Arrogance at Westminster
From The Hon. Steve Rodan, MHK Sir: Tim Luckhurst's article (`The wit of the Irish', 24 February) cites the Irish government's welcoming ways with visiting Scottish and Welsh devolved politicians as evidence of `schmoozing' behaviour that is calculated to help break up the union.
The late Donald Dewar, for example, was apparently embarrassed by his visit to Ireland when First Minister: with motorcycle outriders escorting him from the VIP reception suite at Dublin airport, the presidential-style reception 'horrified him'. Lesser Scottish politicians, on the other hand, have seemingly succumbed to this diplomatic charm-offensive, being, in Tim Luckhurst's words. 'childishly thrilled by Dublin's decision to accord them equal status with members of the Westminster Parliament'. Mr Luckhurst not only sees Irish motives as suspect; he clearly regards people elected nationally to parliament (unless it has the good fortune to be Westminster) to be upstarts, worthy only of patronising insult and disdain. But the Irish government has long shown diplomatic courtesy to parliamentary visitors from neighbouring nations.
Back in 1995, as a recently elected Member of the House of Keys, I went on a parliamentary study visit to the Dail, in the company of two fellow MHKs. I will confess that we were indeed impressed with Irish hospitality, which, yes, included a chauffeur-driven trip from the airport VIP suite, cavalcade-style, with Manx and Irish flags fluttering on the bonnet.
That certainly stuck in my mind. So did the invitation to the hastily arranged drinks reception given by the British ambassador to the Republic.
How many MPs, inquired this diplomat, did the Isle of Man send to Westminster? (Answer: None. As a self-governing Crown Dependency, the Isle of Man is not, nor ever has been, part of the United Kingdom. And Tynwald, the world's oldest continuous parliamentary assembly — its millennium celebrations were in 1979 — actually predates 'the Mother of Parliaments.) So the sooner that Mr Luckhurst and his kind lose their arrogant assumptions that political and parliamentary existence begins and ends at Westminster, the better.
Steve Rodan
Isle of Man
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