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[Drisgirl]

I am bemused.Tom Bradbury on discussing Gordon Brown potentially being the next PM - said he may be too Scottish for the English middle class.(Leaving aside Tony Blair is Scottish).

What does that infer?Surely any nationality within GB are entitled to be PM.Are we deemed inferior or could that be interpreted as a racist remark?

[Ward-Minter]

Can you believe I didn't know Tony Blair was a jock!! Am I thick or what?

[Drisgirl]

WM- Not thick - just either winding or being fascetious.

Either way thanks for lightening up what was just a passing comment! Should have known better:)

[Ward-Minter]

no seriously drizzy i did not know!!! For some reason I thought he was a geordie. Nevermind. Can't stand the guy but at least he's better than Kinnock.

[Goodsoulette]

I dont have anything of value to add to the topic (no surprise there really) but my gay friend thinks Gordon Brown is a hotty!!! Most shocking thing I learnt all last year bearing in mind he is 27 and looks like ronan Keating. So maybe he''d get in on the rainbow vote even if the English Middle Class dont like him!

[mightyWBA]

All this I'm English,I'm Scottish,I'm Welsh,I'm Northern Irish really gets my goat.When the day comes again we will all be British against a common enemy within.

Rule Britannia!

By the way Labour did lose the last election in England alone.

Gordon Brown is considered "to Scottish" because of his accent,and the fact he flew his heavily pregnant wife back to Scotland because he didn't want her giving birth in England!

[Drisgirl]

mighty WBA - I totally agree with you.My last comment is this racist was tongue in cheek because this has now become a Muslim discussion forum..

Too right she flew home-I would want to be surrounded by my close family and friends when giving birth.The fact both parents are Scottish and the wee one was born in England wouldnt have made any real difference.I believe they are from a very close family and they didnt have her troubles to seek with their first born.

[Drisgirl]

BTW - he has a lovely accent and obviously comes from a very middle class family himself:)

[ludwig]

Drisgirl,

I see it's the word 'stand' that's confusing you - and I admit, it wasn't very well written, so I'll rephrase it.

Chances of a scot being elected as prime minister or being elected to serve as MP in an english constituency by the english - very good.

Chances of an english bloke being elected as leader of the scottish parliament or as MP in a scottish constituency - virtually zero.

Now be honest, do you disagree with any of that?
ps - don't involve me in the BBC Scotland comment, that was nothing to do with me.

[stevie_c2it]

Dris, in answer to your reply, yes I did read your original question, but clearly you did not bother to read my answer, nor indeed Ludwig�s, who I thought had been unfairly maligned. I see you have acknowledged your mistake there, so well done for that.
However, if you�ve quite finished calling the rest of us �ignorant� I�ll give it another go.
I think the reason you�re �bemused� (I�ll resist the temptation for a cheap shot and stick to the point) is because, at some level the feeling that both the Scots and the Welsh have a �vague� dislike of the English has permeated into our collective consciousness and our (by which I mean the English) society in general (Notice how the flag of St George has quickly replaced the Union Jack in England in recent years), I believe England is starting to define it�s own separate identity, brought into focus by your own devolutions, and as such is questioning why we should be so �inclusive�. Why should it be a surprise if �middle England� is questioning electing a Scottish Prime Minister, when clearly the equivalent in �Scotch land� of electing an English �First� minister would be unthinkable?

Ludwig we agree again.

[Drisgirl]

ludwig - I did stand corrected and apologise for that.The comments were coming thick and fast and I was sidetracked.

I still stand by what I said in response to Stevie-c2its defence of your reply.Its a democracy and I have no doubt there have been English candidates in Elections or By-Elections but if they are not voted in then that is the fault of their party manifesto or whether they have been punted up from England to fight a seat,which is a no-hoper in the first place.You have to remember - as you may have in England - we have a very strong party in Scotland - SNP - unique to Scotland.They can be a force to be reckoned with and I doubt if an English candidate would have much luck.

I suppose what I am attempting to say is like NI, Wales we have our differing political situation.

Still would like to know what the English Middle Class has to do with Gordon Brown being too Scottish!

[Drisgirl]

I absolutely did not call everyone ignorant-that is a blatant misinterpretation of what I said.Dont hear any defence of the nonsence which was written and the rude remarks which were made.

I asked a simple question and even qualified it by asking had the Nationalities had been reversed I wouldnt think it was fair.

You did not respond my initial comment and I did read every response.I took the time to enter into the discussion.

I have responded to ludwig who raised the initial comment to which you defended.Your right in a democratic society.

I think the Muslims get off light here - who would want to be Scottish on AB?

[Drisgirl]

BTW - Thank **** I didnt say I wouldnt be supporting England in the World Cup.

[stevie_c2it]

Who would want to be English living in Scotland?

Thanks for agreeing with my answer though, the fact that the Scottish National Party is a 'Force to be reckoned with' and 'I doubt an English candidate would have much luck' sums up the situation perfectly.

Thanks for making (if not getting) my case.

[Drisgirl]

Lots of English people live here.My point was to ludwig - who rattled your cage tonight?You were just jumping on his shirttail.I didnt even anticipate Newsnight but I got it hot and heavy.

If you're happy you think I have been outwitted then I'm happy for you.

[stevie_c2it]

Dris, lets not make a drama out of it and fall out, I'm simply pointing out that as an Englishman who moved to Scotland, I encountered a hitherto unrealised amount of latent hostility towards the English.

As you state, you, and I expect the majority of �blue blooded� Scottish men and women, will not be supporting England in the world cup. In fact in truth, they�ll be supporting anyone we play against (especially the Germans), I honestly had no appreciation of this before living in Scotland. I (naively as it turned out) assumed we all would be supporting the team or athlete who was representing this small �Island� in international competitions. I thought (and still think) this envy/resentment/whatever is small and petty-minded, but if it�s any consolation to you, the English are going the same way.

[ludwig]

Drisgirl - thanks. On your original question I think it's a stupid point that Bradbury made. I don't think the english middle classes would care less whether he was too scottish or not, if he proposed a load of policies that were favourable to them they'd vote for him. He might be too left wing for them, but that's another matter.

[luckyboy]

Personally i don't give a stuff what race, gender, religion he/she is, where in the uk he/she comes from or what sexuality he/she swings with, as long as he/she is a good person who has the right policies for britain...but britain being britain, class, accents and race are never far away from discussions about everything from politics to religion.

[Drisgirl]

Pals then:)

If its any consilation we support English domestic teams in Europe and I thought when Liverpool won the E.C I was going to go hoarse.I take it you have bailed out back to England then - I had no idea you lived in Scotland.Dont worry - you dont have to tell me where you lived - just because I am an open book I appreciate not everyone is.Just give me the Ordnance Survey map ref and I'll do the rest:)

[Drisgirl]

ludwig - Thank you so much for that.I appreciate your remark phew got there in then (not you) :)

[Drisgirl]

that was meant to say 'in the end'.My fingers are going into spasms now:)