davidfagan.co.uk

A Romantic Image

// December 8th, 2009 // Big Politics

Some rambling thoughts on the FM’s Christmas Card.

Ultimately I have to agree with those who have already commented that this is trivial and politically irrelevant.  I guess this means that I agree with the FM’s spokesperson.

There is more than a touch of irony in David McLetchie’s comments that the FM should “get on with what he was elected to do, improving schools and hospitals” in a press release that focuses not on these issues but on a Christmas card.

I have only two thoughts on the card.

Firstly, I don’t like the painting. I agree with the comments made by Duncan Macmillan, art critic for the Scotsman. Funnily enough most of the SNP bloggers responding to his comments assume that his dislike of the painting is reflective of his dislike of the FM or their party. Again, rather ironic given the party line seems to be that there is absolutely nothing political in the card.

Secondly and possibly more interestingly I think it might be worth taking the FM at his word when he says (or rather his spokesperson says) that the card is not political. Assuming that there is some meaning and significance to the imagery and title of the painting then it is nothing at all to do with left or right politics. It is not an image which speaks about ideology or about access to or redistribution of wealth. Actually, it is pretty much inconceivable that any of the other big parties could use a leader’s Christmas card for such a message (they are much more likely to be attracted to an image of family unity)

No, this image is not political in any meaningful sense of the word. It is romantic, pure and simple. And for those of us on the unionist side of the debate, that makes it the perfect image for a SNP First Minister embarked on what is ultimately a romantic campaign for independence.

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