The Nationalists came to Hamilton promising victory. They have been promising victory for as long as I can remember - and now victory for them means coming second - again.
Having stepped through the looking glass they argue that Labour's tax policies, returning money to hard working families somehow attracts votes to them. But the one thing they try to hide is the stark reality that is their sole reason for existing - splitting the United Kingdom, breaking up Britain - Nationalism - is unacceptable to the more than 70% of Scots who will not vote for them.
It is not just their view of the world which is distorted. They have strange views on dissent. Their standing orders make clear that any unauthorised contact with the press is a hanging offence - well perhaps not hanging, but their Chief Whip has cheerfully gone on record saying that anyone who strays is liable to be dropped from the group. It is their form of deselection. I quote - "It is as if such a person went under a bus. The next one on the list would simply take his place".
It sure gives a certain sinister meaning to the phrase - "next please".
Then there is the puzzling case of the party's economic spokesman. Within the same week he argued that it was possible to be British, to be proud of it, yet vote against Britain for separatism. And then just as quickly changed tack, describing the Union Flag as offensive, - a relic of colonialism. They tell me he is a nice young man - he did eventually apologise - but would you put him in charge of your finances?
I can remember Free by '93. I thought then that it was straight from the great McGonigall school of politics - of dubious benefit but endlessly reusable. And they will use it decade after decade after decade.
Enough of the SNP - the politics of illusion are not for us.
Donald Dewar, first First Minister of Scotland, addressing the Labour conference, Sept 1999
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