David Torrance: Alex Salmond failed to convince all comers as he took his ‘charm offensive’ roadshow to Liverpool
Alex Salmond probably fancies he has a certain affinity with the people of Liverpool. During last May’s election campaign he was in the city for a memorable edition of Question Time.
Initially the television audience was lukewarm, but before long the old pro had them eating out of his hand, particularly his warning not to let English politicians destroy “their” NHS.
Last night the First Minister tried to recapture that magic on a return visit, making “The Case for an Independent Scotland” at the sumptuous St George’s Hall. Surprisingly, the venue was packed, full of curious middle-aged and (predominantly) elderly Liverpudlians, as well as those from further afield.
Liverpool has Nationalist form. Until the 1920s it returned an Irish Nationalist MP, such were the number of Irish immigrants in the city – T.P. O’Connor represented the old Liverpool Scotland seat in which, appropriately enough, Salmond’s speech took place.
Continuing the “charm offensive” (Eck’s description) begun in London a few weeks ago, Salmond repeated familiar themes about making the relationship between England and Scotland more equitable. Interestingly, his Liverpool speech took that argument further by addressing the position of the English regions should Scotland become independent.
Yes, you guessed it, not only will independence be good for England, but it will also revitalise Merseyside. Such a change, argued Salmond, would “require a re-thinking of the structures of the rest of the UK”, not that he was so bold as to suggest what that might involve. But whatever it was, he reasoned, “the end result would surely reflect the needs of the regions better than current arrangements”.
Thus the First Minister presented himself as a Liberal federalist (not that he used the “f” word), committed, as was Gladstone, to “Home Rule All Round”. So far, so logical, only the federation conceived by Alex Salmond would not, if he had anything to do with it, include Scotland. For Scotland is a nation, and although Merseyside was imbued with a strong regional identity, it was not.
Less convincing was his claim that a “secure independent nation in the north” would help “lessen the economic dominance of the south-east” (there was precious little detail as to how). Finally, Salmond switched into “staunch Anglophile” mode, reassuring the audience that independence was nothing to be scared of; things would remain pretty much the same.
At one point, Salmond cast himself as a great Victorian orator. “On this tour of England, all England over,” he proclaimed (and paraphrasing Gladstone), “I’ll be backing the masses against the Westminster classes.” One of those masses, sitting next to me, was not impressed. “I served with a Highland regiment,” he told me, “and I swore an oath to crown and country – he wants to break that country up.” Next stop is the London School of Economics tomorrow; perhaps Salmond will have better luck in the Imperial Capital.
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Comments
There are 24 comments to this article
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Abridged too Far
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 04:58 PM#7 Doug, I spent 22 years in the Royal Air Force and in that time I privately thought of myself as Scottish, while in public I toed the British line. I needed to put food on the table, and stepping out of the established thinking does not enhance a military career. The effect of this is that when the numbers are over-whelmingly stacked against you, you comply to the point of having to take on the role of an apologist. To fight against the doctrine is to condemn you're family to an uncertain future. After a while it becomes second nature to spout the propaganda and keep your true thoughts buried deep. I'll bet the large number of homeless ex-military living on London's streets now have very different views from the old boy's club in the officer's mess.
Abridged too Far
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 04:38 PMOpening an article with the sneering drivel "Alex Salmond probably fancies he has a certain affinity with the people of Liverpool" is not a precursor to unbiased and intelligent reporting, which this shoddy attempt at jounalism isn't......Whether Salmond is well received during a particular speech, trade or cultural exchange may have some relevance, what should be important to the people of Scotland is, that as First Minister, he is getting off his arse and shaking the right hands. By getting out and representing Scotland, whether his efforts are lauded by the biased right-wing press or not, is what we expect of him. This is the way our delegates bring to the focus of the world our abilities and ambitions. Would the author of this drivel prefer to hear the voices of Scotland silenced?............. By comparison, our UK representitives, Cameron and Osbourne, were lauded by the press for removing themselves from a high profile EU summit and denying any representation in those talks to the British people. If you or I were to walk out on our duties in this manner, then what reason would we have to return to that job the next day? The answer...... to tidy out you're desk or attempt a grovelling apology claiming you have been "under a lot of stress lately". "Wielding a veto"?...... we would be wielding P45's.
