Scottish Politics and the British National Elections

 

On 7 May 2015, Scotland and the rest of the UK will be holding its national elections. The leader of the party with the most members elected to the British Parliaments (referred to as MPs) gets to become Prime Minister (the closest equivalent to our US President.)

For the past 5 years, the Conservatives have held the majority, but only just. This year, there is no clear leader, with seven serious candidates in the mix. Most surprisingly is the large amount of support the SNP (Scottish Nationalist Party) has gotten.  By the time we get to Scotland we may be witnessing a transfer of power from one party to another.
 

The parties are below, with the UK leader and their Scottish counterpart:

 Conservative Party

The British equivalent to the Republican Party, with its conservative, right-center political leanings (although still more liberal than our conservatives). They regained control of the British Parliament in 2010 (which it previously controlled throughout the 1980s and early 1990s). Along with Labour, they are one of the two major UK political parties. Their current leader is David Cameron, who is also the current Prime Minister.

Current Prime Minister David Cameron

While never a huge influence in modern, left-leaning Scotland (their last major victory was 1955), the Scottish Conservative Party's conservative platform of maintaining the United Kingdom has been gaining considerable political ground as of late. Their leader is Ruth Davidson.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson

Labour Party

The UK's Labour Party (which was in control of the UK from the mid-1990s till 2010 with two Prime Ministers: Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, both of whom are Scottish). This is the British equivalent of the Democratic Party (sort of). The party's platform is Social Democracy and leans Center-Left. Their leader (and candidate for PM if they prevail) is Ed Milliband.

Labor candidate Ed Milliband

 

Until recently, the Scottish branch of the Labour Party has historically been the dominant Scottish political party. Their current leader is Jim Murphy

Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy

Scottish National Party (SNP) 

Currently, the majority party of Scotland (even though they lost the recent Scottish Independence vote) Their platform is ultimately independence from England and the UK.They have been the driving force behind devolution (the gradual rise of self-governing, such as the return of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 after an absence of 392 years). In line with much of Scotland, their political leanings are center-left and social democracy.  Its leader (in Scotland and elsewhere) is Nicola Sturgeon, who is the current First Minister of Scotland. She recently (and surprisingly) won the UK Debates, according to several polls.

Scottish First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon

Liberal Democrats

Currently in power as a coalition with the Conservatives, they are very much the minor partner (they are UK's 3rd largest party), and are looking to lose many (if not most) of their seats this election. They were created in 1988 through a merger of the Social Democratic Part (SDP) and the Liberal Party (the UK's main opponents to the Conservatives until the 1920s). They are a more liberal version of the centrist Labour Party. Their current leader is Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Nick Clegg

The Scottish version of the LibDems are a sort of a left-leaning mix of the devolved politics of the SNP (i.e., more Scottish control) and the social democracy of the Labour Party. Their current leader is Willie Rennie.

Scottish leading LibDem Willie Rennie

UK Independence Party

A relatively new -- and to many observers (including this writer) disturbing -- political party that is gaining popularity in the UK. Formed in 1993 (but only recently gaining traction), their main focus is removal of the UK from the European Union. But this is predicated on an anti-immigrant (many say racist) agenda. The Scottish wing the the UKIP disintegrated a couple of years ago. The vast majority of their (still small, but growing) support is in England. There leader is the outspoken Nigel Farage.

The ever hammy Nigel Farage

 

The Green Party

This party is actually three independent but linked parties (following a split in 1990)  One in Scotland, one in Ireland, and one in England and Wales. Center-left in their leanings, they support pacifism, green (environmental) issues. Their leader and candidate is Natalie Bennett.

Natalie Bennett

The Scottish Green Party has about the same % of support as the Scottish Liberal Democratic Party. Their leader is Patrick Harvie.

Scottish Green leader Patrick Harvie

Plaid Cymru

Formed in 1925, the Party of Wales (like the SNP) argues for an independent Wales. They currently have 3 out of 40 Welsh MP seats. They have about 10% of the Welsh support. Leanne Wood is their leader.

Leanne Wood.

The Debates

This is a new development in the UK, as 2010 was the first election to have televised debates. This year, Milliband and Cameron debated on 26 March with moderator Jeremy Paxman, an infamously tough interviewer). Here's the replay:

This was followed by a debate of the seven main candidates on 2 April. Here's that replay:

Then there will be one on 16 April of five candidates (Labour, UKIP, Plaid Cymru, SNP and Green) and a final one on 30 April with the three main parties (Labour, Conservatives and LibDems).

Scottish Music (Celtic and Folk Revival)

Folk Revival

By the mid-1960s, many musicians were rediscovering the older Scottish instruments and songs and began to revive them, as well as experiment and mix the genres together. Below are several popular Scottish folk performers.

