St Kilda, and the GOAT.

• 

  From Findlay’s window

We stood on the bow of the Elizabeth G, as she slowed into the serenity of Village Bay. This felt more like a homecoming than an arrival. The nine-hour torturous crossing from Barra across the relentless Minch was now behind us; spent mostly in my cabin fighting sea sickness and a real fear of our ship being torn in two by the sea, such was the swell. We had been delivered safely; relief palpable as the cloud began to lift over the slopes of Oieseval. I drank in this evening view. The culmination of a thirty-year fascination with this group of islands was at hand. As the boat slowed, as if in reverence, the others readied busily for their first dive. I settled down with a Balvenie and my thoughts. Like painted watchmen, the puffins on the Dun cliffs returned my gaze. Realisation dawned that I was here because of Ewan, and Valentino Rossi.

I met Ewan through work; a site visit around three years previously. I nodded at a picture of Rossi behind his desk, he asked if I was a fan. “I named my son after him” I replied. He smiled that broad, now so familiar smile.

It transpired over the months following, that he had worked on St Kilda. I told him of my obsession. He called one day, a place aboard a diving charter he was on had become available. “I lied that you were a sound bloke, they’re cool for you to join us”. I jumped at the chance. And here I was, privileged, the only non-diver aboard.

Their first dive complete, we drank and ate well, and I wished for the morning to come when I could finally set foot on St Kilda.

As usual we both woke early, fortunate that we were cabin buddies. Ewan and I shared a coffee and chat on deck before the others rose. When they finally surfaced, we lowered my kayak into the water, I wished them luck with their dives and waved them cheerio. I paddled gently towards the beach, the sun on a cloudless sky kissing my neck and hands as the realised excitement coursed through me. The kayak speared the soft beach gently, I tore off the spray deck and I stepped for the first time onto Hirta. I panned around this familiar crescent, the wash of lush green hillside, sweeping shoreline and rising rockface; once merely studied pictures, now a reality.

Over the next few days, I would explore every walkable inch of this island. A rigid daily itinerary emerged: launch kayak in the morning, paddle ashore, explore the island in blissful solitude, return to Village Bay, watch for the Elizabeth G returning, paddle out to meet her. Food, drink, enjoyment and much sharing of stories.

In those days, I consumed all the sights and sounds I had pored over for many years. I tasted the salt air from the sea cliffs and stone cleits which sheltered the fulmar catch. The blast of North Atlantic wind which scoured the cliffs filled my fleece as I climbed the Mistress Stone. I engaged the protective male Skuas who, when alerted by the female of my proximity, would swoop down and strike at my head until I scurried clear of their territory. I lazed on the soft slopes of Conachair, dangled feet over the gaping chasm below the Lovers Stone, felt the warm sun tighten my face as the silence, but for the breeze and caw of the fulmars, brought its meditative solace. I could hear in my head the voices and songs of Ann Gillies and the other women singing together at the sharing of the fulmars, plucked by the men from the cliffs overlooking Boreray.

I entered each of the old houses, now roofless and decaying. A roof slate sat in each fireplace, painted on it was the name of the last inhabitant before the evacuation in 1930. I stood in old Findlay’s front room and looked out the frameless window at Village Bay, imagining how this view moulded the boy and the man during his seventy-four years, and how it looked on that fateful day when he would leave his home never to return.

The trip ended too soon, and we left for home. A flat sea ushered a gentle return as if to reward the perseverance of our outbound struggle. A shoal of dolphins rode our bow, shepherding and welcoming us homeward past the shadow of the Black Cuillin on Skye, back to a more familiar setting. I thought of the evacuee’s journey, their culture abandoned.

On deck, Ewan and I toasted them. “Tae journeys, wi’ good friends”.

Three years have passed. I am on the other side of the world. We have our boarding passes. The departure gate announces that the Melbourne flight from Queenstown will be boarding shortly.

I flick through Facebook posts on my phone. The world around me stops.

“….. tragically Ewan Smith died today in a motorbike accident…”.

I look at Arlene. “Ewan is dead” I say, not quite hearing my own words as my head spins.

I flick through my texts. His last one to me. Only a week ago. Inviting me on a biking trip with him and his boys. I apologised, “…. we’re going to see Ceri in Australia, otherwise I would have loved it.”

“Enjoy Oz” he replied, “there will always be another day!”.

