Scottish 'Government' and whats in a name?

This week has seen what, on the face of it, seems a childish spat between the British Government and the Scottish Executive headed, since the last local elections, by the Scottish National Party led by Alex Salmond - all over a name.



Mr. Salmond announced that, as of now, all letter headings, emails, reports etc referring to the administration of Scotland will not be headed 'The Scottish Executive' but will henceforth be known as 'The Scottish Government'. The British Government in Westminster reacted immediately and forcefully to this saying that no such change would be recognised by the British Government and that no mandate for such a change had been granted to Scotland under the devolution Act of Parliament.

However the British Government may be pissing in the wind. The BBC in Scotland has already recognised the change and is using the new terminology while Scots in general seem happy with the new designation. It makes them feel more independent, even if they're not - yet!

And there's the rub - the British Government fears, with some justification, that the new title is part of Salmond's 'softening up' process to prepare the Scottish electorate for a referendum vote on complete independence for Scotland and that such 'title grabbing' appeals to the people of Scotland and thus enhances the appeal of Salmond's SNP - and that is the very last thing the British government wants!

I wrote a piece back in May when the SNP won the elections in Scotland and said what a black day this was for the United Kingdom. I have had no occasion to change my view since then and, despite the UK government's desperate optimism, 'he hasn't a cat in hells chance of getting a referendum result voting for independence', I sense that the mood is changing, both here in England and north of the border. Hence the angry row over a name change - a change the Scottish Nationalists see as the visible symbol of a new dawn and a change the UK government sees as the thin end of the wedge.

The Blair government carried out its manifesto pledges to give Scotland and Wales their own form of self government - and I applaud them for that, it had to be done - but sadly I fear that a mere scent of self government has created a new heady mood in Scotland. They like the idea of being an independent nation and the bubbling sense of 'lets go it alone' seems to be growing.

I am seriously worried about Salmond and his plans for an independent Scotland. I think its far more feasible than it was once considered to be by the British Government and this is what is frightening them. I hope the Scots come to recognise the tremendous amount of subsidy their country gets from the British exchequer and the English taxpayer but I fear that Salmond is determined to lead Scotland, like the pied piper, on a road which will eventually end in tears for all of us.