Arthur's Seat

Bullish about renewables

As the UK government announces the findings of its energy review here is a clear example of local, decentralised combined heat and power generation which should appeal both to HMG and the Opposition.
"We're not taking any risk, the reduction in odors (sic) is huge, and we're powering 600 homes with 900 cows," he said. "You've got to admit, that's pretty efficient."

Hoodwinking hoodies

Apologies again, gentle reader, for the few recent posts. Steps are being taken...

La belle Polly is on fine form in today's Guardian chastising DC for his "Love Actually" campaign on behalf of Britain's spotty adolescents, and she accuses him of hugging hoodies for political gain. She signs off, quoting an interviewee:
"I hope this is not rhetoric. It would be shocking to use vulnerable children as a political football." Indeed it would.
Indeed it would...

Life imitates art (again)

In his novel, Scone, Adam Fergusson depicts a Scottish Parliament where, by order, the restaurant serves only traditional Scottish dishes; the worthy tribunes dine on stovies, white pudding and potato scones. Today's Edinburgh Evening News confirms that - if it wasn't for EU procurement rules - MSPs would be turning fiction into fact...
SPECIALLY ordered local delicacies are to be put on the menu at the MSPs' exclusive restaurant at Holyrood in a bid to promote Scottish food.
Politicians and their guests will be offered not just familiar native dishes such as Arbroath smokies and Forfar bridies, but also "traditional West Lothian haggis" and "Port Seton finnan haddie"...The Scottish menus are only due to run at the MSP restaurant for two weeks in September to coincide with Scottish Food Fortnight. Parliament bosses say European procurement rules prevent them specifying the locality in which food is produced.

The death of al-Zarqawi

Another small step on the road to the reconstruction of Iraq. The new Iraqi PM, Nouri Maliki, also announced that he has now appointed defence and interior Ministers, completing his Cabinet. There is traction.

The joy of hubris

No 10 to fly England flag during World Cup
The St George's flag will fly over Downing Street on England's World Cup matchdays, Tony Blair ordered today.  With England's first game on Saturday, the PM's official spokesman also revealed Mr Blair - a keen Newcastle United supporter - had sent a handwritten letter of support to the England team in Germany via the manager, Sven Goran Eriksson. Mr Blair's official spokesman said: "We will fly the flag on match days due to the special nature of the occasion. "It's not insensitive to support one of the home countries in the World Cup."

ps Hubris or hybris (Greek ‛′Υβρις), according to its modern usage, is exaggerated pride or self-confidence, often resulting in fatal retribution.
pps We may have been here before...

The New Covenant

Over at Knowledge Problem, our good friend Lynne Kiesling draws attention to a recent story from Scotland. The Scottish Executive, fresh from banning smoking in enclosed public places (which includes railway station platforms [this according to the cheery conductor, sorry, Train Service Director, on the GNER service out of Aberdeen last week, who informed us that anyone wishing to smoke on the platform had better take their luggage with them as the train would not wait for the conclusion of their interview by the Transport Police]), is set to limit the sale and supply of alcohol.

We have often thought that the dangers of passive drinking exceed those of passive smoking, and are minded to applaud the Executive for this bold move. Away with those nasty glass drinking vessels, and fetch hither the extruded plastic tumblers. It feels more and more like 1640 every day; the new Covenant, Jesus and No Quarter. Except that in the brave New Scotland, Jesus has been replaced by a Czar - or more properly, a non-departmental public body.

Those of you reading this in the softer parts of the UK should be concerned that what is happening in Scotland will happen soon in Southend. The great Dr Brown will see to that. An insight into a Brownian future can be gleaned from an observation of Scottish politics over the next year. In May 2007 we will be voting for another Scottish Parliament. The contest currently underway is being fought out within Scottish Labour. In one corner, allies of Mr McConnell, our First Minister, and sometime General Secretary of the Scottish Labour party. In the other corner, allies of Douglas Alexander, our new Secretary of State, and Dr Brown's former ADC. Messrs Alexander and Brown want to make the election about New Labour values - like enterprise, prudence and regeneration. Cynics might observe that the public may want to pass judgement on another set of New Labour values, but only time will tell. Mr McConnell realises this, and wishes the contest to be about his record, and the steps that the Scottish Executive has taken to build a New Jerusalem.

