Today is another day of life. It is a bitter-sweet day.
I have seen my friend Alistair Carmichael win his court case, which takes a huge strain off his family and preserves the Scottish Liberal Democrat voice in the House of Commons. I have known Alistair since we were students in Aberdeen and have always enjoyed his human take on politics. The vindictive case raised by the SNP has rightly been denied, and will I hope rebound on the shrill and narrow minded nationalists whose vituperation against anyone who opposes their views borders on the psychotic.
The SNP have been in charge long enough for us to know that they represent much of what is worst in politics. Far from being an antidote to Westminster they are merely crowd pleasing populists whose mistakes - with the Forth Bridge maintenance schedule, for example- are beginning to come home to roost. The Economist recently accused the SNP of being Peronist and to be honest, it rings entirely true. Economically illiterate, the Scottish people can truly be thankful that the referendum got the result that it did, for an independent Scotland in the current circumstances would be facing catastrophe.
The blow-hards in the SNP made much of Alistair's "lies". However they go strangely silent these days when you ask them about the price of oil, which, they firmly assured us- as it turned out, falsely- could not go much below $100/bbl. As Brent drops below $40 and forecasters suggest worse to come, the fall out in the North East is grim indeed. The SNP were dead wrong about the economy and they continue to create problem after problem in the justice system, policing, health and education, transport and infrastructure- after 8 years of mistakes the SNP have no one to blame but themselves, though of course they are trying to throw enough mud to create a distraction- vide the Carmichael case, for one.
So it is a great satisfaction that Alistair will still be able to make the Liberal case in Parliament, and we can only hope that the tide can begin to turn and that finally the Scottish people will recognise that voting for the SNP and its cronies is a dead end.
Yet for me and many other Liberals today is also a day of grief. Our friend and inspiration, Wendy Guy, lost her fight against cancer aged only 47 a few days ago, and her funeral service is today. She faced the miseries of bowel cancer, as she faced her whole life with humour and warmth, laced with no little courage. Her blog Mine is Broken is a chronicle of pain, yet quite often it made us laugh out loud. Wendy was the epitome of black country warmth and charm. She and her husband Steve have been part of the core of the Liberal Democrats in Wycombe and their home the focus of many a campaign. Some were successful, some- like my own attempt to gain the Parliamentary seat- more fun than victorious. If it was so much fun, then it was the Guys that we have thank. Wendy was a dynamic blond bombshell whose pride to the end in her two children was matched only by the deep love that she and Steve shared. Her Mother, who tragically has now lost two children far too young, can take consolation in the genuine love that Wendy inspired in her vast circle of friends. Wendy was a giver, who always believed in putting something back, in making a positive contribution, no matter how difficult the circumstances. In short she was a true Liberal and it was my privilege to know her.
So another day of life. As Wendy said: pick the daisies while you still can.
I have seen my friend Alistair Carmichael win his court case, which takes a huge strain off his family and preserves the Scottish Liberal Democrat voice in the House of Commons. I have known Alistair since we were students in Aberdeen and have always enjoyed his human take on politics. The vindictive case raised by the SNP has rightly been denied, and will I hope rebound on the shrill and narrow minded nationalists whose vituperation against anyone who opposes their views borders on the psychotic.
The SNP have been in charge long enough for us to know that they represent much of what is worst in politics. Far from being an antidote to Westminster they are merely crowd pleasing populists whose mistakes - with the Forth Bridge maintenance schedule, for example- are beginning to come home to roost. The Economist recently accused the SNP of being Peronist and to be honest, it rings entirely true. Economically illiterate, the Scottish people can truly be thankful that the referendum got the result that it did, for an independent Scotland in the current circumstances would be facing catastrophe.
The blow-hards in the SNP made much of Alistair's "lies". However they go strangely silent these days when you ask them about the price of oil, which, they firmly assured us- as it turned out, falsely- could not go much below $100/bbl. As Brent drops below $40 and forecasters suggest worse to come, the fall out in the North East is grim indeed. The SNP were dead wrong about the economy and they continue to create problem after problem in the justice system, policing, health and education, transport and infrastructure- after 8 years of mistakes the SNP have no one to blame but themselves, though of course they are trying to throw enough mud to create a distraction- vide the Carmichael case, for one.
So it is a great satisfaction that Alistair will still be able to make the Liberal case in Parliament, and we can only hope that the tide can begin to turn and that finally the Scottish people will recognise that voting for the SNP and its cronies is a dead end.
Yet for me and many other Liberals today is also a day of grief. Our friend and inspiration, Wendy Guy, lost her fight against cancer aged only 47 a few days ago, and her funeral service is today. She faced the miseries of bowel cancer, as she faced her whole life with humour and warmth, laced with no little courage. Her blog Mine is Broken is a chronicle of pain, yet quite often it made us laugh out loud. Wendy was the epitome of black country warmth and charm. She and her husband Steve have been part of the core of the Liberal Democrats in Wycombe and their home the focus of many a campaign. Some were successful, some- like my own attempt to gain the Parliamentary seat- more fun than victorious. If it was so much fun, then it was the Guys that we have thank. Wendy was a dynamic blond bombshell whose pride to the end in her two children was matched only by the deep love that she and Steve shared. Her Mother, who tragically has now lost two children far too young, can take consolation in the genuine love that Wendy inspired in her vast circle of friends. Wendy was a giver, who always believed in putting something back, in making a positive contribution, no matter how difficult the circumstances. In short she was a true Liberal and it was my privilege to know her.
So another day of life. As Wendy said: pick the daisies while you still can.
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