The British government absolutely, resolutely, unequivocally stands by its claims that it has made no contingency plans, whatever, for even the possibility of a Yes vote. A bizarrely reckless approach you might think, as the value of sterling plunges and the markets round on the Treasury following simply a single, relatively good-for-Yes opinion poll. A claim that stretches credulity you might think. Yet that's what they say. They wouldn't lie would they? They must have no plans.
Ah! But cue Sir Humphrey:
"There are plans and plans. We may have made contingency plans about contingency plans", explains Sir Nicholas Macpherson.
You may remember Sir Nicholas. He's the Treasury official, and friend of Alistair Darling's, who said he couldn't recommend to any British government that it enter into a currency union with an independent Scotland.
I think I can now see how this will go. On 19 September, Sir Nicholas will explain to the hastily assembled press conference that although he stands by his claim that he can't recommend a currency union, he of course sees that a union of currency is vital.
Though while we may very well think that, and for the moment at least, Sir Nicholas couldn't possibly comment.
As one MP said to me, never under estimate the ability of a politician to volte face.
ReplyDeleteOf course Civil Servants are obliged to change their advice to suit the political mood... the alternative is to look for alternative work.