Conservative party strategists will want to pay close attention to this election campaign for clear insights into how a Brownian No.10 will conduct the next election. Unfortunately, Conservative strategists (?) in Scotland have already announced that they will prop up a minority Labour administration after the next elections. That cannot be in Mr Maude's playbook. I suspect that certain Scottish Tory MSPs may be invited to visit Mr Cameron's favourite glacier, on extended study leave.

Update: David Farrer is ahead of us - the SNP has called for a voluntary code to regulate the advertising of alcohol (which already exists - ask the ASA and the Portman Group) - but which would be followed by legislative regulation of alcohol advertising, and then a ban - just as happened with smoking; (and which party pressed the Executive for a ban on tobacco advertising..?)

You in your small corner, and me in mine...

Over at the Corner an inquiry about Scotland. My view is drawn by my old mate, Iain Murray, currently thinking in a tank in Washington DC.

Plaid Attitude [Jonah Goldberg]
Iain - Maybe you could explain something to me, What's up with Scotland? I was there for the first time last summer on the NR Cruise. My lovely bride and I loved the place, at first. We thought Edinburgh — despite some of the usual Euro-grime — was just fantastic and we immediately hatched a fantasy of spending a year there someday. Then, it was slowly revealed to us that Scotland is becoming the land of kilt-wearing Marxists and environmentalists (hence, I suppose, all the green and red in their plaids). Fireplaces have been banned in Edinburgh and there's a legalized heroin vibe coming off many a park bench and back alley. It's the frickn' birthplace of the good enlightenment for Pete's sake! And yet, the Irish are going all free market while Adam Smith's ancestral home is becoming haggis-soaked kibbutz. Okay, I exaggerate, a little. But seriously, what's the deal? 

Rush of blood to the head - and my reply to Jonah is below. Anyone care to throw in their tuppence worth?

Jonah

My old uni pal Iain Murray has drawn my attention to your recent comment on Scotland. You are in broad terms right about Scotland's current political situation.

Scotland is in a quandary - since devolution Scottish politicians have talked about enhancing Scotland's economy, but have delivered little. Most regulatory and fiscal levers remain with the UK Treasury. Scottish Ministers can alter the rate of property taxes paid by businesses located here and have oversight of our regional development agency (Scottish Enterprise) but that is about it. The Scottish government is quite timid about stepping outside its devolved powers; a recent attempt by the "First Minister" (how Soviet is that?) of Scotland to adopt different procedures for the expulsion of illegal immigrants (no dawn raids, please) was squashed by the UK Home Office.

However, if Scottish ministers wanted to be more aggressive about making Scotland more business friendly they could do so without getting tangled up with London. Unfortunately, London, in the shape of the Chancellor, Gordon Brown (a Scot) has poured so much UK tax money into Scotland that over 55% of GDP is now taken up by the public sector - stifling private sector competition, and driving out entrepreneurialism. With so many people employed by government there are few family or peer role models for young entrepreneurs. It is a vicious circle.

But - and it is a big but - Scotland remains part of the UK. London drives the UK economy. There are 9m people living in London now; 4m more than in the whole of Scotland. London continues to suck bright and talented Scots, as well as Welsh, Irish and English people into well paid and interesting jobs. It is a truly international city, and you cannot look at Scotland in isolation from the London effect. In every walk of life in London - from the City, through the creative industries to government you will find Scots in every position from Chairman to caretaker.

Many Scots - having worked in London till their 30s, married and blessed with kids, start to look around for a better quality of life. Then the old sentiments of hearth and home rear their head. It's only 1hour by plane from Glasgow or Edinburgh to London; Scotland's financial sector motors along (the Royal Bank of Scotland [Citizens' Bank ( and others) in the US] is now the 2nd largest bank in the EU), and thanks to the UK government our schools and other public infrastructure is well-funded. You can walk to work, be close to friends and family, and still spend 3 days a week in London. The same is true for most countries in northern Europe - Scandinavia and now the new EU member states in east and central Europe export their young to London. Many stay, but most return home with increased capital.

Scotland's essential dilemma is that it wants to be both a successful small country while enjoying all the benefits that accrue from being downstream of London (as it were).

I am currently working in a company which has its HQ in Dublin. Ireland has grown like topsy over the last 10 years, and for the first time in generations there are more immigrants to than emigrants from the Republic. However, it is only a country of 4m people, and its economic reach is limited. The UK is a huge market for Ireland, and our business - having grown as much as it can at home is now expanding in London, Glasgow and Dallas, Texas.

