MUCH has been written about our divided nation. Divisions between those bidding adieu to the EU and those wishing to remain. Divisions between Unionists and nationalists in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Less attention however, has been paid to an equally important division. The division between young and old.
Shortly after the previous independence referendum I wrote a piece in The Herald apologising to Scotland’s young people for having let them down. I was critical of my generation for putting our interests ahead of those generations to come. Having lit the blue touch paper, I sat back and awaited the reaction.
It was as swift as it was predictable. Scotland’s gerontocracy expressed its collective outrage that its rights and entitlements had been infringed. Many felt their status as baby boomers confers a lifetime’s entitlement to rising house values and final-salary, index -linked pensions. I won’t bother explaining those pensions for any reader under 25. You won’t have one.
The divisions that were so apparent last time round have not gone away. If anything, they have widened. A recent survey suggested that around 70 per cent of over-60s are opposed to a second independence referendum. It’s reasonable to assume that will translate into a significant number of No voters when the time comes.
During the last referendum, many of my contemporaries, whether willing to admit it or not, opposed independence largely out of self-interest. What about our pensions, bus passes and free prescriptions they wailed? Many camouflaged
self-interest with concerns about economic prospects and public services in an independent
Scotland.
There’s no doubting the importance of the economy and an independent Scotland would face many challenges. En passant, the UK economy and management of public services in England scarcely provides a convincing argument for being better together. It’s time that the Prime Minister forgot her obsession with Brexit and got on with the day job. Yes, that’s the job she wasn’t elected to do.
Additionally, who can make economic projections with any degree of certainty? The collapse in the price of North Sea oil is ample proof of that. Didn’t the previous Chancellor predict the elimination of the UK budget deficit by 2015? How’s that coming along, George?
Next time around it might be wiser to yes, recognise the economic uncertainties and risks, but build the case around social justice and fairness, especially for our young people. The prospect of 10 years of Conservative government at Westminster offers a bleak future for today’s and tomorrow’s youngsters. Many face increasingly unregulated, unsecured and low wage working lives. There will be a harsh benefits regime for those without work. The prospect of buying or even renting a home will become even more distant. Those without parents able to fork out will really struggle.
In 2014 a majority of youngsters showed sufficient confidence in themselves and Scotland to vote for independence. It’s unlikely that anything has happened in the intervening years to encourage disappointed youngsters to change their minds. One can only
speculate on the impact of a second defeat.
So where does that leave those of my generation? It’s depressing beyond measure to think there will be a reprise of clinging to what we have.
Independent or not it’s time to wake up and smell the cocoa. Our young people are getting a rough deal. Will they be best served by a distant, hard right Westminster government or something more more accountable and closer at hand? Yes, it might cost we better -off oldies a bit more, but wouldn’t it be worth it?
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