and I'm not making this up
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 04:17 PMThe truth is that the British state is still tied to the concept of mercantile imperialism operated out of London. An independent Scotland would end that and as a consequence of constitutional change would usher in more economic and political power for the English regions. The North of England would flourish with an independent Scotland.
billalba
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 11:03 AMDoug .....I live in Fife spent 12 years in the RN and can't wait for independence....the only flag I want is the saltire.
Endrick
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 10:18 AMMilitary nostalgia is hardly a basis for a progressive future - you don’t require a political union to find common cause against evil. On the other hand, you may find it commits your sons and daughters to an illegal conflict.
Proud Doonhamer
Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 12:49 AMDavid is talking to himself again and then quoting himself as a source.. poor lad, this happens when you don't take your meds.
rider000
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:41 PM8 maisiedotts Strange the Liverpool Echo had an exclusive and very positive interview with AS. .............. It isn't strange at all. I have lived in England for over 30 years since departing Lanarkshire and I have found the English are very open to rational debate and along with the Welsh either broadly support Scottish seperation from the union or are totally amivalent. It is only the Scots or those that claim Scottishness that get very excitable over it and many seem to imagine that every else is engaged in the topic which is far from the truth. You only have to go check out the online English national papers to see that there is no coverage. Papers tend to publish what sells so no coverage = no particular interest but there is always an openness to be advised or lectured to about events as they unfold.
Colonialtoff
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 04:06 PM“I’ll be backing the masses against the Westminster classes.” Does he think he will raise the masses in a revolution and take over? the man lives in the past
The West Awake
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 02:25 PM12 - You are right, albeit they did report that Salmond spoke to a packed hall. I also noted the (few) comments in the Echo were broadly supportive apart from one guy who said he had "mates north of hadrians wall who said Salmond was very unpopular". I wonder how many English, never mind Scottish, politicians would pack a political meeting in Liverpool? How many people would come to see Johann Lamont or Willie Rennie - anywhere?
smallwhitebear
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:18 PMWhy do we have a committed pro-unionist giving an "unbiased" opinion on all things Scottish? Alex Salmond would have had to have them all dancing jigs in the aisles to have gone down well in Torrance's eyes and even then he would have pointed out the non-dancer scowling in the corner, as being the "voice of reason" or the person most representative of the mood of the audience..
Buford Van Stomm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 01:01 PMhow queer...the Scouse echo leads with a story about Kate Windsor....have they no idea that scottish royalty was in town?
Buford Van Stomm
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:59 PMThe correct term is "smarm offensive"
Steelyvibe
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 12:40 PM8. The Liverpool Echo listed all the things Salmond said but didn't give an opinion.
The West Awake
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 11:57 AMSo when Torrance says "Salmond failed to convince all comers" his only evidence for this is as follows - " One of those masses, sitting next to me, was not impressed".... Oh, well, that's me convinced then - NOT. Anyway, Torrance the good Tory and no doubt one of the "classes" Salmond says he doesn't support should actually be cheering on Salmonds taking the position of "beacon" for enlightened left-wing thought, After all, Salmonds fire is not directed at the Tories in that regard, but rather Labour, whose encampment on the high ground of the left is now under question. Where to for left-leaning people in England now that they have no mainstream party to represent them? As I have stated before, with only a bit of tongue in cheek, I reckon the SNP would do fairly well in England.
jamesdow
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 at 09:26 AMDavid Torrance is a former adviser to the Scottish Conservative party. Which is all you need to know about David Torrance.
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