The Problem of Being Like Scotland

One of the problems with nationalism is that it craves attention. The Scottish variety is no exception. Thus, for instance, the normally sensisible SNP Tactical Voting asks:

One day we may read in foreign newspapers “why can’t we be more like Scotland?” once in a while. Wouldn’t that be a refreshing change?

Jeff goes on to say how jolly splendid it is that the SNP’s proposals for price controls on alcohol might be emulated elsewhere in the UK and, who knows, in truly foreign countries too. Whoopee! But this is scarcely surprising. After all the Scottish parliament has led the way before. Brave Wee Scotland was the first to ban the hunting of foxes with hounds and it was also ahead of the curve, I’m afraid, with its draconian, invasive attitude to the consumption of tobacco. These terrible ideas duly spread to the other parts of the United Kingdom, demonstrating only that Tartan Illiberalism is quicker off the mark than its counterparts in Northern Ireland, Wales and England.