And away…

There’s a stiffness in my neck, back, hips legs, arms and also the muscles in my face as I woke. A 200 mile trip via Tarbert on my Bonnie the culprit. “Age doesn’t come alone” Hardly a wheel turned all year. I took the opportunity. No tourer but thankful for the heated grips as the hills shadowed and chilled the journey at points; and also for the relaxed seating position and engine response as I eased myself in once more, post Covid.

And like the otter, another first for me as I wound my way up – under convoy – the old military road which gives relief to the Rest and Be Thankful when nature blocks its way. Thankful for firsts at my age, but many still to be found. Thankful too that my two wheels allowed me to white line through the congestion, a common occurrence these fine days. Scotland is spectacular, but there is a tiredness to our towns and villages.

A meditation on a bike.

“Your eyes look tired dad” Ceri said when I arrived home. I explained again, in Dad detail, the difference in concentration levels required to ride a bike, in comparison to driving a car. Now her eyes looked tired.

Arlene had had some friends over, they were making their arrangements to head home as I stole a cake one of them had kindly brought, to add sweetness to my coffee; my teeth and brain rebelled. I said my goodbye to them, showered and watched Detectorists (again) followed by Mortimer and Whitehouse Gone Fishing (again). Then bed.

I woke on my back. Hands resting on my chest, fingers intertwined, shoulders almost touching my ears, jaw clenched, brows furrowed and tinnitus singing in my right ear. I automatically unlocked my fingers, dropped my shoulders, unclenched my jaw and let my forehead unfurrow.

Unattended, even in sleep, we invite tension. The open window let a breeze wash across my uncovered hands and face; now that I was receptive to it. And the tinnitus softened by the sound of blackbird, starling, blue tit and crow.

“And away…….”

All those such important things

What to do today?

 

What to do today?

Is a poem I wrote during lockdown. I invited and was bombarded by friends on social media who added their own verse to this poem, giving insight and overview to what we all were ‘doing today’ as we isolated ourselves from COVID19, and found ourselves in a very new ‘normal’

It was recorded a few days ago, along with some others just on the outskirts of my home village in Howwood, Scotland. It will be in print in my book of poetry which will be released later this year.

Can you add any stanzas?

 

 

copyright 2020 Bobby Motherwell

Democracy – Coming soon to a town near you.

For many years now, I have questioned the validity of my vote in a “democratic” Britain. Those who know me, have heard my argument many times now, and friends and family have slowly came to the same conclusion as I have, that as a Scot within a Union forged in 1707 between the parliaments of Scotland and England, our vote as Scots doesn’t matter.

“But that’s democracy Bobby!” I hear many shout, “Just because your team doesn’t win, doesn’t mean your vote doesn’t count”. At which point I usually have to remind them that that’s not what I meant or said. I accept that in any democracy, there is no guarantee that “your team” will win. What I don’t accept is that when as a nation, your vote is powerless to elect the government you think is best for you.

In all my years – I’m 52 – I have only ever once voted for the party elected to Westminster. You could say that in that year, proof, if ever it was needed, that democracy within the UK was alive and thriving. But look closer. Even if I had not voted that year, indeed even if the whole of Scotland had not voted that year, the same party would have entered government.

That, to me doesn’t seem like a fair democracy, with the power to elect Westminster governments taken almost entirely outwith our hands, and it devalues my most powerful weapon as a citizen of Scotland and Britain, namely – my vote.

To get some clarification on this issue, I decided to ask the experts from each of the political parties and both Yes & Better Together campaigns three questions which I felt were fundamental to the Independence referendum.

So I sent them all and email……

 

Email sent from Bobby Motherwell

From: Bobby Motherwell
Sent: 15 March 2014 20:16
To: nigel@bettertogether.net; info@yesscotland.net; scotland@labour.org.uk; linda.wilson@scotlibdems.org.uk; info@snp.org; marek.zemanik@scottishconservatives.com; office@scottishgreens.org.uk
Subject: A question on the upcoming Independence referendum

Hi there,
I’m hoping you can help me with a question I have regarding the upcoming Independence referendum. I have copied all the relevant campaigns/parties in, I hope you don’t mind.
I am 52. I’ve lived in Scotland all my life, voted all my life and I think I am quite politically aware. However, there has been one thing that has caused me concern all these voting years, and that is how relevant my vote is when it comes to electing a government in Westminster?
I have detailed below information which I have extracted from a blog on the internet which kinda confirms my suspicions that if the Scottish vote was removed from the UK vote in all the general elections I have voted in, there would have been no (or little) change in the elected government. This being the case, my vote and that of the people of Scotland is worthless in this context. I have been wasting my time all these years, and deluding myself in thinking that I had the power to change or elect governments at Westminster. This isn’t about “my side winning” here, this is about “my vote even counting”.
My question to you is threefold.
1. Are the statistics below correct?
2. In the event of a No vote in September, why should I vote again in a UK General Election if our vote won’t change a thing?
3. Should a No vote be returned, what will be done to provide a system where our vote in Scotland actually counts?

