Scottish quote of the week: Tam Dalyell

Published on 30/08/2012 14:29

MOST recently ‘Father of the House’ in Westminster, Tam Dalyell is one of Scotland’s most outspoken politicians and is remembered for calling Tony Blair a ‘war criminal’.

Dalyell is also credited with the conception of the ‘West Lothian Question,’ (although it was named by Enoch Powell), the debate over MPs representing Scottish Constituencies being able to vote on matters affecting English residents. Dalyell pointed out that, as MP for West Lothian in 1977, he could vote on issues affecting residents of Blackburn in Lancashire but not Blackburn in West Lothian, owing to the Local Government Act of 1973.

Famously anti-devolution, Tam Dalyell once commented:

“The truth of the matter is that we Scots have always been more divided amongst ourselves than pitted against the English. Scottish history before the Union of the Parliaments is a gloomy, violent tale of murders, feuds and tribal revenge. Only after the Act of Union did Highlanders and Lowlanders, Picts and Celts, begin to recognise one another as fellow citizens.”