations and opportunity.

I can only guffaw when I think about how an independent Scotland would dash the expectations of Guardianistas who expect a paradise of social justice that can become a beacon to the oppressed and beighted ignorant English. It would also dash the expectations of the Scottish themselves; and that will be a sadder story.