Roy Hattersley writing in The Times this morning presents a strange view of Iceland. He explains in an article headlined ‘May I introduce the bloody-minded Icelanders’ that despite the fact that ‘Icelanders are by nature, intrinsically unreasonable’ he has a peverse admiration for them. I particularly like the suggestion that as the progeny of Vikings they aren’t ‘likely to have qualms about keeping £3.6 billion of somebody else’s money’.
I am biased on this one; I have spent a great deal of very happy time in Iceland and I feel alot more sympathy for them than Roy Hattersley.
I have a few comments:
1) Let us not forget that the Icelandic banks operated entirely within the laws of the UK. They were not modern Vikings sailing in to steal our money, we gave them our money in the hope that it would earn more. Whilst the Icelandic banks deserve criticism for their failings, our politicians (Hattersley included) deserve equal criticism for the lax regulation they introduced.
2)The way we have treated Iceland following the collapse has been reprehensible. By threatning to block their EU accession (some would say how lucky Iceland is…), using anti-terror laws, and generally strutting our major-economic-power stuff we have resembled the worst kind of playground bully.
3) One feature of British political life which is confusing to Icelanders is ego. Their politicans do not have enormous residences, flash cars, and huge security details. They do not present their opinions as facts. They do not make random accusations of brigandry based on the events of centuries ago. They do not act like modern brigands with their expense claims. And, most importantly, they do not come close to bankrupting their nation without asking their peoples’ opinion. They leave these vices to the British….Mr. Hattersley.
