The Daily Mail was
aghast: “Surge in support for
independence sparks 'great deal of concern' in Buckingham Palace amid fears
over Queen's role in a separate Scotland” it
reported earlier. How could the Royal Family fight back? Simples: by timing
another Royal baby announcement to perfection. The news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s
pregnancy knocked Alec Salmond off the BBC’s top spot immediately.
They'll be moderately happy here ...
The Mail went
further – some may think too far – as
it dutifully told that “Kate
Middleton being treated for acute morning sickness which can leave sufferers
dangerously dehydrated and vomiting up to 30 times a day”. Thank you, I
already settled my lunch, and SHE’S NO LONGER CALLED KATE BLOODY MIDDLETON. She
got married in April 2011, or did someone at the Mail forget?
But over at the Telegraph, they knew what this news really
meant, and Rupert Myers was
first out of the blocks with “The Yes
campaign’s poll bump is likely to be erased by the Duchess of Cambridge’s
actual bump”. He was
soon followed by James Kirkup asking “Scottish
independence: Can a royal baby save the Union?”. Then came Olivia Goldhill to
speculate yet further.
... and very happy indeed here ...
“Kate Middleton
pregnant: Could Scottish royal baby fever keep the union together?” SHE’S
STILL NOT CALLED KATE MIDDLETON. Go on, what’s the clinching argument? “Kate and William met at a Scottish
university, visited Scotland in May and have their own Scottish titles”. As
if that’s going to convince yer average voter in the forgotten high-rise social housing of
Glasgow or Dundee.
But Melanie McDonagh, over at Spectator blogs,
was convinced: “a new baby in
prospect for the Cambridges and a PR stroke of genius for the Unionists –
because we know, don’t we, that the entire Royal Family is squarely behind the
Union and would simply hate for the monarch to have to negotiate a border the
way James I et al had to”. For you Scots readers, she means James
VI.
... while he's just pretending to be happy
Whichever numerals you use, though, James is the hot tip for
the new arrival’s name if the baby is a boy. We know this as the Mirror has
been consulting the bookies, not that this means the hacks have been
betting already, you understand. And, as James was the first Scot to also be
King of England, perhaps those who think there is mileage in this for the No
campaign have a point.
It certainly concerned Alex Salmond, to the extent of his underscoring
the fact that the Cambridges also have Scots titles: “Congratulations and best wishes to the Earl and Countess of Strathearn.
Wonderful to hear they’re expecting their second baby – very happy news!”
he Tweeted, in a clear attempt to get aboard yet another bandwagon. But
privately, he won’t be happy at being bumped off the headlines.
Will the Royal baby save the Union? It would make the politicians look a bit sick.
It's like Groundhog Day. We had hyperemesis gravidarum shoved down our throats (possibly not the ideal phrase) for weeks last time.
ReplyDeleteDoes the media think we've forgotten?
Nah, the union will be saved by the Scottish electorate with the help of Gordon Brown who still has credibility in
ReplyDeleteScotland and still commands respect from many Scots, despite what the Yes team claim(Looking forward to the Yes posters that say something like ' Don't bottle it like Gordon did'). He'll be ridiculed and abused but he's got so used to both of these things now and is unlikely to let them interfere with his genuine passion for the preservation of the union. I wouldn't underestimate him. No sir, I would not.