Ross Poldark and the Referendum…
September 18, 2014 by Robin Ellis
The polling booths are open and the show is on the road.
From the Highlands to the Lowlands from the east coast to the west coast, over 90% of the population is expected to vote–unprecedented in a western democratic referendum.
It’s a game changer, they are saying; even if it’s “NO”, nothing will ever be the same again.
Watching the NO campaign in panic mode, desperately playing catch-up when the polls started shifting–promising the kitchen sink to save the Union, has been entertaining.
But now, there’s nothing left to do but vote–if you live in Scotland–or twiddle your thumbs, if you don’t, awaiting the results tomorrow morning.
I fell to a spot of speculation while my thumbs were twiddling.
Just supposing the vote today was taking place in the far west of ENGLAND.
The Cornish were deciding whether to cut loose from Albion (“emmet land” to the Cornish) and go it alone! (There have been rumblings!)
And just supposing Ross Poldark had the gift of eternal life (well, Mammoth TV Productions are doing a convincing job reviving him!), how would he VOTE?
Trotting down the lane to the polling station in Pendeen, where would his cross go?
YES or NO??
Any clues?
He’s a free spirit, independent, anti-establishment, a risk taker, a convention flaunter, out of his time even.
He’s been “elsewhere”, albeit to fight for the “oppressor” in America. He has seen another side of things.
He’s a landowner, mine boss, member of the privileged class, yes–but…
Unlike the denizens of Downton Abbey, upstairs at least–safe to bet on a “no” there–Ross is less easy to predict.
(Though I felt disappointed to read that later in life he’d accepted a knighthood and become a Tory MP and best friends with Foreign Secretary George Canning! Ross Poldark!? Scourge of the local gentry, defender of the poor, natural leftie?! Oh dear…!
So voting “NO”, Ross?
I’ll answer for him. (Well we were quite close for a while!) Begging Winston Graham’s pardon for the presumption of course….
I’d wager that he’d not be able to resist the call.
Cornwall for the Cornish! Clear out the cupboard and start over–a new order!
“We’ve tin and copper–well, we’ll find it and china clay too.”
The old radical Ross would awake and be leading the charge–to the cliffs’ edge some would be saying.
“You know me well,” says Ross. “Did you see Andy Murray’s tweet this morning?”
“Let’s do this!”
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Posted in other sides to this life, Poldark | Tagged andy murray, china clay, downtown abbey, george canning, mammoth tv productions, pendeen, ross poldark, scottish independence | 35 Comments
Robin Ellis 
Robin you say it so well. I also believe that Ross would do what you say. He was indeed a rebel and a defender of the poor etc. Cannot wait for the new show. It will not be the same without you as Ross however
Ross was a patriot, but he also saw how the people were abused by those who had their “best interests at heart”, He would have whole heartily endorsed independence! After all, he learned a thing or two about the desire whilst in the “Colonies”. VIVA LIBERTY!!
Are emmets ants or am I imagining that ? I know that Devonians call tourists grockles..Ross certainly became a pillar of the establishment didn’t he,though I rather think that spirited,rebellious streak was never far below the surface !
Well said!
I have no doubt he’d “do this”!
I do, sadly, think that NO vote will win by a slight margin. There’s no way Westminster will ‘allow’ the YES vote to prevail. Cameron knows what he’s doing and I do not trust that man. There is a reason why he ‘allowed’ the referendum to go on.
I am in support of YES vote. America did it. Canada did it. I say, BE BOLD Scotland! BE BRAVE! You all CAN do THIS!
Mel
Certainly, Ross Poldark was independent, a free-thinker, and a natural lefty. Yes, it is strange to think of him as a Tory. To be fair, though, books 7 through 12 portrayed him as an uneasy Tory. He remained a steadfast advocate for the poor. For example, he was vehemently against the Corn Law in 1815. He did NOT want his baronetcy and even tried to refuse it! Liverpool basically engineered a situation that Poldark could not refuse. In all of this, Poldark clearly remains an independent, free-thinking, lefty — despite his Tory affiliation and his title. On the surface, it seems confusing, but I think it makes him more interesting.
Great comment, Chris and very informative–thank you. I had forgotten his reluctance vis-a-vis becoming “Sir’, but it makes perfect sense.
I always saw Ross as first trying to work within the system to the betterment of the people, only when pressed or when confronted with corruption that did not warrant his loyalty did he step outside the bounds for the good of his convictions.
(Side note – the Republican party of Lincoln was once considered liberal – just saying!)
I always smile when I see the flag of St. Piran. Cornwall. It has a special place in my heart — a geographic affair of mine, so to speak, started by the Poldark series and books and continued over many happy trips there. Cornwall. Kernow! Ah….
While it feels peculiar for me to speculate on such things, I think Captain Poldark would favor Scotland’s independence. After all, his own rebellious nature and vision are part & parcel of why we collectively love Capt. Poldark! Yep, I think Ross would vote YES!
Coincidentally, STARZ is airing the a new series based on Diana Gabaldon’s OUTLANDER (CROSS STITCH in the UK). The early episodes paint a heady portrait of the tense resentments fueling the Scottish Highlanders and the British rule in the period prior to the failed 1746 Jacobite Rebellion. (I’m pretty sure that Colum and Dougal MacKenzie would vote YES!)
You know he would vote for independence……once a liberal..always a liberal…I voted for president Obama…twice..and if possible, would do it again…a man of the people like Ross Poldark..
