Jack who? as 'Mr Connell' confuses US consul....

azzuri · Jack who? as 'Mr Connell' confuses US consul....

...and on a lighter note Laughing

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see - http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=1036402006

Jack who? as 'Mr Connell' confuses US consul

HAMISH MACDONELL

JACK McConnell has welcomed George Bush to Scotland and he is on friendly terms with Donald Trump - but staff at the US consulate in Edinburgh still do not know who he is.

In one private memo from the US consulate in Scotland to the American government in Washington, he was referred to as "Jack Connell".

That sort of gaffe might have been excusable soon after Mr McConnell became First Minister in 2001, but that particularly embarrassing missive was sent two years later, just after he had won the Scottish Parliament elections.

The memo was made public in a selection published by the US authorities in Scotland in response to a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

The dispatches provide a revealing insight into how the US authorities regard Scotland under Mr McConnell's leadership. The cables show that the Americans see the Executive as more left-wing than the UK government but that they also recognise the subtleties of devolution.

One memo reported how Tony Blair was booed when he attended the Highland Games at Braemar in September 2003, just six months after the US-led coalition's invasion of Iraq. Labour's victory in the 2003 Holyrood elections was reported as "a gradual shift to the left, in line with Scotland's image as a generally more socialist society".

The memo added: "There is no doubt now, with the strong showing of the socialists and others, that Scottish Labour will have to stay to the left of London Labour. First Minister McConnell will find his party more often at odds with the more centrist policies of PM Blair."

After the 2003 election and Mr McConnell's desire to seek a coalition with the Liberal Democrats, the consulate reported: "Jack Connell and his party are licking their wounds this morning."

Anthropos

A recent survey showed quite a lot of the people in whose name he governs don't know who he is, and indeed son't care either!

SLG

Not so funny if the Americans truly believe that Scottish Independence will open the doors to socialism in Western Europe. Surely they wouldn't allow that...

October1974

and democray too! We might get the first real democratic country as well.

Aventinian

Ah, to see oursels as ithers see us.

If Jack ever had occasion to visit the consulate, they'd probably presume the honoured first minister of Scotland had sent his driver in first to check arrangements.

He has the charisma of a wet trout.

Avatar

Considering the president of the US cant spell most words - I cant say im suprised or worried that they cant spell the first minister's surname..

SF102

I must 'fess up and say had i not visited this forum i indeed would be in the same position as many from the US in not knowing who Jack McConnell is having said that i know most people that i need to in my line of work so it would be fair to assume that diplomats would also know who the leaders or people in charge of countries are. Having said all that it is stereotypical of the US not to know much of what is happening outside of their country.

Aventinian

SF102

Avent, If the truth be told i couldn't name half the major politicians for England either. Sad state of affairs i know but alas politics isn't one of my strong points.
I seem to remember a story doing the rounds some years ago of a member of the US Senate or somesuch publically stating that he was proud of the fact he didn't have a passport (he was a secretary of state for summat or the other) and also something like 75% of Americans don't have a passport either.