InsaneJournal

5§ • Pertinent News for the Discerning Wizard • Sunday . 14 January 2000

The final poll on the Scottish Referendum was taken in two places this week. Half of the individuals questioned were at Hogsmeade on Saturday afternoon during the height of the charity quidditch match and the other half spoke with the Prophet's team at the Lamb following the charity match. Final results show a swing toward the Ayes, at 40-34-26. While this is within the 4% margin of error overall for the poll, Prophet Arithmancer Ian Fraser reminds readers that the overall trendlines since the first Scottish poll was taken in September have indicated increasing support for the referendum and a Scottish sub-Ministry.

Questions this week have arisen about what will happen with an Aye vote in the Referendum as there is no solid plan from the Ministry, nor have the details been revealed in debate though there has been a strong series of debates by letter in the Prophet and to various WWN programmes, led by William Wallace Wood for the Nays and by Fergus Quintin for the Ayes. A variety of proposals have been mooted, none of which have been endorsed by the Minister at this time. The Minister's Office had not issued comment at press time about the nature of its plans should the referendum pass.

A question frequently discussed with respect to the sub-Ministry proposal is the likelihood that other national groups within the Ministry would want sub-Ministries for their own historic nations. Quintin himself called for such sub-Ministries in a recent letter to the Prophet, along with a sub-Ministry for Muggleborn affairs. Along similar lines, Quidditcher Jason King, a leader in the so-called "Pink" movement, asked, “Did you know that almost one quarter of witches and wizards are muggleborn? This says nothing to those who have muggle or muggleborn parents and loved ones. These were the people most impacted by the war. Why are we not discussing the improvement of muggleborn representation?”

Sub-Ministries for national groups or a sub-Ministry for Muggleborns brings up the additional question of Ministry structure. While some adjustments have been made in the shape and composition of the Ministry since Kingsley Shacklebolt took office, especially in the Auror Division and other parts of the DMLE, many offices remain much as they were before the War beyond changes at the Head and Deputy Head levels. Some Departments were changed radically under the Thicknesse Ministry and are still reconstituting themselves, such as Magical Games and Sport, which was merged with the BIL during the War and is now separating Ministry and League responsibilities. The birth of a new Scots Office, Division, or Department may presage a similar set of changes across the Ministry.

These questions will remain unanswered until the referendum vote is complete and counted, which is expected to be late night Monday. Polls will be open in Hogsmeade, Portree, Banchory, and Montrose from 7 AM to 7 PM. Scots residents whose addresses were registered with Administrative Registration Department are urged to vote their consciences.

The Prophet will publish a special edition tomorrow evening after the vote count is released. For the full details and more political coverage, read the Daily Prophet Tuesday morning and every day!