Corries

Hamish Imlach

Popular in US and Europe in the burgeoning 1960s folk music scene, he combined original songs with traditional Scottish folk tunes. His in-between rants were often more popular than the music itself.

Street Songs

Erin Go Bragh

Billy Connolly

Known primairly as a stand-up comic and actor (Boondock Saints, Head of the Class), he began as a folk singer, including with the Humblebums (see below). Here is a recent recording of his called "I Wish I Was in Glasgow."

Humblebums
Billy Connelly and Gerry Rafferty as a popular folk duo.

Red Hot Chili Pipers

A Scottish ensemble that plays modern songs on traditional instruments.

Clocks by Coldplay done by the the Red Hot Chili Pipers

We Will Rock You by Queen

Clann An Drumma

 From Glasgow, their name means "Children of the Drum." They focus on the more "tribal" aspects of early Scottish music, with lots of drums and pipes. Their music was featured in another Mel Gibson film, We Were Soldiers.

Battlefield Band

A popular Glasgow-based Scottish traditional music band. They have recorded more than 30 albums.

Slainte

This group's name comes from the traditional Scottish toast for "good health".

The Clutha

A Glasgow-based Scottish folk band that formed in the 1970s.

Silly Wizard

A Scottish folk band from Edinburgh that began in 1970.

Tannahill Weavers

Began in 1968 in Paisley, Scotland.

Celtic Music

Often a fusion of different "Celtic" styles (Irish, Scottish, English, Spanish, Middle Eastern), this genre is more a modern interpretation of what is thought to be Celtic. Often has a dreamlike, mystical quality. It is more New Age than historical.

Braveheart soundtrack

The Mel Gibson film soundtrack by James Horner helped popularize the Celtic music scene.Below is the film's main theme.

Celtic Women

This all-female ensemble evolved out of the popular Riverdance phenomenon. Like a lot of modern Celtic music, it is a blending of Scottish and Irish traditions.

Peatbog Faeries

A Celtic fusion band from the Isle of Skye. Mixes traditional music with modern club dance music.

Loreena McKinnett

A Scottish-Canadian, McKinnett mixes Scottish, Irish, Middle Eastern and other traditions together to form a unique sound. Below is a song called "Standing Stones."

Scottish Music (Traditional)

While most people think only of the Scottish bagpipe (which after centuries is still a vibrant form of music) Scottish music is much more varied and expansive than that limited viewpoint. Today's post deals with Scottish musical genres over the centuries -- all of which are still played and enjoyed today.
While most people think only of the Scottish bagpipe (which after centuries is still a vibrant form of music) Scottish music is much more varied and expansive than that limited viewpoint. Today's post deals with Scottish musical genres over the centuries -- all of which are still played and enjoyed today.

Traditional Scottish Musical Genres

Clarsach (Scottish harp music)

One of 3 surviving medieval harps -- Museum of Scotland

One of the earliest forms of music in Scotland, the Scottish harp is first seen in the stone carvings of the Picts in the 600s and 700s.

Using horsehair for strings, the clarsach (it's Gaelic name) spread from Scotland to England and Ireland and on to Europe. Harpists were highly prized in the medieval periods, playing for kings, featured on royal regalia, and playing for coronations and other official functions. Today, Edinburgh hosts the International Harpists Festival.

Tin Whistle music

Dating back in Scotland to at least the medieval period (although similar whistles have been discovered going all the back to the Neanderthals), tin whistles are a mouth-blown, six-holed woodwind. Below, a performance of Loch Lomond played on a tin whistle.

Bagpipe music
 

Although most closely identified with Scottish culture, bagpipes are actually found in many parts of the world. Initially a Highlands instrument dating back to the 1400s and 1500s, it spread throughout the British Isles and colonies in the 1700s and 1800s with the British army, when large numbers of Highlanders joined up post-1745. Most of what's played today is on the Great Highland Bagpipe although many different bagpipes were found in Scotland. Below is the rock bagpipe band, the Red Hot Chili Pipers.

Scottish fiddle music

First mentioned in a Scottish publication in 1680, Scottish fiddling became very popular in the 1700s in both Scotland and the British colonies. While it formed the basis for much of American folk music, traditional Scottish fiddling is still quite popular today. Below is a performance by Katie Boyle from Glasgow:

Scottish Accordion music

Usually played for dances, Scottish accordions have long been popular. Below is a performance by Sandy Brechin of Edinburgh playing accordion dance tunes.

Cèilidh (country dance music)

The word (pronounced "kay-lee"), which originated in Ireland, means "companion" and originally referred to any social gathering. But later it came to mean specifically dances. As should be clear by now, much of Scottish music involves dancing and communal celebration.

