Sadiq Khan, London’s mayor, has risked causing a row over Scottish independence by warning that nationalism can be as divisive as racism and religious bigotry.
Khan is expected to tell Scottish Labour’s spring conference on Saturday that there is no difference between nationalists trying to divide Scottish and English people and “those who try to divide us on the basis of our background, race or religion”.
Clearly he is off message here. Nationalism is wrong when it is English nationalism, but is good when it is Scottish nationalism. Because, okay?
Scottish independence campaigners insist their brand of civic nationalism is inclusive and non-sectarian,
Yeah, you keep telling yourselves that. You might be convinced by the effluence, the rest of us can see it for what it is.
That popcorn contract looks like it might need renewing. And I will have to start watching my waistline.
Update:
Well, that didn’t take long…
Sadiq Khan has qualified his attacks on Scottish nationalism after provoking a torrent of criticism for claiming it was equivalent to racism and bigotry.
He is just leading the long march through the institurtes
Hoe nice it would be to see a politician have the courage of his convictions.
Jonathan Aitken?
Actually, I’m beginning to see the attraction of some kind of nationalism because of the diluting effect that amalgamating countries is having on democracy. As it is, the EU is run by un-elected and unaccountable people. There is only the illusion of democracy provided by the European Parliament which is nothing but a highly expensive talking shop. But even if the EU had genuine democracy, what effect would my vote have in such a massive political sea? I don’t see that people wanting to have some say in their own affairs as being nationalism in the traditional sense.
As Sean of this parish is wont to remind us, democracy simply does not scale up. That is the biggest argument against the EU and that is why I voted to leave. Bugger all to do with immigration or xenophobia.
I hold no particular brief for Sadiq Khan, but he’s spot on with this one.
Scottish Nationalism is largely driven by deeply unpleasant anti-English bigotry which is indistinguishable in every way from the other manifestations of racism.
Anyone with an English accent who has lived in Scotland will be painfully aware of this.
Indeed. However, he quickly backtracked in the face of criticism.
@ Julia – I’m afraid ours are more notable for their convictions than their courage.
I’ll get me coat…