“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” (A Man After Midnight) is a song by Swedish band ABBA. It was recorded in August 1979 in order to help promote their North American and European tour of that year. Below; singers (now referred to as “vocalists”) Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad in their heyday.
An admission – an extremely politically incorrect one: When a chap sees two extremely attractive young ladies (above) one dressed in a miniskirt, gyrating their hips and whilst smiling broadly singing, “Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight!” Certain thoughts enter one’s mind!
Traditionally, nations have achieved independence on the stroke of midnight. Thus it was with the now sovereign United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland achieving independence on Friday 31st January 2020 at 11:00 pm GMT the EU was able to deliver a particular humiliation and insult for it was Midnight – Central European Time!
Today there has been another event that will be interpreted in certain ways by some. The some being members of the Scottish National Party and the event being the decision of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom that the Scottish Parliament cannot legislate for a referendum as that is a reserved power.
Of course, Ms Sturgeon knew what the result was going to be all along! Of course, everybody in Westminster – including Larry the Downing Street cat – knew this as well!
The reason for squandering taxpayers money on a pointless bout of litigation was party political. Ms Sturgeon thinks that it will help her stay in office! She is probably correct.
Of course, just as everybody knew the action was going to fail, they also know that Mr Sunak is not going to grant Ms Sturgeon what she says she wants: a referendum on Scottish Independence.
The BG has a suggestion for Mr Sunak: Offer Ms Sturgeon a referendum!
Why?
Because it will A: Shoot her fox and B: Potentially assist the UK economy and by extension Mr Sunak’s chances of, well not loosing so many MPs, following the next election.
You see, Ms Sturgeon’s plan for Scotland is about as realistic as the idea that wind turbines can provide a reliable base load electrical supply for the UK!
Ms Sturgeon’s plan is this:
#1: Campaign for Scottish independence in a referendum.
#2: Win that referendum.
#3: Negotiate with the EU for immediate Scottish entry into the EU.
The problem for Ms Sturgeon is that as much as many EU member states will be delighted to have Scotland back, two will not be and will veto any application: These being Spain and Belgium! It is possible – due to Belgian cowardice – that they will abstain and allow Spain to cast the only veto that is required.
That is not to say that Ms Sturgeon will be unable to negotiate a new relationship with the EU! The negotiations will focus on what will likely be described as a “Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement”. That is akin to Mr Putin describing the Russian war against Ukraine as a “Special Military Operation”!
It MIGHT in effect be a case of three treaties:
#1: Scotland’s entry into EFTA
#2: Scotland’s entry into the European Economic Area
#3: Scotland’s Entry into a Customs Union with the EU.
However, it MIGHT NOT! It is a racing certainty that Spain will object even to the above. It is therefore more likely that membership of the EEA and the Customs Union will be brought about by an overreaching treaty between Scotland and the EU. For the purposes of the EEA agreement Scotland would be deemed a special economic area of the EU. This will also apply to the Customs Union. In effect, Scotland will for all commercial, economic, financial and political purposes become a overseas dependent territory of the EU and will have to accept all EU directives and regulations without having any say in this whatsoever! In addition the Euro will have to become the ONLY legal tender in Scotland but at the same time Scotland NOT being a formal Euro member.
This will give Scotland zero control over most of her affairs!
This will in effect amount to a surrender of sovereignty on an unprecedented scale for a state that was not defeated in a war.
It will however settle a score of difficulties for the nations of England and Wales! This because the land border with Scotland will become the border of the EU and that will include Northern Ireland!
It will allow much easier trade with the EU for firms in England & Wales! This after a considerable degree of infrastructural development.
It will enable a sovereign England & Wales to have most of the benefits of EEA and EU membership without many of the costs – and the surrender of (English & Welsh) sovereign power!
Of course a new home will have to be found for the Royal Navy’s nuclear deterrent. Milford Haven is the best choice but the Labour government in Wales will doubtless object. That means Falmouth in Cornwall.