Pomp with a purpose
You can say what you like about the Monarchy but they have definitely grasped the notion of Scottish self-government. The Palace gets it. They understand the concept.
The Royal Firm have acted with notable diligence to ensure that they have a continuing role to play in the new Scottish democracy.
From the outset of devolution, the Palace has been on the case. When Alex Salmond was elected First Minister, Her Majesty the Queen flew to Edinburgh especially to welcome him.
And today, once again, the dignified section of the constitution was on splendid display for the Royal Opening of Parliament in Edinburgh. (You'll remember Walter Bagehot divided the state into the dignified and efficient sections.)
Yes, it was pomp and flummery - although there was careful attention paid to the role of the people.
But it was pomp with a purpose.
The Palace is keen to ensure that it continues to play its part.
In response, both Alex Salmond and Alex Fergusson, the Presiding Officer, referred to Her Majesty as "Queen of Scots" - contriving simultaneously to lay stress on both the Scottish and royal dimensions to the day.
Mr Salmond's speech, though, provoked long faces on the Labour benches. Labour MSPs told me later that they felt he had strayed too far from impartiality - and had entered the realm of the partisan - contrary, they argued, to the spirit of the occasion.
They objected to his description of Scotland as a country in transition.
They objected to his reference to his support for an independent Scotland (albeit he noted that others take a different view.) They were decidedly unhappy.
In response, the Nationalists insist that Mr Salmond was simply reflecting upon the changing circumstances, that Her Majesty had similarly noted that there had been change in Scotland since devolution - and that Mr Salmond had merely been arguing for honest, sincere debate.
Unusually for me, I'm not going to stray into this one. I'll leave it to you.
PS: It may have been the formal opening of Parliament. But MSPs now head off into recess. As a consequence, my bloggery may be rather less frequent over the weeks ahead.
I'm 
Comments
I am not impressed by Salmond though having saw and heard his speech today I have to say, he did well. Labour are being ridiculously touchy and would do well to take a look around them, how is it possible to ignore the main difference between the parties - just don't talk about it in front of the Queen, the elephant in the room etc, it's plain stupid.
A great start to the new session with evidence of real action from our new government. Another fine speech from our FM who raised some key points about what an SNP Scottish Government will hope to achieve and that The Queen of Scots will be a part of that transition.
Also a great start to the "Brian Taylor Blog". Keep it up BT.
I thought Alex Salmond's speech was extremely well delivered, but I was surprised by his emphasis on independence. Having said this, I do believe he has every right to bring it up on this occasion. The Royals aren't at all surprised nor bemused as they know it might be an outcome at some point. Shame the Labour MSPs cannot get over losing and I suspect they never will. Me thinks it will take a new generation to shake off the old Labour attitude to Scotland.
I didn't think that Salmond's comments were too vulgar, given the fact that he acknowledged that others in the chamber disagree with his politics. I suspect also that the Queen is wise and experienced enough not to be in any way surprised or offended by such a divergence from established impartial protocol. I thought Her Majesty's speech was excellent - especially her light hearted comment about the Presiding Officer's father - and the day seems to have gone well. Pity about the weather though.
I thought that today's opening ceremony was excellent and conducted impressively. All 3 speeches were dignified, heavy with content and delivered in good spirit. All concerned should be commended except for Jack McConnel and his front bench who shamed themselves and the country with their childish and bitter behaviour. They appear to have no concept of the common good nor of the needs of their office on such a showcase national occasion.
All the speeches were excellent. Presiding Officer Alex Ferguson got the tone just right and HMO's riposte in response to his anecdote about his father (minister of Crathes Kirk on the Balmoral Estate) dropping all his notes over the top of the pulpit managed crease him up.
In my opinion it would have been ludicrous if Alex Salmond had avoided the inferences which naturally spring from the fact that the Nationalists have won through to power in the Parliament and that means change will happen. It might not suit the Labour Party but it is a fact and one which Her Majesty has been quick to realise. Alex Salmond's speech was thoughtful, inclusive and heartfelt.
Quote "You can say what you like about the Monarchy but they have definitely grasped the notion of Scottish self-government. The Palace gets it. They understand the concept."
That implies that there are many who do not.
Well, we know that the Labour Party do not. The careful dance by Jack McConnell around Blair's policies showed that. A robust, Scottish stance that would possibly disagreed with Blair's policies would have gained him both votes and respect.
Another body who does not 'get' independence is of course large parts of the ´óÏó´«Ã½, who seem to have deep friendships within the Scottish Labour movement.
I watched with great interest in today's opening of your third Parliament. I applaud the dignity displayed by the Presiding Officer. I thought his speech indicative of an unapologetic Scottish Conservative welcoming Her Majesty home to the country of her late Mother's birth, and welcoming her as Elizabeth, Queen of Scots. Her Majesty herself was dignified and clear in her understanding of the change in Scotland leading to the growth of the SNP. After all has she not presided over the greatest transition from colonial to commonwealth state in World history? I thought Alex Salmond had both stated the new Government's position and reinforced the link between the Crown and Scotland.
