I wrote the other day that the problem with nationalists is not they’re naïve or idealistic but that they’re divisive. As someone with Irish, Scottish, Welsh and English blood in equal parts, I’m very much in sympathy with the sentiments expressed in this extract from an article in a UK paper:-
As with parts of my wardrobe, my taste in national identity appears to be out of fashion. I am British and feel privileged to be so. When asked by hotel receptionists to complete a check-in form, I write with relish: Country – United Kingdom; Nationality – British. I never put: English. That, in my view, would be a nod to those who hope to break up the Union – a prospect I deplore. In trivial matters, such as sport, I am, of course, very English. When England play Scotland, I want us to win. But Englishness does not define me. I belong to Britain. Being part of a broader and deeper culture is a source of pride. I enjoy the successes of Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. When they're not playing England, I always cheer for them. According to some polls, however, fewer and fewer UK citizens feel this way. A resurgence of Scottish nationalism has sparked a backlash in England. The Union is under attack on both sides of the border – and this is no phoney war.
As if to prove the point about divisiveness, the Catalan government has described Spain's "System of Solidarity" as excessive. In other words, they want to keep more of their money. So it has proposed changes which would effectively mean all the regions maintaining their current position relative to both each other and the state as a whole. But I guess that, if you don't want to belong to the latter in the first place, you're not going to lose much sleep over this. Especially if you are top of the pile.

Galicia Facts

The Galician company which recently decided to site a major new investment in Portugal has now announced it's scrapping two other projects planned for Galicia. They blame the local government but the Xunta has, naturally, denied responsibility. At least now that the negotiations around our new Constitution have been shelved indefinitely, they will have a lot more time to consider developments like this. Preferably before they happen and not after.

The Xunta has recently stressed to the EU's purse-masters that Galicia's per capita growth is not all it seems. So the grants should keep coming. Apart from reflecting an artificial construction boom, this growth is an artefact of demographic trends. In other words, the region is losing its population. Some would consider this a good reason for reconsidering 'Galicianisation' policies which serve to keep away the fresh blood and money needed. Perhaps after the next election, when either the Socialist Party gets enough votes to govern alone or the PP party is returned to power.