An Old Firm Match

[steepholm]

So, I thought to myself, why rant here for nothing when I could be ranting in a national newspaper for money? Thus was born this contribution to the debate over the current constitutional crisis, in which I propose moving the capital of the UK from London to Glasgow in the event of a No vote in September.

Unfortunately, it was published on the Guardian site just as I was leaving to catch a coach to (ironically) London, where I spent yesterday evening at a fabulous concert given by my brother and the folksinger Chris Wood. It was a great evening, but one devoid of internet (bar 15 minutes at a cafe) so I wasn't able to keep up with the comments, of which there are now around 500. They divide between those that think I'm being serious (which I am) and those that think I'm joking (which I also am) - so, just what I would have hoped for, really. One thing that did surprise me was that some commenters appear to believe that the English don't habitually conflate the UK and England. I was glad to have it Engsplained that the innumerable occasions on which I'd observed this happening were all in my imagination, and if I were on Twitter I might be considering a #notallsassenachs tag.

Comments

[hunningham]

I love the idea of moving government out London and shoving it up north somewhere (Glasgow, York, Hull?) - London just holds all the cards for art, money, power.

[steepholm]

Though I didn't expect my plan to be welcomed universally, I was actually quite surprised at the numbers of people who found the idea of London ceasing to be the "centre" of the country in any respect almost literally unthinkable. The Ideological State Apparatus has done its job well!