Starkey in 'Scotland adores failure' rant

Published on 18/10/2008 19:42

THE "rudest man in Britain" yesterday turned his acid tongue on Scotland in a three-pronged attack on its history, its politics and its people.

TV historian David Starkey called Mary, Queen of Scots, "a whore and a trollop and a murderess", accused the Scots of "adoring failure", and branded the SNP "utterly contemptible".

Starkey, who rose to fame presenting historical television programmes about the lives of the Tudors, was on a radio programme, giving his thoughts on the SNP's idea of returning Mary, Queen of Scots', remains to Scotland.

He said: "It's exactly the kind of Scottish sentiment that makes the Scottish Nats' shortbread, tartaned, biscuit-tinned view of Scotland that is totally and utterly contemptible."

Starkey, who has gained a reputation for acerbic outbursts against the Queen, the BBC and Tony Blair, made the comments on Radio 2 comedy programme, Clive Anderson's Chat Room.

He added that Mary, who he said despised being queen of Scotland, would hate the idea of being returned, and that actually made her the perfect heroine for a people who "adore failure".

He said: "The only victory (Scots] have ever celebrated is Bannockburn; the rest is about wallowing in failure. They even have special music for failure – it's called bagpipes."

The 30-minute panel show is billed as a fast-paced entertaining satirical talk show, during which opinionated panellists speak their mind about the hot topics of the day.

Although fellow panelist and journalist Eve Pollard rose to the defence of Mary, Queen of Scots, calling her the glamorous "other woman" compared with her cousin Elizabeth I, Liberal Democrat MP and Scot Charles Kennedy did not reply to Starkey's comments.

Starkey added: "The union (of England and Scotland] has always been based on mutual humour and mockery."

Starkey previously attacked Scotland in 2004, when he branded it an unimportant country until it was joined with England in the 17th century. Following his comments a motion was tabled in the Scottish Parliament condemning the historian.