There is widespread perplexity at the heist launched on the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony by the announcement from BBC staff, supported by unions Bectu and, of course, Unite – that they will strike for 12 hours from noon on Wednesday 23rd July – which would put the televising of the Opening Ceremony under threat.
This is the ceremony for which Scotland has blown the Games budget. Tens of thousands of folk have booked accommodation and bought tickets to let them be present at this ceremony. Countless numbers of performers have been working to perfect their routines. Scotland’s credibility is riding on the show.
Everyone is shaking their heads at the loss of perspective in trying a blackmail stunt of this order and with these consequences; and there is rising anger about the self-centred irresponsibility of this attempted clubbing of a nation, an action that belongs with the Flintstones.
A wag has suggested that Jilli Blackwood, the hapless designer of the pantomime ruritanian parade costumes for the brave Scottish team has friends in the BBC who have come up with a way of making sure that the ungladsome rags are never seen on the international stage of the television screen.
