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[Drisgirl]

I am bemused.Tom Bradbury on discussing Gordon Brown potentially being the next PM - said he may be too Scottish for the English middle class.(Leaving aside Tony Blair is Scottish).

What does that infer?Surely any nationality within GB are entitled to be PM.Are we deemed inferior or could that be interpreted as a racist remark?

[Drisgirl]

BTW - my sat-nav has just homed into middle England - told you I was subtle in my techniques.

Casa - I am incapacitated to a certain degree at the moment -just getting up to heave!!Please do your stuff and give him the stats he needsThank you for your previous work -your endeavours will not go un-noticed at your annual appraisement:)

[stevie_c2it]

Dris, do you mean to tell me we're over 80 posts into this thread and you still haven't understood the points raised???

Ummn, I not sure if I can make it any clearer.

English voters have elected 'Scottish' people as MP's in English constituencies, many of them.

They have also elected 'Scottish' MP's into the role of Prime Minister. Again there are many examples.

Reverse the situation. How likely is that in Scotland?

Scotland wanted devolution, they quite understandably wanted to have control over the events in their own Country, great! So why this 'bemused' surprise that England should want the same?

Don't you think its hypocritical for 'scottish' MP's to have such a large say (and even rule in Gordon Brown's case) in the politics of Westminster, when you (quite rightly) wanted your own independence from interference by MP's outside of Scotland?

Somebody please tell me that they get this.

[Drisgirl]

Stevie - the representatives in the Scottish Parliament are called MSP's = Members of the Scottish Parliament.They deal with probably minor details which Westminster dont have the capacity to deal with as the MP's=Members of Parliament deal with issues which encompass the entire UK.like the Budget,and whether our collective troops should go to war.

As I said before the Scottish Parliament are nothing but a large District Council - like the ones who determine how much we pay for Community Charge or Water Rates.

If the same were to happen in England I suspect it would be split so many way,because of the size of your population,it would not be managable.

Now just to let you know that I get it - Westminster is the seat of the Government which effectively has jurisdiction over the entire UK.

[Drisgirl]

BTW - the Scottish Parliament and its officials are basically just managing issues which have been in effect for years.We have had our own legal system for as long as I can recall.We have our own Education system e.g we had Higher Grades instead of A Levels - although the Scottish Education System has been overhauled.We manage our own Hospital Trusts.It goes without saying that our policing is different as our legal system is different.

NI have their own Police Force (previously the RUC)

Those examples I have highlighted were in force long before the Scottish Parliament came into force.

Therefore why is it wrong for Tony Blair to be the PM (apart from your own personal views towards the man).

We live in a Democracy and I personally am a bit taken aback at your naivety and should I say deep seated resentment toward all who are not English.

I suggest you lobby your MP if you feel the English have been cheated in one respect out of a Devolved Parliament but please remember that the Welsh and the Northern Irish have their assemblies as well.Ultimately they serve a purpose in taking the mundane day to day running of the respective countries in order for Westminster to deal with the crucial issues which affect us all.

[stevie_c2it]

Dris, thanks for the answer, but we are talking a cross purposes. I'm not a fan of Tony, but never said its wrong for him to be the Prime Minister.

The accusation of Naivety is well wide of the mark, and a little baffling given that my answers, and subsequent clarifications seem to have gone completely over your head.

To say there is a irony in the accusation that �I resent all those not English�, is an understatement, particularly in light of your refusal to address the issue of Scottish prejudice towards the English, which has been the essence of my answers to your original question.

To be honest I like Scotland, I lived in Scotland, for several years in different locations, I even wish England would take a leaf out of Scotland�s book and develop it�s own defined separate identity and pride. However, it would also be true to say I was heartily sick and tired of having to listen to so many Scots whining on about England, and the English, and all the terrible things we�ve done, how badly treated the Scots have been (And still are) etc, etc.

It would seem, like so many of your countrymen, your not yet ready to accept that prejudice is a two-way disease, perhaps when you put the �clearing of the clans� behind you, and move on, we�ll let you win at football, or something.

[Drisgirl]

Stevie - I just knew you would pick me up on the Tony thing as soon as I had submitted it, as you had never shown allegiance to him either wayI did not phrase that properly.I merely meant that as a demonstration re Scottish PM's.

I think you will find that I have not dissed any other members of the UK unless you are counting any tonque in cheek remarks I made - and you usually know when that is the case.