Much as she would like to be distinct, Scotland cannot escape London's gravitational pull; it can, however, escape the downward spiral of the current UK government. Hopefully, another British government will reduce the tax burden, lift the dead hand of state regulation and just be a bit more competent about its business - then we will all benefit, whether we live in Edinburgh or Eastbourne.

Bird flu - get a grip

Prof. Hugh Pennington (president of the Society for General Microbiology) is clear enough in this morning's Herald:

SO H5N1 has arrived in Scotland. Not a real surprise. For the last few months it has been infecting birds in Western Europe – and it is very clear that it is very good at moving long distances.
Bird flu was first described by scientists a century ago, and H5N1 is not only one of the nastiest kinds for birds, but its ability to get about and spread worldwide in the dramatic fashion it has is unparalleled.
Only one other bird flu has caused fatal infections in people. Most kinds of bird flu have stuck to birds.
So how worried should we be? The most important thing to be concerned about is whether H5N1 will change from being a bird virus to one that can readily infect people and spread with ease from person-to-person.
If this happened it is certain there would be a world-wide epidemic – a pandemic. But whether it will happen is very uncertain.
What is most likely, however, is that if this change ever happens the most likely place for it to occur is China or the Asian countries bordering it, because that is where most of the virus infections are occurring.
The discovery of a dead swan at Cellardyke doesn't change that. It is Scottish birds and not Scots who are at risk.

Most of the media seems to have stepped back from the brink today - despite yesterday's blanket coverage. The Scotsman has it about right with this article (subscription only) from Prof. John Oxford, who is one of the more pessimistic of the expert commentators:
It would be difficult for people to catch bird flu - even if they tried really hard.

Ornithophiliacs take note.

Bird flu - we're all doomed

Listening to John Humphrys foaming at the mouth on the Today programme this morning was enough to make one want to set up a cordon sanitaire at the end of the garden. The BBC asks "Are you worried about bird flu?" to which most respondents appear to be saying "No".

Frankly, unless the good ladies of Cellardyke were re-enacting the visit of Zeus to Leda as part of a late Spring equinox festival, we have more to fear from media hysteria than from avian flu.

Given that Cellardyke lies deep within the constituency of Sir Ming Campbell it won't be long before we have the LibDems' take on the matter. Can't wait.

Update: I missed the first LibDem comment of the day:

Rural Affairs Minister Ross Finnie told BBC Scotland that there was no need for panic.
"This is a very serious situation but it is a situation where we need to look at the evidence, deal with it rationally and put all of the planning measures that we have been rehearsing for some time into place, but without inducing a general state of panic."

Panic - who said anything about panic..?

Update 2: Doubtless this weekend's media will be full of helpful hints as to how best to cope with this latest mass panic. (Was the last mass panic Sars or Foot & Mouth?) Here is some useful advice given to readers of the News of the World during the 'flu pandemic of 1918-1919:
Wash inside nose with soap and water each night and morning; force yourself to sneeze night and morning, then breathe deeply; do not wear a muffler; take sharp walks regularly and walk home from work; eat plenty of porridge.

Update 3: BBC News: Opposition parties have called for First Minister Jack McConnell to return to the country from New York, where he is taking part in US Tartan Week celebrations.
What possible use would that serve?

Update 4: Welcome to readers of the Corner; we would be delighted to see all of you on vacation in Scotland this year. Do not be alarmed by the sight of assorted politicians and journalists running round like headless chickens. The real chickens still have their heads, as do the rest of us.

One for Dr Crippen

NHS Blog Doc is an excellent site which is powerful medicine to keep you out of hospital and away from the clutches of nurse managers.

I wonder what Dr Crippen would make of this story which reveals one of the unintended consequences of the UK government's recent chages to its immigration policy. Non-EU Doctors now have to apply for work permits to come and work in the NHS. The permit free training scheme for medical practitioners from the Indian sub-continent has been abolished.

We're all for the opening up of the EU and the creation of a truly free market, which should enable qualified medical staff from other EU states to come and work in the UK. The Scottish Executive launched a scheme earlier this year to attract Polish dentists to set up in practice here. But, does this have to be at the expense of the previous scheme which apparently worked well for doctors and other medical staff from the Commonwealth who wanted to continue their training in the UK?

This is where my inner free marketeer does battle with my inner anglo-indian - help Dr Crippen, what should we do?