UK General Elections in my lifetime.
1983 Conservative govt (Thatcher)
————————————————
Conservative majority: 144
Without Scottish MPs: 174
NO CHANGE (with Scottish MP’s removed)

1987 Conservative govt (Thatcher/Major)
——————————————————
Conservative majority: 102
Without Scottish MPs: 154
NO CHANGE

1992 Conservative govt (Major)
———————————————
Conservative majority: 21
Without Scottish MPs: 71
NO CHANGE

1997 Labour govt (Blair)
———————————–
Labour majority: 179
Without Scottish MPs: 139
NO CHANGE

2001 Labour govt (Blair)
———————————–
Labour majority: 167
Without Scottish MPs: 129
NO CHANGE

2005 Labour govt (Blair/Brown)
——————————————–
Labour majority: 66
Without Scottish MPs: 43
NO CHANGE

2010 Coalition govt (Cameron)
——————————————
Conservative majority: -38
Without Scottish MPs: 19
CHANGE: CON-LIB COALITION TO CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY
.
Sources:
All UK general election results
General election results in Scotland 1945-2001 (Table 1e, p.13)
General election results in Scotland 2005 and 2010

I am aware that we live in a democracy in the UK, and that we should, as part of the UK, accept the democratic process, however as a nation, from what I can see, Scotland has no power in determining who governs the UK. Somewhat unfair I would suggest.

I, like most people I know, are becoming more and more disenfranchised with the current brand of politics we are offered in the UK. I was once quite a political animal and a member of the Labour Party. I fear that my cynicism of politics in general and lack of trust in any of our current party leaders, has meant that I have detached myself more and more. Even more so when the realisation dawned on me some years ago, that my vote was irrelevant.

The Independence debate which rages on through our media, blogs and social networks is all very interesting and issues such as currency, employment, pensions, NHS etc do engage me. However, my vote is the greatest currency I have. People have fought and died for me to have a vote. My vote should be the most powerful weapon I have, it should allow me to have my voice heard in determining who runs our country. It should give me the power to vote in or out the government of my choice.

When, in the whole scheme of things, it doesn’t matter, well that’s the moment you realise you are powerless. That’s not democracy.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards

Bobby Motherwell
Director
Mob: 07515 753982

 

Here are the responses I received:

From Susan Ruddick SNP 18/3/2014

Dear Bobby

Thank you for your email.

Unfortunately the statistics you included are correct. In only two of the 18 elections since 1945 (October 1964 and February 1974) – would the largest party in the UK Parliament have been different if Scotland had been independent and not returned MPs to Westminster.

We will continue to argue for Scotland to have a fully independent parliament, like any other normal nation. Only then will Scotland get a fair and democratic electoral system.

For more information on an independent Scotland, please go to http://www.scotreferendum.com

With thanks
Susan

 

 

From Marek Zemanic, Scottish Conservatives 19/3/2014
Dear Mr Motherwell,
Thank you for your email.
In answer to your first question – yes, I believe the numbers you found on the Wings for Scotland blog are correct. I double-checked three results for methodology and it is fine. The sources for the numbers are included in the blog post if you wish to pursue it further yourself.
I disagree with your inference that this data supports the view that Scottish votes are” worthless,” however. In fact, the 2010 General Election is a perfect example of how powerful Scotland’s MPs can be in determining the Government.
It is a key plank of any representative democracy that the results in one part of the country can be different to the rest of the country, but the democratic legitimacy of the government is not questioned. Just like Shetland or Orkney never voted SNP or Texas never voted Democrat in the time period you give us does not mean that voters from there are “worthless.”
In any case, Scotland has 8.4% of the UK population and returns 9% of all MPs – her influence in deciding the government is therefore roughly proportional to her population. This would remain with any changes to the voting system – be it PR, AV or AMS..I do not know what other system you would envisage to alleviate your concerns – a veto for
Scotland seems to be the only option. Surely that would be inherently undemocratic for the rest of the UK.
A separate issue of course is whether Scotland has been voting in line with the rest of the UK, data for which you can find using the same links mentioned in the blog.
Thank you for your comments once again.

