Wednesday, January 10, 2007

2007: YEAR OF THE PROG

Happy New Year!

History tells us this will be a hugely important one. From the calendar, it is clear to see that years ending in a 7 always seem to throw up something to remember. Throughout 2007, we will be invited to remember a whole host of anniversaries – some important, some forgotten and some entirely trivial.


Europeans will be pressed to remember the signing of the Treaty of Rome, which set up the European Union, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. Despite the rejections of French and Dutch voters, we look set to cement the union further. The European constitution, rejected in 2005, has been slimmed down and sexed up and is set to be presented to government leaders this year. And as governments celebrate the Union’s birthday, they will reaffirm their commitment to it, keen that 2007 will not be remembered as the year the constitution was refused once more.


In Britain, we shall be celebrating 300 years since the signing of the Act of Union that saw Scotland and England forge the United Kingdom. The May elections in Scotland, could signal the beginning of the end for the Union and see 2007 as the year the Scots finally brake away. Amid unpopular policy emanating from Westminster (namely the Iraq war), the SNP hope for huge gains in the elections and continue to reiterate their promise to fight for Scottish independence. The argument has raged for many years on both sides of the border whether the union should be maintained now Scotland has a devolved parliament. Scottish MPs vote in Westminster on key issues affecting England such as health and education. English MPs meanwhile have no say over many such issues north of the border. It seems to many to be an unfair balance of power.
The Labour party are keen to nip this in the bud. Besides losing its 41 Scottish seats, Scottish independence would also see the likes of Gordon Brown and John Reid unable to hold positions in cabinet, or as is more likely, stand as Prime Minister. They argue that the union is beneficial to Scotland. At £7,597, public spending per Scot is 16% higher than the rest of the UK. English taxpayers are effectively subsidising Scotland. It won’t be too long before calls for independence are heard from south of the border as those in England resent paying for a country that wants little to do with them and secondly resent the power Scottish MPs hold in England, with little being given in return.
2007 will be an important year for the sate of the union. Whilst Labour will oppose a break-up, calls from the opposition (who are hopelessly weak in Scotland) and from the SNP will undoubtedly be heard in the corridors of Whitehall. Who knows, perhaps in 2017 the streets of Edinburgh will be lined with party-goers celebrating 10 years of post-union independence?


We will also be reminded that it is 10 years since Princess Diana’s death. The Daily Express will no doubt provide us weekly reminders (starting in fact with yesterday’s front page!) to remember her. The anniversary itself comes at a time when Prince William's girfriend Kate Middleton is being endlessly compared to Diana both in character and appearance and is being hounded just as closely by the popular press.

We will also remember 25 years since the Falklands War. Amid growing tension and an increasingly chaotic campaign in Iraq, it will serve as a timely reminder of the blood shed over the past 25 years. It would be a ridiculous suggestion that 2007 will see the end of the Iraq campaign but perhaps in 2032 we will remember it as the year we took a greater step towards peace in the Middle East. As I write this, 20,000 American troops are boarding a plane to Iraq so perhaps not. But you never know…


Then there's the trivial anniversaries. 60 years since a dog first went into space, 50 years since the Pina Colada was first invented by a Puerto Rican bartender, 60 years since Bill Hayley and the Comets first graced the UK charts… you get the idea!

There is certainly much to remember in 2007. Looking forward, it is also a year that holds much promise of creating its own history. Ban Ki-Moon will take over as Secretary-General of the UN, Portugal will take over the EU presidency, presidential elections will be held in France, Turkey and Argentina, and Britain too will unveil its new leader.

This time next year, the world looks set to be a very different place – if nothing else, in appearance alone!

Once again, Happy New Year.

No comments: