Perfidious Albion is a negative phrase used in international politics that highlights the commonly held view that the English/British are renowned for treachery, lying, stealing, raping, torturing, concentration  camps and always breaking promises and treaties.

The other oft-used phrase is: The sun never sets on the British Empire because God could not trust the English in the dark. This is a widely held view; the English themselves are oblivious to this worldview of them. Indeed, like the Americans, they truly believe that every other nation on this earth looks up to them and wishes to be just like them.

We could all regale each other with stories of reactions when abroad when it becomes clear you are Scottish and not English. I am sure the Canadians have similar stories to tell regarding their southern neighbour.

This week we in Scotland saw firsthand Perfidious Albion in all its undemocratic, arrogant,  pompous, bullying behaviours, compliments of the recently promoted Mayor of Manchester in and out of Westminster.

What I suspect is that, like most of our present-day politicians, Burnham just does not have a handle on his brief. I would wager he still hasn’t bothered to acquaint himself with the Good Friday Agreement and all it entails. Like all bullies, Burnham doesn’t think it is worthy of his time to study in depth anything that relates to the six occupied counties of Ireland, Scotland, or Wales.

All English PMs truly believe these nations are the possessions of England to be used and abused any way the Anglo Prime Minister and his underlings and masters see fit. They, like other despotic states, believe that they are a ‘chosen race’ and that the Celts are inferior in all matters to them. The exact same way the English Raj in India viewed the indigenous during the imperial days.

At Westminster this week, while trying to fend off questions about a border poll in Ireland and an independence referendum in Scotland, Burnham let it be believed that, like Ireland, Scotland could have an independence referendum if it appeared that this was the wish of the sovereign Scottish people.

As John Swinney scrambled to get the definition of that ‘settled will’, Burnham reneged 24 hours later and told Swinney an independence referendum for Scotland remained off-limits as Burnham didn’t believe there was a desire in Scotland for this. Leaving us to confirm our worst fears: if the Anglo PM doesn’t think it is reasonable, it will never happen. Here is the kicker: no English PM will ever think it is reasonable.

We have grown accustomed to the double standards of right-wing English politicians and parties. When it was the English wanting Brexit they were banging on about self-determination and how no treaty could hold a nation in place that wanted to leave a union, the one in question being the European Union.

Foreign Secretary  Ed Miliband has said the UK will “resolutely uphold” the self-determination of the Falkland Islands after Argentinian president Javier Milei said his country needed to take them back.

I have some good and some bad news for Argentina; the bad news: The city of London smells lots of profit; they will never share that with their own citizens, they certainly won’t let Argentina enjoy any of the wealth.

A British and Israeli partnership due to begin exploration work on the Sea Lion oilfield (just off the coast of Falkland/Malvinas) said it didn’t expect recent developments to affect its work in the region.

The good news: it seems the US under Trump is likely to back his Argentinian friends over ownership of the Malvinas, and that would be a hammer blow to the UK, and more oil for Donald to profit from!.

The UK only defeated the Argies back in the days because the USA gave the UK protection and satellite information that ensured a UK victory. Now, without the naval vessels and with no US backing, if Argentina does invade again, there is not much the UK can do about it. It might come down to which nation offers Trump the biggest bribe!

Trump also cut the legs away from the Brits on his visit to Ireland. US President Donald Trump  said he would love to see a United Ireland while at a meeting with the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) during a visit in Dublin. You could hear an audible collective gasp from the press pack as he uttered those words.

During his meeting with Micheál Martin at Farmleigh House, in Phoenix Park, Trump said a united Ireland would be a “fantastic thing”, and added: “now the UK would have something to say about it obviously but I think it would be a great thing, I mean, how can it be bad?”

You could hear the gnashing of teeth back in London as England’s special relationship was exposed as the one way relationship. It was hard not to laugh out loud imagining not just Burnham but all those Anglo politicians that live in a fantasy world believing England is special to the USA.

In the coming weeks and months, it will be interesting to see if Trump keeps up the rhetoric on both Ireland and Argentina. This could be a modern day ‘new Suez’ proportion crisis for England.

Scotland, Wales and Ireland should ensure they are ready to take advantage of any crack in the unionist control. I know that Mary Lou and Michelle in Ireland will be ready. I cannot say I have the same confidence in Swinney and the SNP to be ready.

This was the main topic for this week’s podcast. I am joined by Ken McNeil, Eva Comrie, and Phil Boswell to discuss this and all the political news,Through A Scottish Prism.

 

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