Honestly Stevie - nothing has gone over my head.I understand perfectly well what is being inferred and occasionally - probably like yourself -choose not to pick it up.I said you were naive because I didnt feel from your opinions you fully understtod what the Scottish Parliament was about and I gave you a reply stating in a nutchell what it was about.Funny how things can go so off thread.I have been insulted on here and ignored itI had no idea it would lead to this.Anyway cant be arsed at the moment just thought I would give you the courtesy of a reply.

I have relatives in Norfolk, Oxford and Somerset so I am hardly going to hate the English.

The Highland Clearances - I dont hold a grudge for that long.I think - I may be wrong you have me mixed up with someone elses comments.I thought you had the measure of me by now.

[Drisgirl]

BTW - yes I am feeling a bit rough round the edges and sorry for myself.I had to get up to deal with something and rattled on here whilst waiting on E-Mails and phonecalls.Just before you say something else - we all have our off days.

[stevie_c2it]

Dris, my comments about prejudice being on both sides, are not aimed at you. I promise you have no need to take them personally.

I'm merely reflecting some of the examples of anti-English (for want of a better phrase) sentiment that I have encountered over the years. The 'clans' reference is simply an example of one I was given.

I sat through a England v Germany football game, where the Scots in the bar cheered for Germany, while Booing England. The anger over the 'clearing of the Clans' was one of the explanations given to me by Scottish friends (yes, I do have some!) as to why they wanted to see England lose. I found it strange, as a more recent conflict was the war against Germany in which we fought together, therefore I thought it more likely (if there was going to be a partisan view) that they would want to support the English team.

I'm not claiming it's universal, and that ALL Scots have a latent resentment to all things English, but clearly, more than the odd one does, and I'm afraid its human nature to dislike people who we think dislike us, and that applies to both sides.

I think perhaps we might agree on that?

[Drisgirl]

I agree - we just get wound up sometimes by constant references to '66 even when I was genuinely enjoying Englands Rugby World Cup win.I enjoyed the England Cricket teams victory in the Ashes (in particular Freddies bender) but still the commentators couldnt resist '66.It must irritate them as well as it takes their glory away from them.

So just to surmise - its those blooming commentators who hack us off about football.So to that end I will re-iterate I wont be supporting England in the World Cup finals as I couldnt listen to '06 for the rest of my living days:)

[Drisgirl]

I meant summarise before rogerthomas trawls this site!!!

[jp_2031]

what may i ask is wrong with the scottish? -im 100% scottish

[flubber]

Well Blair has been bad enough - I am not sure that anyone in this Country actually went to the polls to vote for Brown (or did I sleep through the election?)

[Drisgirl]

flubber - did you actually read the Q - doh.

I give up there are far too many numptys here.

[Deliverance]

Is the middle england your referring to birmingham???That is in the middle of england isnt it??

[Drisgirl]

Deliverance - are you coming it??

Just in case you are genuinely confused then yes I daresay Birmingham is geographically in the middle of England.

I am 100% sure that is not what Tom Bradbury was inferring.

Someone in a previous post very succintly portayed what middle England was perceived as and perhaps if you want to further your knowledge then scroll back and read the replies.

[davidavitch]

Tony Blair is about as scottish as my garden. - I live in bristol

[Drisgirl]

GOOGLE- He was born and brought up in Edinburgh.

When in Scotland he has a very distict Morningside accent (upper class district of Edinburgh).

Whats Bristol got to do with the price of mince BTW? and your garden for that matter.Strange reply - but hey it takes all sorts!!

[Fish Kid]

I do object to a Jock in charge of the country, all the ones I've met have a huge bag of chips on their shoulders.

We need someone with a spine, a Thatcher clone. And get them to rebuild Hadrians Wall.

[Drisgirl]

Tough fish kid - Hadrians Wall is still there.Why would we want the UNITED Kingdom split up - I dont personally care who is the next PM per sae - I just would like someone who is commited to the job.

BTW get it right we are evenly balanced we have the chips on one shoulder and the deep fried mars bar on the other ya wee sassenach ye:)

[Fish Kid]

Hadrians Wall is not fully intact, at least not time I saw it. It needs a fair but of work doing to be effective, but well worth the investment.

Deep fried mars bars (and cream eggs) originate from the North East of England, something else you lot want to take credit for I expect.