One long, slow retreat...

Although Wendy Alexander has not yet officially started in her new role as Leader of the Labour grouping in the Scottish Parliament, her statement of intent and alleged difference of opinion with the Secretary of State for Scotland over more powers have been noteworthy. When it comes to further constitutional change, Wendy is between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand she can oppose further change, against the wishes of the Scottish people and on the other she can concede that more change is necessary.

Either of these outcomes would suit the SNP. Further devolution of powers to Scotland is a natural progression in the eyes of the SNP, towards their ultimate goal of Independence. On the other hand, had Wendy outright opposed further change she would have risked being placed in the category of those who did not realise events were overtaking them and opinions were changing. In short, she would have placed herself and her party at odds with mainstream Scottish opinion.

Looking at her decision to embrace more powers, however slight, it must be observed that the SNP has played a clever game and forced her hand. Looking back at the events of the past 100 years, it is plain to see that the times when concessions have been made by Westminster, they have been done at times of SNP strength and have been designed to prevent their further progress. The Labour Party and indeed the unionist parties in Scotland have been in one long slow retreat for many years, culminating in a Scottish Government run by the SNP. The question is now no longer whether we will have independence but when we will have Independence. Sixty percent of the Scottish people believe it is going to happen and when the people believe that something is achievable they are more likely to strive for it than when it is merely a pipe dream.

The unionist parties are continuing their long slow retreat but the best victory they can ever gain is to hold back the tide of public opinion for a further ten years or so. As Rabbie Burns said, "No man can tether time, nor tide". That goes for a tide of public opinion as well. Labour and the other British nationalist parties can only hold it back for so long before being swept away by it's force.