Alex Massie Alex Massie

The DUP’s Calculation

MPs are voting on 42 Days now. I only watched the last part of the debate and am biased in favour of the opposition but even so, the weakness of the case made by Jacqui Smith and her lackeys was startling. Still, the funniest comment on the whole ghastliness comes from Fraser Nelson:

The DUP could of course take the government’s £200 million and still vote with the Tories. But it would be mad to close the door to further bribes. There are two more years to go of Brown and, the way things are going, the DUP may be starting a long and fruitful relationship and may be able to negotiate control of Western Scotland.

Frankly, they’re welcome to it. Carting Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire off to Ulster would transform the prospects of any (albeit rump) independent Scotland. Hell, it could be a bonny place if it were freed of those twin millstones…

(Surprise! The DUP are voting with the government. The Ayes 315, the Noes 306. Government majority is 9. It was the DUP wot won it for Brown.)

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