Egham Best Kebab

138 Thorpe Lea Rd
Egham TW20 8BL
01784 463794

by Beau Cadiyo

Boris Johnson recently gave a speech advocating for Britain to leave the EU.  I'm not going to get into specifics, or take a side right now, but his reasoning ought to give hope to the Scottish Nationalists seeking to dissolve its ties from Great Britain.

Johnson argued that as part of the European Union, Britain was subject to control by a legislature from afar that didn't have Britain's best interests in mind.  Britain should leave this Union, he said, then renegotiate all of its relationships and pursue its own interests, independently of the rules and regulations its Union partners might want to impose on it.  It would be a lovely, peaceful, simple process.

I immediately thought: Well, what about Scotland and Wales?

Here's what I mean.  For a long time, Scotland and Wales were in a very similar situation that Britain finds itself in today: recognised independent countries, controlled by a legislature that met in a city - London - in another country - England, and subject to laws, rules and regulations that they had a voice in, but couldn't control.  They also paid taxes to this occupying force, and their money was spent on policies that benefitted the foreigners.

Scotland had a viciously contested referendum two years ago about whether to leave its Union with Great Britain and strike out on its own.  Most of England, including Conservative Borish Johnson, were petrified at the prospect of this rich area leaving and taking their wealth, then renegotiating all of the agreements that Scotland had with the rest of the UK.  They thought it was a crazy, idiotic idea to break up a union where London could dictate much of what went on in Scotland, taking in money and dishing out regulations like...well, like a Federal government.

But doesn't the same reasoning apply in both cases?  Let's substitute a few words in the above paragraph.

Johnson argued that as part of the United Kingdom, Scotland was subject to control by a legislature from afar that didn't have Scotland's best interests in mind.  Scotland should leave the UK, he said, then renegotiate all of its relationships and pursue its own interests, independently of the rules and regulations its UK partners might want to impose on it.  It would be a lovely, peaceful, simple process.  

Emotionally, I'm sure there's a great difference in the minds of the "Brexit" crowd, but intellectually, I'm struggling to see how the reasoning would differ.  Scotland, independent, should be able to look entirely after Scotland, and only subscribe to policies that Scotland wants to adopt - and a complete break from the United Kingdom would make that not both easier and better.  Anyone supporting Brexit should also support Scoxit and Walxit, if they have even a passing interest in intellectual honesty, integrity and consistency, for these independent entities should be able to look after themselves without meddling from afar.

Speaking of independent entities, the kebab at Egham Best Kebab is the polar opposite of the kebab at Corniche that I reviewed yesterday.  Massive, delicious, fresh and cheap, with healthy portions of both meat and veg, I'd recommend it to anyone looking for good food in Egham.  In fact, my mouth is watering; I think I'll go get one now.