The Scottish police yesterday announced that from now on it will “not be in the public interest” to pursue housebreakers who hold their hands up when caught red-handed with bags of swag; muggers will be let off scot-free if they apologise after taking the money; and arsonists will now be allowed to burn down any buildings they like, provided they aren’t caught doing so more than once. The reason is that each will have taken “significant steps” to comply with the law.

No, I just made it up. This is obvious nonsense, of course. But it is the same remarkable double-think by which the body responsible for protecting democracy, the Electoral Commission, has just announced that Wendy Alexander is not to be prosecuted for corruption - despite her own admission that she broke the law by accepting a large ‘donation’ (note, NOT a bribe!) from an overseas businessman. Apparently it wouldn’t be in the public interest for a political party leader who takes illegal donations to be prosecuted. Why? It might scare other politicians into being more careful before accepting bribes, and then where are their slush funds going to come from?

Click to read more ...

Reading about the Library of Congress trying to call Scottish ‘English’ reminded me of a recent trip to Barcelona in Spain. Or should I say, in Catalonia? Or in Catalunya? Or, erm… oh dear!

Barcelona is undoubtedly one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. But sadly I left the place liking its people less than almost anywhere I’ve travelled in the world, for the uncomfortable hostility repeatedly experienced in contexts where as a visitor I’m used to receiving anything from grudging acceptance to (more often) overwhelmingly warm hospitality. I almost always leave somewhere wanting to return. Not Barcelona.

The reason? I can manage a smattering of Spanish. But like over 99.99% of the world’s population, I don’t speak Catalan. And this matters there. So virulent is their nationalistic pride, that locals (who I’m certain know it fine) pretend not to understand a word of Spanish, even when asked for help by visitors. This didn’t happen just once, but regularly, rudely, until I learned to stop asking. It left a really nasty taste in my mouth.

And here’s the rub… watch Catalan TV news or read their papers, and the UK is routinely referred to as “Anglaterra” - England!! Talk about hypocrisy. I was about 8 years old when I learned to call (the old) ‘Russia’ the Soviet Union, on realising the parallels with my own dislike as a Scot to be called English. I’d be more impressed if the Catalans looked further than their own fundaments and thought about the principles of their principles!

But it’s also a reminder to the nastier elements here at home. Fortunately I think we’re a rather more welcoming folk than the Catalans I encountered. And other than a few nationalist nutters, I like the fact that most Scots regard national identity as something positive that embraces others, rather than a hostile trait that divides and excludes. Let’s keep it that way.