I was surprised when you subsequently reported that numerous Labour MSP's were very angry at the First Minister's statement. The Queen has as you said "gets it". The Queen appears well capable of welcoming Scotland to full membership of her Commonwealth. Why cannot Labour accept it?
I would be interested to know how the MSP's of the other major parties responded to the opening ceremony. Are they becoming more confident in expressing themselves as Scots? Or are they as reactionary as the Labour MSP's you spoke about?
Brian - looked to me like a perfect piece of politicking from FM Salmond. Kept to the facts so the opposition parties can't raise any real complaints but managed to push their buttons just the same.
If he keeps raising the issue of the referendum in a calm / oblique manner the opposition parties position is going to look more and more foolish. He might at some point be tempted to keep it going just to see them tie themselves in knots. Perhaps he already has it in mind to wait for another parliament to really push for a referendum.
Brian - looked to me like a perfect piece of politicking from FM Salmond. Kept to the facts so the opposition parties can't raise any real complaints but managed to push their buttons just the same.
If he keeps raising the issue of the referendum in a calm / oblique manner the opposition parties position is going to look more and more foolish. He might at some point be tempted to keep it going just to see them tie themselves in knots. Perhaps he already has it in mind to wait for another parliament to really push for a referendum.
Oh and one more thing is it just coincidence that the Scottish parliamentary recess coincides with the schools summer holidays or has somebody actually planned things for a change.
Brian, heard you say today on TV that you've been attacked by Presiding Officers for saying "Holly-rood, not Holy-rood". Stick to your guns! Of course the derivation is from "holy", but we don't say we're having a holy-day, we say holly-day----that's how the language has evolved.
Final clincher. I was brought up in the near proximity of Holyrood Palace and Holyrood Park and it was always "Holly-rood". I never heard "Holy-rood" until all these people from other parts of Scotland started to tell us locals how to pronounce a local place-name(as they did for Calton Hill which they pronounced as for the Glasgow district instead of the local usage).
Rant over.
Labour in Self-Denial
Once again Labour MSPs can't get their head around being beaten. There is nothing wrong in what the First Minister said. He was respectful to the Queen and the range of opinions in the Parliament. However, he has the right, as a new First Minister, to declare his government's view on the future of Scotland. If Labour continue in this attitude of burying their head in the sand to the desire for change in Scotland, then they will consign themselves to history. Indeed, it may not be nationalism that is "killed stone-dead" (in George Robertson's words) it will be Scottish Labour. I'll be in the queue at the funeral of this hide-bound party, when Scotland can at last live up to it's potential.
Am I the only one to think that we have at last in Scotland a Parliament that we should tentatively feel proud of. From the witty, prescient and measured introduction from an impressive Presiding Officer to the confident and inteligent remarks from our increasingly statesnanlike First Minister I genuinely feel that as one who voted against Devolution I could well be about to be won over.
The dark days of a stuttering stammering apology for a leader are behind us. Could it just be that Labour are beginning to believe that a few years of competent leadership from Salmond might see them off for good from power?On can only hope.
Typical of the narrow minded individuals who we finance to inhabit the Holyrood village, trying to distance themselves from a statement of reality of what has happened for fear the Royal personage may think this in some way reflected their opinion; they should be made aware if they do not already know that Queen is a well informed, intelligent individual.
The SNP have made no secret of their claims that they would wish HRH the Queen to remain Queen of an independent Scotland; why are Labour MSPs so horrified, do the Labour MSPs wish to keep the Queen in the dark, do they feel complicit in the failure of the previous First Minister insomuch that the Union Flag is now viewed as secondary to the Saltire in the Office of the First Minister?
I feel more and more of the Scottish public are beginning to see the true bitter side of Jack McConnell, one that was previously hidden from view; the ex First Minster seems more akin to a spurned child rather than an adult politician, if he feels that parading around with a sour face will impress Scottish voters, think again Jack.
Auch go on Brian say something! Can't let you leave for a while with this hanging in the air. IMHO I think his speak was excellent but of course the Labour party would say black was white even though it was black wouldn't they? Their attitude was so petulant it defies belief at times. Why shouldn't a First Minister who believes in independence mention it? Labour don't believe in anything other than cow-towing to their own in Westminster so they wouldn't mention it would they? Wasn't partisan it was honest.
The Queen, The Presiding Officer and the First Minister all had excellent speeches which all had a sense of history. The Queen showed respect for the Parliament, and showed what a classy and dignified person she was. This is something that simply cannot be said for Labour MSPs who cannot put their pettiness aside and act in a befitting way for the occassion. The simply must start accepting that Alex Salmond is the First Minister and should be treated with the respect his position warrants and they need to evolve into an strong opposition party otherwise their decline could continue.
