Talking-up Scotland

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You might remember hearing about agent provocateurs in school history classes. If not, they were sneaky government guys who joined anti-establishment groups like the early trades unions and the pro-democracy groups like the Chartists. There were probably female ones too in the Suffragette and Suffragist movements. Basically, they joined these movements and tried to stir them up into taking illegal actions so the government of the day could self-righteously repress them and the media demonise them as extremists.

Here’s part of the Daily Excretion’s report on what Paul said yesterday:

‘PAUL Nuttall has demanded that the next Government must end the system which means that English taxpayers’ cash is used to fund freebies in Scotland which are denied to people in England….On a trip to the target seat of Dagenham and Rainham, the Ukip leader told the Daily Express that the Tory plan to means test the £200 winter fuel allowance in England but keep it as a universal benefit in Scotland was “the last straw”….Already Scots get free tuition fees, do not have to pay prescription charges and have social care for the elderly paid for by the taxpayer…..It’s a complete disgrace that Scots get all these freebies on the back of English taxpayers. The excuse offered by Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson for allowing Scotland to not means test winter fuel payments is that “it is colder in Scotland”.’

He’s actually correct that the colder weather thing is an excuse. See:

Why Ruth Davidson should be campaigning to keep the Winter Fuel Allowance for many of England’s old folk too

However, back to the point. Nuttall’s outburst extensively reported will fuel English Nationalism and anti-Scottish sentiment south of the border. Tory politicians will join in making ill-judged tweets. Before you know it, we’ll all be told to fuck off and shut up and soon after, new laws will be passed to seriously weaken the SNP’s progressive policies.

This is good. To get independence, we need the pull of a creating a better country but judging by the polls it’s clearly not enough. Too many Scots don’t get it and need something more direct – ‘push.’ By that I mean the English wanting us to leave whether we want to or not. Already a lot do. If Paul and anti-Scottish Tory MPs, even ministers, can push Theresa into more and more anti-Scottish actions, the No campaign will wither under their murderous fire.

PS – I know my metaphor’s a bit muddled.