Nationalism; Spanish politicos; Dept stores, here and there; Manners maketh . . . ; &Arrogant politicos again.

The politician leading the Keep the UK Together campaign has complained that the Scottish Nationalists are playing dirty ahead of the referendum in November. But this, of course, is the very nature of the beast, as evidenced also by the pro-independence Catalans. In neither country, it seems, is anyone allowed to speak against the nationalist cause without being roundly vilified. Whether or not one supports independence, this is wrong. But inescapable. 

Esperanza Aguirre is a (retired?) Spanish politician who used to be thought of as a future president. A day or two ago she displayed that flagrant disregard of the law for which Spanish politicians are infamous. She parked her car in a bus lane and then refused to cooperate with the police when they nabbed her, knocking over one of their motorbikes when she drove off. Needless to say, she felt she wasn't really committing an offence because her car's hazard lights had been switched on. In a nice touch, one of the policemen claimed to have had a panic attack after she'd fled the scene. Perhaps he was anticipating a visit from the Guardia Civil.

I see that Marks & Spencer is to make a “major investment” in Spain. I made my annual visit to their Liverpool store last week. As ever, the location of their departments is displayed on large board at the bottom of the escalators. Unless things have changed recently, such an obvious customer is yet to arrive in the Vigo branch of El Corte Inglés. And, for all I know, in their branches across Spain. So, you have to ask one of the assistants. In the UK this would drive both customers and assistants mad but, in Spain, this appears not to be the case. 

This Britishness is catching. Waiting to enter a lift(elevator), I found myself saying Thanks to the person coming out. It could have been worse; I could have have apologised for being in his way.

Finally . . . The Mail on Sunday has this to say today about Britain's politicians:- Democracy needs elites, and elites need democracy. The will of the people must rule in a free society. But wisdom, experience, education, tradition and the rule of law are also needed at the top, to make sure that Government is not sloshed about on tides of popular passion. The difficulty lies in getting the balance right between elites and voters. At the moment, it is seriously skewed in favour of the elites. They have taken to imagining that they are there by right, and their own narrow, sheltered views are superior to those of the electorate. Given that UK politicians are mere amateurs when it comes to ignoring the voters, one wonders what the Mail on Sunday would say about their rather-more-professional Spanish cousins. Especially those in prison.