To be a nation again

It may not have escaped your notice that in just a few weeks the tribes to the north of the Wall of Hadrian are going to decide whether or not the Union Flag should continue to have a blue background. And one or two other things besides.

This is a debate from which Cicero has stood aside. Mainly because he is disenfranchised in this election and just as we tell Mr Putin to stop interfering in the affairs of a sovereign nation, he believes that those who live to the south of the Wall should not interfere in the politics and affairs of those fortunate to live in the enlightened land to its north.

But there is one thought that Cicero has observed and would like to share.

Any observer would note that those who are encouraging the tribes to say aye are expected to have all the answers, to have very i dotted and t crossed, and every loose end tied up before Xs are applied to the ballot paper.

Eck himself, or Alex Salmond as the press know him, is often criticised on this. Especially when it comes to the bawbees the new nation will use.

But as Cicero would like to point out this is impossible. So cut the guy some slack. And maybe this is a flaw in the process. Maybe the Celtic tribes should have two votes. Heaven forbid.

For it is striking that on many issues Eck on his own cannot decide the final outcome. He needs others to come to the table and they are not going to come to the table until they know whether it is aye or naw.

Take the bawbee issue, for example. Eck can say what he would like to see happen but until the Two Caesars or even the Last Lot say what they want, no one will know for sure what will be the shape and the bawbees the tribes will have in their pocket.

Same for nuclear weapons. Same for EU membership. Same for pensions, health and everything else for that matter. It takes two to tango and so far there is only Eck on the dance floor.

So let us be clear.

At this stage Eck is only being given a mandate to negotiate. He is clear about what he wants. No one else is. And until they show their hand no one can be sure if Eck’s vision for a free and independent Scotland is what they will get.

This is not an argument that it is all too uncertain and risky so the answer ought to be naw.

Instead it is an argument for a 2 stage process. Stage one to give Eck a mandate from the peoples to negotiate a fair settlement for an independent Scotland.  Followed by a second vote to ensure that everyone happy (well at least 51%) happy that all every i has been satisfactorily dotted and every t fully crossed.

Only then can the tribes be sure that this will work or not and that they are not buying a pig in a poke.

Two votes? God help all who live up there.

Have a great week

Sis felix. Et sis fortunatus.