The SNP never passes up an opportunity to make the case for separatism. Now, its campaign for independence has moved away from politics and into the world of the Eurovision song contest. The party has responded to the United Kingdom’s dire showing at the competition with a predictable demand: that Scotland should be allowed to compete separately next time around.
Alyn Smith, the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman, believes we should ‘talk seriously about entering UK nations separately into the contest’. ‘Scotland is rich in talent and culture, and I want the world to see it. By entering independently, we could one day bring Eurovision back to Scotland,’ Smith added.
It’s true that Eurovision is an intrinsically silly contest; that’s part of its charm
The European Broadcasting Union, which organises Eurovision, has said before there is nothing to prevent Scotland from applying. But allowing Scotland to compete separately is a move that politicians in Westminster should be quick to resist, especially at a time when the future of the Union hangs in the balance.
Already in international competitions, Britain doesn’t compete as Britain enough. There
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