SFM Vol 4 No 1

The Mercury Wilson’s School’s sixth-form newspaper Volume 4, Issue 1, September 2014 SCOTLAND SPECIAL What next for t...

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The Mercury

Wilson’s School’s sixth-form newspaper

Volume 4, Issue 1, September 2014

SCOTLAND SPECIAL What next for the Union? By Andrew McDonald It was only a week ago that the future of one of the oldest nations in the world hung in the balance, its fate entirely in the hands of the Scottish people. Their verdict on Scotland’s future was to be one of the most significant decisions ever made about the state of the UK, with either outcome being predicted to bring about major and fundamental changes.

Commons. A true constitutional headache, this issue is referred to as the ‘West Lothian question’, after Tam Dalyell - the Labour MP for the West Lothian constituency - first raised it in the House of Commons in 1977.

Now that the vote has passed, and Scotland has decided to remain part of the Union, the reality of that change is becoming apparent. The main area set to be affected is the way in which the UK is governed. As for Scotland, the three Westminster parties are committed to forming a comprehensive and conciliatory programme of devolution. They all agree on the principle that Scotland should be given more control over its spending, tax and welfare, which form the bulk of its internal administration, but they differ on the precise details. From the SNP’s perspective, none of the ideas about devolution being circulated around Westminster are satisfactory, given that it desires ‘devo-max’: the far-reaching form of devolution which would take Scotland as close to independence as it could possibly get. Next is the question of England. Unlike Scotland, further autonomy is not a particularly well-trodden debate, but the referendum has led to many people south of the border calling for an end to the ‘rough deal’ England supposedly gets. The main problem that substantiates this is the fact that Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish MPs can vote on English-only matters in the House of

The most extreme solution would be the creation of an English parliament, and it is this that the most disillusioned of the English are calling for in the wake of the referendum. Another solution would be to establish an ‘English grand committee’, comprised of all the English MPs, which would have the final vote in the House of Commons on bills only affecting England.

Members of Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, have described the no vote in Scotland as a ‘wake-up call’ for Wales to pursue independence itself. However, a bill is already going through Parliament which will allow the Welsh Assembly to vary income tax and borrow for large scale projects, and this devolution will probably be enough to stem any significant rise in nationalist sentiment for the foreseeable future. As for Northern Ireland, veteran republican and Sinn Féin politician Martin McGuinness has called for a border poll to be held, the result of which he hopes would show significant support for independence. Unlike Wales, no legislation is currently in Parliament that would devolve more power to Northern Ireland, but there should be soon, as David Cameron seeks to honour his promise of more devolution for Wales, England and Northern Ireland in tandem with further Scottish devolution. Whatever the final outcome of this national issue - how each constituent country of the UK operates within it - it is clear that the UK in its current state is highly fragile.

Further devolution to English regions is a third and final option, and it may well be the one chosen by politicians because it allows them to leave the West Lothian Question unanswered.

Major constitutional change is required in order to provide Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland with the necessary assurances that the union is being modernised to better serve their interests.

As for Wales and Northern Ireland, both had considerable power devolved to them under New Labour, but the referendum has highlighted how independence is still a national goal for many.

However, with such change bringing about further autonomy, as well as fuelling the nationalist movements, what should be measures to preserve the union may in fact drive it apart, and thus the UK’s next chapter may well be its last.

Want to write for the Mercury? Budding journalists, or those just passionate about a subject, are always needed. Anyone interested in writing, be it a front page spread, or a back page sports column, should contact the editors at: [email protected] [email protected]

Sixth Form Mercury, September 2014

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Editors’ letter

Contents

Welcome back to the new school year, with a new issue of The Mercury. This issue we focus on the Scottish referendum’s consequences in a range of forms: politics, food, culture, style and sport. Special thanks to all our new writers, as well as Matthew Jeffrey and Charlie Stewart for their cartoon - but we always need more! So check the front page if you’re interested in writing for The Mercury and contact us. Whatever you’re interested in writing about, The Mercury is the platform for you to do it.

Article

Page

What Next for the Union?

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Scottish Food for Thought

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The Best of Scottish Music

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Style Icon

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The State of Scottish Football, ‘A Nation, a Puddle’, and the Cartoon

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Max Cobain & Kyle Macneill

SCOTTISH FOOD FOR THOUGHT With the massive uproar at the recent referendum, tensions are high, and pots are boiling. So, in an attempt to lighten the mood recent events have left us in, I present to you today a reflection on the wonderful cuisine present within Scotland, which we can still enjoy together as part of the United Kingdom.

Frequently, consumers have asked “What is this meant to taste like?”, “Why is it orange?” and “Why can’t I feel my tongue?”

1. HAGGIS How could any reflection on the popular dining habits of our Northern neighbours be complete, without this sack full of joy? Constructed, Frankenstein’s monsterlike, from all the best parts of a sheep (traditionally the heart, liver and lungs)

Representing the best luminous orange drink on the market, Irn-Bru is here to stay.

Nevertheless, Irn-Bru has maintained its high quality, even after being banned in America for being too unhealthy.

ture in any serious food-lover’s dreams (or perhaps that should be nightmares). 2. DEEP FRIED MARS BAR Originally created in 1995 in a chip shop near Aberdeen, this iconic dish quickly soared to international levels of fame, as well as pretty much representing everything Jamie Oliver hates.

There we go, thanks to the no vote, we can still, as a nation, enjoy all of these delightful treats together. On second thoughts, maybe they should become independent after all.

