主播大秀

Hi Derek

As always, a thought-provoking programme. Thank you.

I was particularly taken with your interview with the Icelandic professor (sorry I didn't catch his name) re the new Icelandic constitution.

Great idea for Scotland post independence. However, Iceland is putting something together on the basis of its own long history and an existing constitution, and presumably the group/committee/commission of citizens will be coming up with something that irons out the wrinkles in the existing Icelandic constitutional position. Scotland's problem in a corresponding, post-independence situation is likely to be that Westminster thinking may make itself felt through sheer force of habit.

Suggestion for the post-independence Scottish government: that it engages your Icelandic professor friend as a constitutional consultant - helping us, based on Icelandic experience, to identify what works and what's not likely to in a new Scottish constitution. For one thing, drawing in outside advice would counteract the pull of Westminster thinking. Maybe even better: put together a team of constitutional consultants from several small countries - say, Denmark, Norway, Ireland. Under the chairmanship of your Icelandic professor. And leave Westminster off the team altogether.

That would really be a fresh start ...

A very interesting hour. I agree particularly about the excellent Icelandic Prof (Lesley Riddoch has some interesting things to say about him), a great item too on Scotland's 'elites', however I am still concerned about what might happen on the upcoming changes. Why change a winning formula.

NTS, ELITES AND PRIVATE SCHOOLING. All societies try to maintain elites, look at the Russians in the 80s and Mao's need for a cultural revolution, it's just that it's so refined in the centuries old English public school system, of which the Scottish one is a pale replica. One of it's tenets is to produce a boy with an accent which doesn't reveal his county of birth - a good thing if you consider a corollary which envisages Empire District Commissioners in Tanganyika with broad Weegie, Brummie and Geordie accents trying to communicate !
However we've moved on, which presumably the NTS hasn't. A lesson concerning these appointments could be taken from US medical - legal circles. If an opinion is sought the doctor is asked what proportion of his/her income is derived from this practice - if it's high they're considered " rent a hack ". Couldn't a similar limit be put on presidential candidates to bodies such as NTS ?
Keep up the high standard, Derek, as your show is my weekly favourite !

Elitism:

The new President of the National Trust for Scotland seems to be the Lord Lindsay described (with mis-spellings) by Wikipedia as James Randolph Lindesay-Bethune, 16th Earl of Lindsay, Deputy Lieutenant and Conservative politician.
"The son of David Lindsay, 15th Earl of Lindsay and his first wife Mary Douglas-Scott-Montagu". Vice-chairman of the Inter-Party Union Committee on Environment 1994鈥�95, and was Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland from 1995鈥�97, ...responsible for agriculture, fisheries and environment.
He married Diana Mary Chamberlayne-Macdonald 2 March 1982, and the two have five children:
Lady Frances Mary Lindsay-Bethune (b. 1986)
Lady Alexandra Penelope Lindsay-Bethune (b. 1988)
William Wolf Lindesay-Bethune, Viscount Garnock (b. 30 December 1990)
Hon. David Nigel Lindsay-Bethune (b. 1993)
Lady Charlotte Diana Lindsay-Bethune (b. 1993)
--
While I am not suggesting that the Earl is unqualified for his new role, neither can he be the only person, male or female, capable of presiding over the NTS. New appointees drawn from the customary privileged elite perpetuate the established tradition of social exclusion and economic disadvantage for those beyond the pale. That would be most of us.

The National Trust for Scotland uses the tagline "A PLACE FOR EVERYONE". Should we infer "...and everyone in her/his place"?

I would love to make some intelligent, incisive comment about one of the topics covered in your excellent programme. However, I am unable to make any comment as, for the second week in a row, the iPlayer has served up some random old copy of the programme. Perhaps you will recognise which programme (around Oct. 2009) as your introduction was:

"You will have been reading in some of the London press how the so-called party conference season is over for another year. Well it's not! If I pretend it was now Alex Salmond would call the 主播大秀 and accuse me of something or just go grrrrrr."

Please get it fixed as otherwise I might have to get up early on a Saturday morning.

Hello Derek,

Having today made time to hear your programme鈥檚 Icelandic item, which I missed at the weekend, I鈥檇 like to contribute to the 鈥榗onstitutional鈥� thread running through the broadcast and the blog comments you have provoked. I use the term 鈥榗onstitution鈥� very loosely.

The Icelanders have seen merit in encouraging an inclusive approach to improving their country鈥檚 constitution. A remarkable diversity of people have contributed in an open-minded, co-operative fashion, to making their country a better place in which to live. Could such a development happen in Scotland? Not likely. How would we overcome the entrenched Establishment, whose largely self-selected members have advanced the cause of self interest for generations? Are 16th Earls essential to the running of a country?

Your contributor Walter Humes recognised that the elitism problem is more serious, deep-seated and pervasive than 鈥榯he wearing of several hats鈥�. I agree with his view that an open, democratic, accountable Scotland is incompatible with established conventions of social deference to landed gentry, minor aristocracy or 鈥榓nyone with a title鈥�.

Mr Humes quoted Bill Jamieson鈥檚 description of the Edinburgh elite as 鈥渋nterlocked, cross-connected, and intensely self-reinforcing. Its power and influence extends over culture, the arts, business, politics and government鈥�. Walter Humes also highlighted the pervasive influence of personal connections, membership of clubs and the informal power of 鈥榓 quiet word after meetings鈥�. Quite so.

Undemocratic aspects of Scottish life have possibly always been with us. But that does not justify their perpetuation. Unaccountable or hidden influence over the lives and life-chances of others should be discouraged.

Accounts of the political manoeuvring which facilitated the 1706 Treaty of Union reveal covert extra-parliamentary alliances of self interest. Then, as now, the influence of a networking landed gentry sought to ensure that the interests of the Right would prevail.

I would argue that the need to disempower exclusive behind-the-scenes self-interest is at least as important as any struggle for Scottish independence. An independent Scotland, or a 鈥榙evo-max鈥� Scotland, where sectoral interests remain dominant would still be a country in need of far-reaching constitutional reform.

As ever, an extemely good programme.

Concerning the Finnish people writing their own constiution, I believe that Norway has already followed the same process. They may not be such a bad example as we have been led to believe by some parties, unionist mainly.

What is happening with the programme? Would it be possible to get rid of the football/sport blurb that so badly silts up Radio Scotland's output and expand Newsweek. We hear so much from John Beattie the rest of the week, that I'm sure he could do with a wee rest. Pie in the sky I suppose.

Ah, football, more opiate of the people anyone?!

The piece on the National Trust and the elitism in Scottish life and society was beautifully done. Is Bill Jamieson really a member of the Edinburgh/Scottish elite? My goodness.

Looking forward to Saturday at 8am.

Back to privilege in Scotland - at the National Conversation a couple of years ago in Melrose, Alex Salmond was questioned about the future position of the non-Holyrood power structure ie Lord Lieutenants and so forth. Cleverly he dodged the question by answering he wasn't anti-Royal and hoped Elizabeth, Queen of Scots would continue as head of state. However, this is going to need addressing in due course !

re Simone at comment 7
> The episode you were accessing is being offered externally to the 主播大秀,

Thanks for the reply. It wasn't external to the 主播大秀 it was from iPlayer. This was the iPlayer link (although it has now expired):
/iplayer/episode/b01f4zdq/Newsweek_Scotland_31_03_2012/

Thankfully, this weeks programme is available from iPlayer.