FOUR SLICES OF A NATIONAL PIE

England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland form the United Kingdom.  The first three countries return MP's from constituencies fought over by the main three parties with a smattering of smaller, and newer parties filling the void for the disaffected.   In Scotland there is a fourth major group in the shape of the Scottish Nationalist Party.  This once tour-de-force, whose main aim is to cut the ties with England, was all-powerful, ruling the tartan roost until Labour resumed its traditional stranglehold at the last election when the tables were turned.  The SNP did not learn from the Tories. Infighting, mistrust and police investigations into nefarious activities by sitting MP's does not sit well with the electorate.  This is especially true when the party leader and her husband are the subjects of alleged 'misdoings'. Their case is ongoing.

In Wales, Plaid Cymru have been the fourth party, but never as dominant or influential as the SNP.  Welsh voters returned to the Labour fold in droves during the July election resulting in a large number of seats being gained or re-gained.  It was all there for the taking, a recently crowned First Minister, indeed, the first Black First Minister, was sworn in on the 20 March 2024.  Again, allegations, accusations and a loss of confidence in his leadership cost him his crown and Humphrey Vaughan ap David Gethin resigned his post after just 78 days.  Whilst his name would make you think of him as a native of Wales, he was born in Lusaka, Zambia. His father was a white Welsh vet, his mother was a black Zambian chicken farmer.  He moved to Wales when he was two years of age along with his parents and four siblings.  A photo of  the 'boy done good' shows him to be black, as opposed to half-caste as was, mixed-race as is.  His father's 'colouring genes' don't appear to have shone through, so to speak!  University, training as a solicitor, member of three trade unions made him ripe for political plucking.  His place has been taken by Eluned Morgan who is as Welsh and white as should be expected from a First Minister of Wales. 

Northern Ireland stands alone in returning representatives from parties within their boundaries and with a mandate that is, I believe, inward looking in the main.  This is not a criticism by any means.  It would be good to think that a British government looked - and listened - to the public they purport to represent.  The problem for Northern Ireland is the divisions that have plagued the country for years and show no real signs of abating.  Religion has played such an integral part of family life that generations on and little has changed.  Violence ebbs and flows, it is however just below the surface ready to ignite at any given opportunity.  The fact that there are now more Catholics than Protestants raises the question of just how long it is before debate on unification becomes the main focus of the nationalists.  I know I am going to sound like a Liberal-Democrat, but I can see both sides.  If I were Protestant, I would wish to remain part of the United Kingdom, if I were Catholic, I would want the six counties to be part of a united Ireland.  Fortunately, I am neither and do not have to consider such action or allegencies.  Any decision on Northern Ireland's future will not be an easy one. I do not profess to know too much regarding current views on the subject of unity, but I wonder what the feelings are of the majority of peace-loving citizens on either side of the political and literal divide?  At least those leading the various parties appear to be born and bred there with roots going back generations, so some good news! 

Eire, interestingly has had a homosexual Anglo-Indian at its helm on two very recent occasions - that must tick a few boxes, huh!   Leo Varadkar was born in Dublin to a father from Bombay, as was, Mumbai, as is, and a white Irish mother.  A not too-dissimilar story to that Gethin fellow.

Back here in what we once knew as England, the Conservatives blew their chances of survival ( as discussed in previous musings) by replacing Boris Johnson and Liz Truss with a man in short trousers.  Again, not a leader of quintessential English stock - and stock should be essential - a bit like Waitrose!  Rishi Sunak was born in Southampton to East African parents of Indian Punjabi descent.  At least his parents were from the same country and background. So much easier to get to grips with than those who, if you didn't know better, could have met on-line through varying match-making sites.  Asians-To-Go?,  Gay-To Go?,  Zambians-R-Us?  

Scotland...  Ah yes, Scotland.  Their political background seems to be more white in hue, but would you really want a leader who you felt certain doubled her income by treading the boards as a Krankie?