FOR SOME INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION, LET'S BRING OUT THE OLDIES

It was the day for political yesterday's men to be interviewed on the Today programme which I half listened to this morning. The "star" was John Major, on the EU and Ukip threat interviewed by John Humphries.

But earlier we had the pleasure of the views of Lord Sir David Steel, ex MP, ex, MSP, ex presiding officer, and current member of the retirement home chamber, on the independence referendum, with the more junior Justin Webb.

So what did his nobleness and beknightedness bring to the table? Anything of interest?

In a word, nope.

The excuse for having him on was that he’s hosting a meeting tonight, in company with his colleague from the days of the Liberal/SDP marriage, Shirley Williams as she once was.

He says that the Liberals want, as they say they have always wanted, federalism, or devolution max. A Scotland that raises the taxes it spends.

I’m not sure if David Steel knows that his party is now in government and that the days of wanting things but not being listened to are (at least for the next few months) over.

I’m wondering if he is aware that it was a Liberal Secretary of State that went with Cameron to Edinburgh to agree the terms of the referendum. 

I’m wondering if it ever occurs to him that the time for settling a devo max, federalist option might have been back then, when his Liberal Secretary of State at the Scotland Office was sitting with the Prime Minister, First Minister and Deputy First Minister agreeing terms. 

I’m wondering if he knows that that’s not really what Willie Rennie is arguing for. I even wondered briefly if he knew who Willie Rennie was.

His arguments are, of course, the benefits of the union, and although he may have more up his sleeve for tonight, among the ones he trotted out this morning was that we were a fabulously successful union (and from his point of view one cannot argue that. With his K and his elevation to the aristocracy, it’s certainly worked well for him.).

He also repeated that we fought together in the world wars (but neglected to mention that we also fought alongside many other countries which don’t have their pensions, taxes and social security set by London.

He bemoaned the fact that this discussion had been going on for 3 years, although the official campaign was just starting. No-one of course pointed out to him that from the moment that the SNP majority government, with a referendum in their manifesto, became reality, the unionists never ceased demanding a date for that referendum, and that his coalition’s prime minister and his party’s Secretaries of State (all three of them) never talked about Scotland in terms other than the referendum.

Same old, same old, with no counter arguments from Webb, who had tried to hijack the interview before it even started, for something that clearly he thought was of more interest than Jockland (more of which later). To his credit Steel was snippy with him and pointed out that he had come on to talk about Scotland.

The interesting thing was Steel seemed to be rather less than interested in the finances of the matter and maybe, given Alexander's faux pas of this week that's not surprising. It was, he said, going to be expensive. Divorce always was. But it was not about the money; it was about the kind of country we wanted to live in, and no one wanted to live in a country that would want to break up a union…well, that’s what he said. Lady Steel anyone?

And so now we know the views of a man who has a pension from being an MP; a pension from being an MSP, and a Presiding Officer, a state pension, and £300+ a day tax free and as much subsidised food and drink as he wants for sitting around in a royal palace being referred to as milord. 

It’s not about money, eh David, erm I mean your grace and your sirhood.

No one thought to ask him what he thought of Danny's invented figures nor of his possible future in the House of Lords when he doesn't get himself re-elected.

But Justin did want to talk about something that his English listeners were interested in. Namely Lord Rennard and his mealy mouthed and obviously insincere apologies for his inappropriate behaviour. (As in…”OK OK, you’ve been going on and on about it for ages. I’m sorry I touched up the women. It was totally accidental. I didn’t mean it. Now can I be reinstalled in the party with my old position?”).

It seems that aristocrats are better sticking together, because Mr Steel thought that mr Rennard had apologised and should be given back the whip. Lord knows what he'll do with a whip. The mind boggles.

But then, you have to remember that this is David Steel we're talking about. ? Cyril Smith anyone?