Regards,
Marek

_________________________________
Marek Zemanik
Policy Officer
Scottish Conservative Central Office

From Gail at Yes Scotland 28/3/2014
Dear Bobby,
Thank you for getting in touch with Yes Scotland.
Our research team get quite a lot of requests for detailed information like this. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Here is our briefing on the lack of democracy in the UK, which in addition to confirming your thoughts, will provide additional useful information. http://yesscotland.net/sites/default/files/resources/documents/democracy_briefing.pdf
If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

Very best wishes

Gail
Yes Scotland Team

From Sarah Atherton Scottish Liberal Democrats 7/4/2014
Dear Bobby
Many thanks for your email; please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to you.
I’m afraid that much of what you say in your email is correct. That is why in 2011 we campaigned for a change to the way in which MPs were elected. We wanted to change to the alternative voting system, but unfortunately two-thirds of those who voted wanted to keep the current first past the post system.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats believe that the best future for Scotland is to remain within the UK, but we do want the Scottish Parliament and our communities to have more power.
We believe that federalism is the best future for Scotland. Our proposals for Home Rule set out a very positive vision for Scotland, that positive message has not always been the overriding theme in the many debates on the referendum. As you may know, the Scottish Lib Dem Home Rule and Community Rule Commission, chaired by Sir Menzies Campbell MP, published its report in October 2012. These new plans will give Scotland Home Rule through devolution and the power to determine its destiny on the domestic agenda, while continuing to be a part of a strong, reformed United Kingdom.
Sir Menzies Campbell published Campbell II on 10th March. This second report set out areas of common ground around the consensus on which further powers can be delivered to Scotland. The document also suggests a timeframe in which new powers could be delivered swiftly to Scotland in the event of a No vote.
We feel that it is this consensus which we should be talking about – how those who want to remain part of the union can come together to put forward a vision for a Scotland. To the Scottish Liberal Democrats that means a liberal Scotland; one with a stronger economy and a fairer society; sharing the risks and rewards with our neighbours in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our view of federalism also means that more power is devolved locally which means that people do have more influence over politics.
The Electoral Reform Society Scotland may be an organisation which you would be interested in if you are not already involved with them. They do a lot of work on how we can reform our electoral system to ensure that each and every vote counts and just this weekend ran an event on building a better democracy in Scotland.
I hope that this is helpful.

Kind regards

Sarah

Sarah Atherton
Head of Policy & Research
Scottish Liberal Democrats
The Scottish Parliament
0131 348 5813

From Nigel Anthony, Better Together 13/4/2014
Dear Bobby
Apologies for the delay in getting back to you. You raise the issue of Scotland’s historic election results in UK general elections. The figure for 2005 does not appear to be correct, but I hope the following goes some way to answering the substance of your point.
The view of the better together campaign is that this referendum is more important than any general election because it is irreversible and would fundamentally change our country. It is therefore useful to take a wider perspective and make greater consideration of the long-term consequences as it is a decision with greater significance than the election any one government. If we leave the UK there would be no going back, no matter the consequences.
Voting patterns are of course not settled and historically the Conservative party are the only party to win a majority of the vote in Scotland. Recently the Conservative party won 39.5% of the vote in England and 412,000 votes in Scotland. In the same election the SNP won more votes, but not significantly so with 491,000 votes, nor more than the Conservatives and Lib Dems combined in Scotland. In a devolved context a majority of people in Scotland voted against the SNP in 2011 and so did not cast a ballot for the majority government which followed.

The Scottish Social Attitudes study consistently shows that there is very little difference, if any, in the social attitudes of people in Scotland and the rest of the UK. This perhaps underlines our campaigns view that believes in social solidarity across the UK, believing that there is less that divides than unites people in the nations of the UK. You may be interested in this recent academic paper which goes into greater depth on this issue – http://better.tg/1hCVu5D

Our campaign believes we can have the best of both worlds – with a strong Scottish Parliament, elected through a proportional voting system, with the guarantee of more powers, backed up by the strength, security and stability of being part of the larger UK. Scotland benefits from representation in the UK parliament while also taking decisions on health, education, justice, transport and the environment in the Scottish Parliament.

Finally, as you consider the issues in this referendum debate I would recommend reading Alistair Darling’s recent lecture – making the positive case for the Better Together campaign. You may read it here: http://better.tg/11ErgIk

Best
Nigel

 

From Scott Lamb Scottish Green Party 14/4/2014
Hi Bobby,

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. We’ve been having serious IT trouble due to our service provider, Talk Talk. We’ve also been inundated with new members and requests from members of the public regarding the forthcoming European election as well as the independence referendum.