As you note Brian, the Queen made similar points to Salmond regarding change. The fact that Salmond is the first First Minister who supports independece could simply not be ignored especially with the Queen being so respectful of the SNP government. Alex Salmond noting the significance of the occassion could reasonably be expected to point this out. He of course caveated it by stating that there was those who disagreed with him.
At the end of the day it was the late Donald Dewer himself (a man who did act with dignity) who said that
Devolution was a process not an event, therfore it was perfectly reasonable that 'continued change' was one of the themes of the day. Indeed, the Labour party should remember their leaders words as most other parties (including some Cons. some Lib Dems some of the SNP and the Queens herself) recognise that the parliament is evolving and changing regardless of whether Scotland becomes independent or not.
The only fly in the ointment today seems to me to be the way in which the labour MSPs are trying to score political points against Alex and the snp,{i am not an snp supporter}.The "Queen of Scots" was happy to sit and laugh with Mr Salmond so why, why, why, can those in Holyrood,{some of which are there by default,by the way}not put point scoring to one side and try and show the world the they`re there for the good of the Scottish people.Salmond was at least being honest by pointing out that things are about to change in Scotland.The Labour party are NOT right on all matters.
I must ask this of Brian, "Do you not believe there will be *honest,sincere debate*?
I thought the Queen was dignified and courteous but, to my eyes, she looked glum. Not surprising considering she was listening to a man who wants to break up her kingdom. While she may be Queen of Scots, it is by no means clear whether she, or her successors,will continue to have a role north of the border if Scotland gets independence. As for Salmond, he may have been discourteous by being so blunt, but he was simply stating what we all know - he wants independence. I think there was an element of sham about the whole proceedings - the partipants may have been polite to each other but I don't think they share the same goals!
Yet again a historic day in Scotland. Every time Her Majesty The Queen attends the opening session I get the distinct impression that any void which may lie between the Queen of Scots, (As she seems perfectly happy to be styled - else Lord Steel of Aikwood and others since would be found residing in 'The Tower'), and her Scots subjects reduces by a significant degree. At last, the Scottish Parliament seems to have taken on a life of its own and the 'Westminster bolt-on in Embra' may well become a thing of the past.
As for Salmond, I found his speech eloquent if somewhat predictable - the exception being the response exhibited by Her Majesty at Salmond's quips regarding minority Government. Why some on the Labour benches complain about it's content is best left for them to justify. However, with few if any political commentators having taken up their cause they may yet retreat quietly to lick their wounds, apparently still not yet healed.
Well done the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Scotland team for their excellent coverage of an enjoyable day's events.
The reaction to the first minister’s speech by labour was shear lunacy. Labours opposition parties need do nothing. Labour supporters must be leaving in their droves. If there were ever a reason to revive spitting image then Jack and his dummies have provided it.
Further to my comments yesterday I am very pleased and impressed to see that many Scots noted the poor behaviour of labour MSP's at yesterday's parliamentary ceremony. I just hope that Jack McConnell and his cronies read these comments and take note of what they have to say.
I was very impressed with Mr. Salmond and on his speech, and as a commenter has already said, the Queen is used to change, especially when it is regarding countries and empires.
What I don't understand at all is the stance on a referendum on independence.
2 parties (and hence the majority) against a referendum that would, with a 'yes' vote, only "open talks with the uk government over a dissolusion of the act of union".
These parties must clearly know they are going to lose a referendum? hence the fear of it, so how is this democracy? Surely they are elected to do the bidding of the people?
Maybe that is what fears Jack McConnell and his cronnies. This is a topic I would like Brian to blog on.
I agree with what seems to be the overwhelming majority of commentators in finding the reaction of the Labour MSPs nothing short of embarrassing. Undoubtedly, they intended to broadcast their objections in the hope of instigating a backlash against Salmond. Instead, they've turned public opinion further against themselves, something which the Scottish Labour party certainly does not need. If Labour want to win back Scotland from the SNP, they're going to have to do a lot better than childish grumbling and petty complaints.
Well now Brian, in your blog u state that u are going to be quiet on this one.
I think u let the cat out of the bag when u stated not once not twice but I,m sure three times that members of the Labour Party were angry, were very angry, were really angry, about Alex Salmonds'speech.
Of course they were angry Brian, they just had to sit there and allow the 1st Minister to score goal after goal after goal. Thats what happens when u have lost. The winners takes, and diden't he just.
Did u notice the wee jerk of the head as he was scoring, that was the final header going in. Nice Braces Brian. I do like Choo, Choo is nice
Next time you feel the urge to say your 'bloggery may be rather less frequent in the weeks ahead'- don't. See what happens.
Statesmanlike? Wee Eck?? PAH! Talk about lunatics running the asylum!