Time for independence?
- 12 Apr 07, 11:51 AM
Edinburgh: "It's time".
So says the slogan which is staring at me off the cover of the Scottish National Party's manifesto. Dominating the front page is a picture of Alex Salmond in statesmanlike pose with not the merest hint of a smile on his face. The document has the look of a menswear catalogue. This is apt since the SNP have stopped trying to sell an idea - the case for Scottish independence - and are, instead, trying to sell a man.
Salmond says he'd take his orders from the Scottish people and lead "a real Scottish government" - in contrast, he implies, with a first minister who takes his orders from the government in London.
The question which hangs over this launch is 'what is it time for?'. Is it time for Scottish Independence? The polls show no sign of an appetite for it. What they do show an appetite for is to give Labour a good kicking.
This campaign, like every other one, will revolve around a clash between two arguments - "it's time for a change" and "it's not the right time to take a risk on the future". The consequences of Scotland's choice will not just affect who is the next first minister and who forms the next Scottish government but all of us living in the UK.
If Scots decide it's time for Salmond and the SNP - as the polls suggest they will - they'll also be deciding it's time to take a first step on a long journey which could see the break up of Britain as we know it today.
P.S. Out of the window we hacks could just see the home of the Defence Secretary Des Browne, who must be wondering whether he'll soon have rather longer to spend there...