Please see our response to your request:
You are right to highlight the unfair voting system at Westminster.
In the face of unprecedented social, ecological and economic challenges, Greens are committed to the transformational change our society needs; a fairer more equal society, an economy which respects environmental limits. Westminster could hardly be less likely to deliver this change.
Its MPs are elected with no element of fair voting; its Peers sit without the consent of the people.

Dominated by politicians who prove themselves time and time again beholden to big business and the City of London, its political culture looks after the interests of those served well by the status quo.
It is clear to Greens a Yes vote is a vote for democracy.

Regards,

Scott Lamb
Administrator
Scottish Green Party
08700 772 207

No response received from Scottish Labour Party (after numerous emails, tweets and calls)

 

 CONCLUSION

I am not going to insult the readers intelligence (if you are still with me at this point!) by pointing you to where your conclusion should rest, I will let you read the responses and draw upon your own understanding. However, points to highlight here are:

1. All accepted that the information provided was correct. BT disagree with the figures for 2005 (I have been assured that they are correct) and make no comment on the other figures therefore we can assume they have no grievance with these.
2. None of them answered all 3 questions as they were put – but hey, its politics folks and would you expect anything more? Some didn’t even engage in a personal response and blandly referred to a document or speech, and some, as you would expect chose not to answer the question posed and gave an answer to suit their agenda, again – that’s politics! Only the Liberal Democrats offered a solution to question 3.
3. The Scottish Labour Party did not even take the time to acknowledge or respond.

So there it is, from the horse’s mouth so to speak. The facts speak for themselves, If you consider yourself as a Scot, living in a country as part of a Union with England, the Union being Great Britain or the UK or whatever, as Scots, our collective vote is impotent when it comes to affecting a change of government in Westminster.

The secondary point raised by Marek from the Scottish Conservatives regarding Shetland or Orkney and Texas has been put to me before. “What happens if Renfrewshire decide that “we don’t get our own way” in elections and decide to become Independent, where does it end?!” To which my retort is, we are talking here about the Union of two sovereign states, Scotland and England. This wasn’t a Union of all the regions in England and Scotland, both countries formed a “partnership” to “share” a UK parliament. And as such, either party has the right to walk away from the agreement if it feels it is to the detriment of its citizens.This wasn’t a Union of all the regions in England and Scotland. And anyway, if Renfrewshire or anyone else think that they have the resources to govern themselves, and would want to leave an Independent Scotland, well good on them for having such a positive and Independent outlook! An argument that takes the “whatabootery” to its extreme I feel. I was also told recently by a Labour supporter (and almost certainly a member of Scottish Labour going by the thread it was posted on) on Facebook that I was being naive and foolish if I thought that my vote could actually change the government. Well excuse me for being naive and foolish but I kinda thought that was what our forefathers had fought wars for, and that was the basis of a fully fledged democracy. Apparently not. Maybe the Labour Party ideals and values are no longer what they were when I was a member.

So while the politicians and the Media do their best to complicate the other important issues such as Currency Union, NHS, Oil Revenues, Pensions, Taxation etc, while they fill your heads full of all the technicalities designed to make you feel less informed and more afraid, what they are doing is distracting you from the real issue here, the power of your vote.

Imagine for a moment, being a prisoner, held in a cell for years. Your food, bed and shelter is paid for you by the State, in return for your labours and your Liberty. After 34 years in prison, an amnesty is declared on the 18th of September, and at 7.00am in the morning the prison doors are thrown open and the wide world awaits anyone who wants to leave. What would you do? Would you choose a new life, where your liberty was respected and your voice was heard, where your future was yours to control and create, where difficulties lay in store but real rewards were achievable with hard work and endeavour, where your children had a future that you created and their democratic powers were reinstated, where their vote could change governments?

Or would you chose to return to your cell and defer everything to your jailer.

On the 18th of September, for 24 hours, we will be an Independent Country, with a vote that actually matters for the first time in most of our lives. If we use it wisely, its value will never diminish and we will have the power to change government, if we don’t, As Scots, we have voted for the power to change nothing.

Bobby

 

Thanks go to all who took time to respond to my emails and phone calls, some were more diligent than others, however it was a particularly busy time for all involved and I am thankful for at least a response, especially from those parties who have less resources at their fingertips. To the Labour party which I was once a proud and active member, I despair.