World Cup -- no escape from politics

Cathy Jamieson, Candidate for NEC

France were 2-0 up against South Africa when I heard I'd made it onto the list of 'approved candidates' for the Scottish Parliament. Watching the match en route to a long-planned World Cup holiday, it seemed a bit incongruous to be responding to a message to phone the Scottish Labour Party General Secretary urgently.

I never saw the third French goal, being busy explaining that I couldn't make it to the publicity event for approved candidates in Glasgow the next day. My trip had been planned for the best part of a year. At least I was on the list, consoling myself that being at the Scotland v Norway match might give me credibility with voters!

As we'd left Scotland in the aftermath of yet another glorious defeat, we reflected that the clear winners were shops making record profits as demand for football strips far outstripped supply. The losers, of course, were the supporters who found outdated strips, which would normally have been consigned to the sale rails, displayed at full price.

Winners in Scotland's political battle appear to be the SNP with opinion polls showing Scottish voters favouring independence. While it is too simplistic to draw direct links between the fervour engendered by football and voting intentions, the hype surrounding the World Cup has been a factor. People want drama and excitement, to have something to look forward to. Football temporarily gives them an escape route from day to day problems and for Scottish fans normal team rivalries have ceased. They've a common cause, creating at best a sense of positive identity, at worst an opposition to all things "English", especially what they perceive as too much emphasis on "middle England".

But nationalism is not confined to Scotland or Scottish fans. A whole variety of old prejudices and new alliances are evident: British fans supporting Cameroon because Germany was behind Austria might be predictable, but what about elderly Frenchmen getting behind the Jamaican Reggae Boyz fighting back against Croatia?

Some rivalry has been good-humoured, swapping kits and flags: Norwegian tops worn with kilts, Scottish tops with Viking helmets. The violence and underlying racial tensions which marred the England v Tunisia game show that much needs to change if the game is to be enjoyed by ordinary people without anyone feeling obliged to apologise for their nationality or the behaviour of the fans. I intend to enjoy all the matches, and the international atmosphere.

It would be great if politics took a rest during holidays -- it doesn't. In France, supermarket prices -- over the top for World Cup souvenirs -- are in Euros as well as francs. Unfair allocation of tickets means genuine fans can't afford inflated prices charged by touts and companies only interested in a quick profit.

It's just not possible to escape the politics of life at home or abroad. I'm proud to be Scottish. I want my team to win. I also want to see the Scottish Parliament take radical steps to deal with poverty, unemployment and social injustice -- and that's what I'll be campaigning for when I get home!

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