Bothy Band music

From 19th Century Scottish farming communities where married couples lived in cottages called touns and single men lived together in a bothy (shelter). Often these single men formed bands for dances and celebrations. They utilized fiddles, accordions, bagpipes, and tin whistles. Below is a folk revival band from 1977, The Bothy Band

Scottish music (Rock and Pop)

Annie Lennox

One of my all-time favorites, Annie Lennox of Aberdeen, Scotland first gained fame as part of the 80s duo Eurythmics, with hits such as "Sweet Dreams", "Here Comes the Rain" and "Who's That Girl".  She then emerged as a successful solo artist in 1990s and 2000s with hits such as "Why," "Little Bird," and "Walking on Broken Glass" (see video below, which also features Hugh Laurie):

KT Tunstall

A popular singer-songwriter from Edinburgh. Below are her two most well-known songs. The first, "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" is from her first TV performance, which was her breakout performance.

Franz Ferdinand

This band from Glasgow formed in 2002. They've had several hits including "This Fire," Do You Want To," and "Take Me Out". Here there are performing in Glasgow in 2014.

Simple Minds

From Glasgow, Simple Minds were a major Eighties band, selling 40 million records since 1979. Their hits included "Alive and Kicking," "Belfast Child," "Sanctify Yourself," and their biggest hit  -- from the 1985 film Breakfast Club -- "Don't You Forget About Me." (see below)

Susan Boyle

Perhaps the most unlikeliest pop star of all time, Susan Boyle became a hero to us "regular" folk the world over when she wowed judges and audiences on Britain's Got Talent back in 2009. The Glasgow-native has since sold millions. To see her first appearance, go to the link below. It's well worth it.

The Fratellis

An indie band form Glasgow that released two hit albums in the 2000s (Here We Come and Costello Music).  For no they seem to be on permanent hiatus. Below is one of the bigger hits, "Chelsea Dagger."

Bay City Rollers

There was a brief period between 1974 and 1975 when the Bay City Rollers were so popular that the success of the "tartan teens from Edinburgh" was being compared to Beatlemania (and was called appropriately enough Rollermania.) Their two biggest hits were "Saturday Night" and "Bye Bye Baby". (By the way, the person in the center in the above photo is not a Bay City Roller but rather Witchiepoo from HR Puffnstuf)

The Proclaimers

Comprised of idential twins Charlie and Craig Reid from Leith (near Edinburgh), The Proclaimers had a huge hit in 1993 in the US with "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)"  -- which had been a huge hit in the UK earlier in 1988.

For many in Scotland, "Sunshine on Leith" is a sentimental favorite.

Sheena Easton

From Bellshill, Scotland, Easton had several hits in the 1980s including "Strut", "For Your Eyes Only" (from the 1981 James Bond film), "The Lover in Me," and "Sugar Walls."  Below is her first hit, "Morning Train" (called "9 to 5" in the UK)

Gerry Rafferty

Singer-songwriter Rafferty, a Glasgow-native, had several hits in the 1970s, first with his band Stealers Wheel ("Stuck in the Middle With You") then had several solo hits, such as "Right Down the Line," "Days Gone Down," and his biggest hit (#2 in the US), "Baker Street".

Amy MacDonald

While not as well-known in the US, MacDonald from Bishopbriggs, Scotland is huge throughout Europe (especially in Germany, Denmark and Sweden). Her album, This is the Life has sold 3 million copies.

Donovan

Briefly considered the UK's answer to Bob Dylan, Donovan (full name: Donovan Philips Leitch) of Glasgow had several hits in the 1960s, including "Sunshine Superman," "Wear Your Love Like Heaven," "Atlantis" and the "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (below), which was used quite effectively in the film Zodiac.

Big Country

A staple of "Best of the 80s" compilations, this Dunfermline-based band formed in 1981. Their biggest hit was "In a Big Country.

Del Amitri

From Glasgow, this band's hit "Roll to Me" was ubiquitous in the 1990s.

Maeve O'Boyle

One of Scotland's newest singer-songwriters, O'Boyle is from Glasgow, where she often performs at local clubs.

Nazareth

The group was from Dumfermline, Scotland. Their biggest hit was 1976's "Love Hurts," one of the original "power ballads" this is now a staple of Hollywood soundtracks.

Mark Knopler (of Dire Straits)

Knopler was born in Glasgow, Scotland and is best known for the 1985 Dire Straits song, "Money for Nothing."

Jesus and Mary Chain

A Glasgow-based alternative band from the late 1980s and 1990s. Below is one of the bigger hits, "Head On."

Emma's Imagination

The stage name of Edinburgh-native Emma Gillepsie. While not well-known in the US yet, she has had two hit songs in the UK, "Focus" and "This Day" (see below for both). She got her break when she won the Sky-TV talent program Must Be the Music.

Lulu

A star in the 1960s and early 1970s, Lulu (real name Marie McDonald McLaughlin, from Glasgow) was  most famous for the theme song to the James Bond hit Man With the Golden Gun and for starring in and singing the title song to To Sir, With Love.