So unhealthy that Mars itself still refuses to endorse or associate itself with the snack in any way, this small diabetes-inducing tablet is guaranteed to leave a smile on any child’s face. And a small puddle of sick by their feet a few minutes later. and shoved into its intestines, a wellcooked Haggis is welcome practically anywhere, especially when one never wants to see one’s dinner guests ever again. Surrounded in myth and legend, and ever present in the popular media, this adorable little bundle will always fea-

3. IRN-BRU The number one selling carbonated beverage in Scotland, and possibly the only drink in the world that once claimed to be “made of girders”, IrnBru to many is a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

By James Nash

Sixth Form Mercury, September 2014

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THE BEST OF SCOTTISH MUSIC FRANZ FERDINAND—ULYSSES Who can’t relate to this foot-stamping monster of a tune? An ode to terrible nights out, getting lost and losing yourself in the process, Ulysses is but one gem of many from post-punkers Franz Ferdinand. TWIN ATLANTIC—YOU’RE TURNING INTO JOHN WAYNE “If there’s one thing I wanna know / It’s how you feel about being American”, screams Sam McTrusty. In a Britain ever more pervaded by American pop culture, Twin Atlantic provide a corner of music which will remain forever Scottish. BIFFY CLYRO—THAT GOLDEN RULE If you want to hear an angry Scottish man scream rhyming couplets over a cascade of thundering drumbeats for four minutes at a time, Biffy Clyro is your band. There really isn’t much more to be said about them. By Ebruba Abel-Unokan

JESUS AND THE MARY CHAIN – APRIL SKIES Generously coated in enough fuzz to deafen a small goat, April Skies dips Velvet Underground guitars into a plunge pool of distortion and injects them with a ton of reverb. The brothers’ blitzkrieg approach to gigs may have led to most of them ending in full-out Scottish punch-ups, but this one’s packed with more sweetness than a deep-fried Mars Bar. THE PASTELS – NOTHING TO BE DONE Everything about The Pastels - including their name - gives off the impression of something hand-crafted and soft-edged. Skipping along with gloriously outof-tune vocals and an endearing ear for a cracking melody, ‘Nothing To Be Done’ radiates childlike innocence. ORANGE JUICE – RIP IT UP With a bassline squirming like a shaken-up bottle of Sunny D and just about every indie aesthetic tickedoff religiously, ‘Rip It Up’ is the archetypal record of the iconic Postcard Records; and one of Scottish indie’s finest exports. By Kyle Macneill

STYLE ICON: Joe Strummer Perhaps continual drizzle and sartorial swagger just don’t mix. Or, more likely, kilts, knee length socks and conspicuously placed pouches just aren’t a good mix, as finding a Scottish style icon has proved about as difficult as resisting a heart attack after a deep fried Mars bar binge. However, I’ve managed to compromise with legendary front man of The Clash Joe Strummer, who despite being only 50% Scottish, is undoubtedly 100% cool. His effortless combination of beautiful tailoring and 50s rockabilly, injected with outrageous punk street style, instantly made him the most stylish man on the King’s Road. He wore Doc Martens before they were cool, and creepers before they inhibited the realm of the 14-year- old hipster girl. From military style jackets, with their audacious and frankly ridiculous amount of zips and buckles, to studded denims emblazoned with slogans that would have certainly raised the eyebrows of Mrs Thatcher, not to mention his perfectly coiffed hair, Strummer epitomised the punk rock movement of the 70s. However, his most iconic piece was the leather biker jacket. He mastered the garment in a way few others have been able to, with style, poise and a hint of punk malice.

Joe Strummer: 50% Scottish, 100% cool

By Linden Hogarth

Sixth Form Mercury, September 2014

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THE BACK PAGE CHARLIE STEWART

MAX COBAIN The state of Scottish football Only 11 places behind England in FIFA’s rankings, with Rangers possibly in their final season before a triumphant return to the SPL, and a wealth of Scottish players gracing the Premier League, things are looking up for Scottish football. However this hides a weakened champion in Celtic, with a thoroughly uncompetitive league, as constantly exposed by Scottish clubs’ forays in Europe. The resurgence of players such as Steven Naismith, Darren Fletcher, Robert Snodgrass, Barry Bannan and Alan Hutton for premiership sides adds to a growing presence of Scottish footballers in England, and the national side’s stubborn attempt to beat Germany in their first Euro 2016 qualifier was admired by fans and pundits alike, despite their eventual loss. So what could possibly be wrong?

A nation, a puddle Drops down the window, thistle stalks, And swamping grey screen just a swamp, So pull up the mural of mud-sports And let the air eat your forehead with a chew and a chomp.

The rise of the Scottish premiership player could quite cynically be attributed to new regulations on UK players, with top clubs requiring British-born footballers to fill their squads to fit FA rules on ‘grassroots’ players. However, these players are often destined for the bench, only fit to fill paperwork, not team sheets.

Get down on your knees in the motion That's filling the world all around you And treat with the descending ocean, Sign accords in the mud til you’re rot, snow and mildew. And now you're through, it feels like summer and It's true! It's summer and You sprawl into the colonial palace. The sun erupts above the bookcase glooms, Beware those bookcase glooms, They wouldn’t put you there if you belonged inside a colonial palace.

By Lewis Harrington

Despite a popular run of results for the national side, (ignoring the fact that many have been against lower ranked opposition), the domestic league displays the true state of Scottish football. Celtic’s crashing out of the Champion’s League to NK Maribor (a team that many Bhoys fans would not be able to confidently say which country they were from before that match), despite their

29 point lead in their saunter to the title the season before, breaks any remaining delusions over the quality of the SPL. This was a far cry from Celtic’s victory over Barcelona only two years ago, and as a keen follower of Scottish football, one can only hope it returns to these heights soon.