SNP makes the case for Scottish independence
Salmond uses St Andrew's Day to launch campaign to break up the Union
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Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond set out on the road to fulfilling his lifelong political ambition yesterday by launching a White Paper that he hopes could lead to a referendum delivering full independence from Westminster possibly as early as next year.
Unveiled on St Andrew's Day against the backdrop of a Saltire, the Scottish National Party leader insisted that Scots were unwilling to tolerate the status quo any longer and that politicians who blocked their right to vote on more powers for Holyrood would pay with their seats come the next election.
"It is time for people to have their say on Scotland's future. The debate in Scottish politics is no longer between change or no change – it's about the kind of change we seek and the right of the people to choose their future in a free and fair referendum," he said.
But despite the vaunting rhetoric and patriotic setting, the occasion was strangely muted and critics were quick to point out that the 176-page document, a glossy brochure entitled Your Scotland, Your Voice, lacked important detail and showed how weak the SNP leader really was on the question.
In the face of stubbornly low support for independence – the most recent Ipsos Mori poll found only one in five backed going it alone – Mr Salmond said he was willing to negotiate over some of the key proposals.
The main opposition parties all condemned the announcement safe in the knowledge that they would easily be able to defeat an SNP-backed referendum Bill at Holyrood. Mr Salmond has a parliamentary majority of just one over Labour and can only rely on the support of two Scottish Green Party MSPs and an independent – leaving him far short of the number he requires to make the referendum a reality.
Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats are all strongly in favour of maintaining the Union and have thrown their weight behind the recent findings of the Calman Commission which recommends substantial extra powers for Scotland.
Labour leader Iain Gray said Mr Salmond was "out of touch" with Scots over the plans which would cost £9m. The White Paper, which follows a two-year consultation process involving 15,000 Scots, sets out four possible scenarios: no change in the current system of devolved government; more devolution as recommended by the Calman Commission; a further degree of devolution; and full independence.
Under "full devolution" – alternatively dubbed "devolution max or devolution lite" – the Scottish Parliament would be granted control over collecting the "vast majority" of revenues in Scotland – and the vast majority of spending in Scotland. The Scottish Government would also be entrusted with powers to borrow money for capital investment and infrastructure projects.
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Comments
Independence made sense 30 years ago when oil was only starting to be extracted. One has to wonder did the Nationalists at the time of the Referendum screw up or was the referendum rigged?
Britain generally is in for a rough ride in the next 5-10 years. Pull together and wait for the economic good times before breaking away. Where possible counter the regressive and anti-people laws and regulations which diminish people's legitimate rights. Such actions may well even force Westminster to do the Right Thing also for our English brothers and sisters.
The struggle should not be Scottish vs. English but People vs. the Modern quasi-fascist State.
Mr Alex Weir, Baghdad and Harare
No, neither do I. It was a UK resource.
What an exciting prospect for those north of the border - to decide your own future, make your own laws, join the EU as full and enthusiastic partners.
What a miserable alternative - take the crumbs from the Westminster table, and hang onto the coat-tails of those south of the border who seem determined to let the country sink into international insignificance.
The removal of the dead weight will be a stimulus for the South.
Good luck and good riddance.
If both parties will benefit then why not do it amicably?
I'm sure people on the Welsh side of the border will have a view, too.
I live in hope.
All the best
AR
The nation-state has not been the best idea of humankind as the history of the 20th century shows - where nations have been able to resource their conflicts to industrial and global levels.
I do not believe that true sovereignty exists in the modern globalised economy where companies such as Microsoft have annual earnings which exceed those of states including some states with nuclear-armaments.
Also, as so many of the problems that we face are trans-national (terrorism, global warming, over-fishing, loss of habitat and biodiversity, employment going overseas) what can smaller and smaller states do but work together.
Ordinary, everyday life (the stuff that is missing from most history books) is little different between broadly similar countries. I have had long discussions about this with an Irish friend who is very proud of his family relationship to Michael Collins. Our discussions took in the rule of law, taxes, education, second-homes, traffic jams, you name it. It was obvious that life in Ireland was really very little different from life in the UK and it made us wonder: what had all the suffering actually been for? I have also lived for a number of years in France and Portugal and this experience has only reinforced my view.
In fact, the real difference between one country and another is that they have a different government with different politicians (all saying much the same as each other). So, we have the real reason for Alex Salmond's referendum - 'I want to be the biggest fish in the pond, even if the pond is smaller'.
The comment by the anti-UK 'Englishman' below was rather unpleasant. I don't disagree that there are plenty of you in England but you should get your facts right - we keep ourselves afloat, thank you very much.
I should also remind you that in WWII, five of the seven British Field Marshals were Ulstermen, including Field Marshal Montgomery. Also, I believe 70% of the SAS are Scottish. Good luck in the south!
I am not a British citizen, I am an EU citizen first of all
I am UK resident because I am really impressed of British history, education, musician, sports, and many more
With an international influence , the UK without Scotland would be devastated even collapsed
It it is incredible that many people like me as EU citizens not British citizens are willing a strong UK and some British people from Scotland didn't see the essence of our world
I care about UK future even I am not a British citizen as I told you
I think , my comment should be taken account by the Leadership of this country because they can make a HUGE HUGE MISTAKE if Scotland will become independent
p.s. you all should be proud of UK roots