The Wardman Wire

The Scottish Government - it’s official

04/09/2007

Matt Wardman has formally adopted the title Scottish Government to replace the term Matt Wardman as an expression of corporate identity.

The change is intended to help the public more clearly understand the role and functions of the Government Executive in Scotland. Among those functions are publicity stunts designed to create an illusion that the Executive has the status of a Government.

The rebranding has immediate effect. The name, favicon and corporate branding of this blog have already been changed but other material such as stationery will only be changed gradually to be as cost effective as possible in the transition.

The decision was taken to adopt the new identity because my opinion is that the publicity stunts perpetrated by the Scottish Executive are confusing or meaningless to many members of the public, are insupportable as actions outside the democratic processes governing this country, and a total waste of public money to boot. This change requires a vote in the Westminster Parliament, never mind the devolved Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Social Attitudes survey and a Citizens’ Jury examining Executive communications have both indicated limited understanding of what the Executive does and some confusion with other government bodies, notably the Scottish Parliament but also the UK Government.

The Government Scottish Executive believes that £1.1 million savings made from having fewer Cabinet Ministers than the previous administration, fewer private office staff and fewer special advisers more than covers the cost of rebranding. I believe that saving £1.1 million of public money (which is always laudible) does not entitle the Scottish Executive to throw £100,000 of that saving down a different toilet.

The cost of creating the new logo and changing the main signage on the Wardman Wire has been 28p, which is approximately 0.00028% of the amount the Scottish Executive has spent out of taxpayers money on this miserable publicity stunt.

The term “Matt Wardman”, as defined by the pseudonym I use on this blog, will continue to be used in formal documents.

With immediate effect, www.mattwardman.com becomes the Official Website of the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Government is pleased to announce that a new website for communication with the public will be going live soon at www.scottishgovernment.blogspot.com.

Potential ministers should apply to “scottishgovernment AT mattwardman DOT com”. If a physical base becomes necessary, the new Scottish Government will be based in the East Midlands. Derby would seem to have an appropriate resonance for turning back unconstitutional Scottish Nationalist rebellions. It is to be hoped that - like the advisers around the Young Pretender - those around the Great Pretender will realise that he has overeached his authority and will pull him back.

The Scottish Government is considering whether the ancient Scottish flag known as the “Saltire” should be rebranded as the “Satire“, accurately to reflect the new reputation of the Scottish Executive.

Notes to editors

This Press Release may be used immediately.

References:

• Press Release for Scottish Executive Publicity Stunt
• Executive No More (Bellegrove Belle).
• How do you get a new government without there being an election? (Doctor Vee).
• The Scottish Government (Scottish Politics website).
• Alex Salmond And The Raising Of The Saltire In Edinburgh - Do None Dare Call This Treason? (Devil’s Kitchen).
• The breakup of the “United Kingdom” (Not a Sheep).
• Rebranding isn’t reinvention.
• What’s in a name? (Brian Taylor)
• Scottish “Government” (Reactionary Snob)
• Executive becomes the Scottish Government (Holyrood News)
• Welcome, Scotland’s Government (OurKingdom)

Footnote:

To whom it may concern www.scottishgovernment.tv and www.scottish-government.tv are still available at £30.95 a year each - and if you use them for satire the Scottish Government Executive probably cannot take them off you. The Scottish Government Executive have snagged all the others. Iain Dale is the only other operator I know who is that thorough.

However, I’m not investing £31 a year of my hard-earned to satirise half-baked actions of idiotic politicians.

Tags: scottish government, scottish politics, scottish executive, holyrood parliament, holyrood, alex salmond, snp, scottish national party, bellegrove belle, mr eugenides, iain dale, doctor vee, man with a toque, witanagemot[tags]scottish government, scottish politics, scottish executive, holyrood parliament, holyrood, alex salmond, snp, scottish national party, bellegrove belle, mr eugenides, iain dale, doctor vee, man with a toque, witanagemot[/tags]