Writing in the New Statesman, (Labour's Last Scottish Leader?), Steve Richards suggests that much of Gordon Brown's unpopularity stems from the fact that he is Scottish.
But it is not Mr. Brown's ethnicity which is the problem. The fact that he holds a Scottish seat is the real reason that he is viewed with such unease by the electorate in England. The English have had no trouble in accepting Celtic leadership in the past but since devolution of power to Scotland, things have changed dramatically. We now have the ridiculous situation whereby Scotland enjoys home rule but exports politicians to rule the English via the U.K. Parliament. No-one in England has voted for Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, Michael Martin, Des Brown et al and yet, on a daily basis, they are formulating legislation which affects only the people of England. Conversely, since devolution, these same politicians have no influence at all in their own backyard.
How much longer the English electorate will put up with what virtually amounts to foreign rule, is the real question. Resentment is steadily growing south of the border and Gordon Brown and his Scottish colleagues are, quite rightly, in the firing line. And whether or not Mr. Brown is the last Scottish leader of the Labour Party is now simply an irrelevance!
Anne Palmer
"To be born English is to win first prize in the lottery of life"
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