Erich McElroy: The British Referendum

Erich McElroy, a Seattle-born satirist turned UK citizen, never gets more confrontational than his show's unfortunate slogan: "It's not just about you, Scotland." In the land of the democratic deficit, such a remark is more ignorant than insulting, but may explain why your diligent critic was the only Scottish person in the audience. Even that may be too many.

McElroy, to his credit, displays more care in being inoffensive than the Better Together campaign with which he allies himself (in spirit, at least). As someone who has only recently become settled into his British identity—which he regards as a charming novelty—McElroy is concerned by the referendum which threatens to take it away from him. He is also worried, arguably without good reason, that audiences of either political stripe will tell the American interloper to butt out. Yet Scotland is aware that, from the United States to Catalonia, the world watches. Few would deny anyone their right to an opinion. But McElroy never stops apologising, which has the effect of interrupting his comedic flow and preventing any real discussion of the issues.

Much of the show is devoted to comparing our political culture to that of McElroy's homeland, which could have been fascinating, but instead yields a few amusing but predictable gags about congresswomen with machine guns and Anthony Weiner. Jokes about Alistair Darling's eyebrows are similarly unadventurous.

Despite what he may think, no one will begrudge McElroy his right to speak, but he seems to have very little to say.