I believe that Braveheart would definitely vote “yes.” Linda
I very much respect anyone voting for independence. I’m a colonial myself. That said, it would be a shame if the result of this was the Balkanization of the UK. You’re our most important allay, and selfishly perhaps, I’d like to see you remain strong and united.
So funny!
I agree with you, because deep down, Ross was impulsive. He would make his mind up at the last second, and go for it!
Well, the votes have all been cast as I write…and being an Englishwoman living in England (although, technically, only half English as my Dad is a South African)…there was absolutely nothing I could do one way or the other. I have a stomach full of butterflies as I wonder what we shall wake up to in the morning. I will be very, very sad if we are no longer a truly United Kingdom. But we’ll all survive, one way or another. 400 years, gone in 15 hours of voting (possibly). I absolutely agree with you about Ross, though. A true maverick. Possibly the first King Of Cornwall, in fact…..!
I’m really curious how the election turns out. This could be a signal for other European regions. And for Ross decision I would say YES for Kernow!
Well, as a US citizen, I don’t know where this idea that you “get a vote” on indepenence comes from. We had a war in this country, you may recall, about the right of a state to secede. No “vote” was needed. The North said NO, there is no vote allowed at all. A very brutal war resulted.
Anyway, as a Scottish descendant, I wish them the best. (And it would be easier to type if my cats would stop jumping on the keyboard!)
I wonder how Captain McNeil would feel about Scottish independence? 😉
Good question, Chris–I’ll ask him when he gets back from Australia where he’s on tour with David Suchet!
Gave me goosebumps!! Well Done to Stir the Soul, Robin!! Awaiting the results!!!
Cornwall for the Cornish…my dad would agree with that Robin!
Ross Poldark would stand up and ride to Truro to lobby the crew.
Well, according to CNN, the “NO’s” have won. I will admit now, that I felt a bit concerned of how this activity might have been affecting Queen Elizabeth as she is well on in years.
I suppose the politicians at large will be relieved, they may well be worried about who wants to jump off board next — Texas comes to mind! Goodnight, all!
Well it’s all done and dusted now, and Scotland has voted ‘No’ (except for that 45% of course) I think Captain McNeil will be quite a sad man today.
And as for how Ross would vote down there in Cornwall? No doubt in my mind. He’d set the Cornish heather on fire!
Robin I think Ross was his own man a patriot but at heart a true Cornishman who cared about his fellow county men wether poor or rich.I would be sad if Scotland broke away from the union,but you know way up in the north the toast has always been Remember the Bruce.
Lovely Elaine–thanks for that.
I think Ross would talk it all over with Demelza, who would play devil’s advocate. Then he would gallop off to the polling station to vote YES. But can you imagine the nasty, brutal NO campaign, led by George Warleggan, who would by now undoubtedly have spread his banking interests across the country and be threatening to move his HQ to Devon? And knowing Ross’ luck, when crossing swords with George, the NO vote would prevail as it has done in Scotland.
Made me laugh–Sophie-Jane!
So independence fails, but as is so often the case these days, the vote was split. 46 per cent wanted it. That’s a big number. Perhaps Scotland will get more autonomy out of this and everyone will be happier and better for it. What other result can democracy deliver?
Yesterday the first question my husband asked me was whether Cornwall would follow suit? As to Ross’ interest in supporting independence, you know he’d want to be in the thick of it! but whenever he was pulled to London, or on diplomatic business, he went to serve his fellow man, but would find that he itched to be home, taking care of his farm, his mine and enjoying the respite of being a family man. Such an interesting personal conflict, and one I’m sure many civic minded people always feel. Thanks for keeping him in our awareness, Robin! Winston Graham never wrote characters who were flat, and that series did such a wonderful job of making it clear!
Nancy N
Maybe the independence folks should have channeled Jud Paynter, “Vote for Independence and there be pickin’s for all!”
I totally agree that Ross would vote for independence. He only ever joined the political scene to try to undermine the establishment cronies. He’d want to leave for sure.
I am beginning to believe you are truly the reincarnation of Ross Poldark! Did you know you look just like him. Haha, But a Tory and knighthood! Ye gads! BTW: Which of Winston Graham’s novels talks of Poldark and his family in later life? I have been trying to obtain the Poldark novels written after the The Stranger From The Sea. So far, no luck. Any information you might have where I might find these books would be most greatly appreciated. I live in Massachusetts (not too far from Truro on Cape Cod). Truro is one of my favorite places on the Cape but I never knew it was first a place in Cornwall until I saw the 70’s Poldark series recently on NetFlix. It brought to life, and in a way, personalized the stories for me. As of this writing I don’t know how the voting went I am only sure I know how my old friends in Edinburgh voted! Love to read your postings, Thanks,
Sent from my iPad
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Hello Sandra–I don’t know about the situation re-the novels. With the new series airing next year, though, I’m sure they’ll become available.
Standing outside Holyrood in the drizzle on friday afternoon – depression abound and realising the Warleggan lot had sneakily contrived their way to winning and keeping hold of their cash cow, I chatted to the devastated Catalan delegation, and discovered how much harder their fight was than ours. They are 16% of the Spanish population whereas many people are not aware that although we have a large, interesting and beautiful landmass, we are only 5% of the UK population. We didn’t get it through this time but we will next time!
I imagine Ross would be well pleased; the people voted their own fate, and got some good concessions. Maybe the U.S. would have stayed if they had that choice. Freedom spoke; I think Ross would be pragmatic.
Mark
All the Poldark novels are available on Amazon, Sandra. Kindle downloads of every book too!