There is a lot happening at the moment. Across the world there are conflicts, famine and suffering. Many countries are either run by despots or militias. Two rivals, China and America, vie to become the world’s first Mega Power, with China looking likely to surpass America. There is a global pandemic disrupting normal life everywhere and climate change remains the greatest threat of all. After centuries of infighting the part of modern civilisation known as the West, has been pretty stable and life, pre-Covid, processed with relatively little drama, through nearly eight decades.
But nothing is certain in our funny old world and this weekend we see in our UK how the silliest things can change the course of events, almost without rhyme or reason. There are two titanic rows now taking place, which are destroying the participants and the dreams they promote.
The first is between Sturgeon and Salmond and their respective camps within the Scottish National party. Both, in their own way, gave bravura performances in a tedious theatrical investigation into who knew what when about Alex Salmond’s sexual advances to female staff, which even he agrees were improper, and the consequent discussions about what kind of prosecution should be brought by whom, with what evidence and where. Or something like that.
None of this has the slightest effect on the hard pressed Covid driven lives of ordinary people in Scotland, whose disquiet is reflected in a drop below 50% of those planning to vote for independence given the chance. Moreover the landslide predicted for the SNP in May is now projected down to a majority of one. Westminster, seeing the enthusiasm for separation from the Union wavering, will refuse the opportunity to offer a vote and even if they grant one, the SNP, like last time, will very likely lose. Having promoted the bright side of an independent Scotland with such success over the last two decades, the exposure of its dark side will be enough to put key voters off. Institutional catfights can be won side or another. But the institution itself is always the loser.
Now enter Buckingham Palace v Harry and Meghan. The Royal Family, like some never ending TV soap, has engaged in catfights and exclusions of its own like no other, which is why the series telling its story, the Crown, is a world number one must see, season after season. But what Megan and Harry do with their independence from the ossified flunkies who stand guard over an institution of unmatched privilege and entitlement, is a matter for them.
Counter briefing by the flunkies, designed to destroy the credibility of the errant couple, places at risk the very foundations upon which all they guard, stand. Because they rest on the principle that they are above it. Making the Crown and all it represents part of it, destroys the integrity of its purpose. Without that it becomes expensive, irrelevant and pointless. The old may still remain loyal subjects, but the young, who are independent citizens, have had enough.