Some of you will have read my previous posts about the fear that surrounds Alex Salmond and the SNP, (fear of calling a referendum) and their trying to squeeze ever more concessions out of the UK government. This on top of the excessive funding that Scotland already receives.
Well, seems like someone is finally listening. The timing of the referendum is being discussed by the UK government as well as the question to be posed.
Salmond and Co. want a three choice option. Something like:
Do you want complete independence for Scotland and a break with the United Kingdom or do you want greater powers for the Scottish Assembly?
The SNP and fellow travelers think that when faced with such a choice, they will get what they really want - Greater Powers.
I believe that they know they will not get a majority Yes (what would be a majority? More than 50% of the eligible voters (that is those registered to vote in Scotland) or more than 50% of those that bother to vote?)
Getting Greater Powers is what they really want as this way they can strut and preen themselves as leaders without needing to face the full economic consequences of their actions - i.e. they will demand that the English continue to subsidize them.
As I said earlier, I think that the English should also be asked for their opinion or view.
I think the question on both sides of the border should be:
Do you want Scotland to remain a member country of the United Kingdom?
The referendum needn't be binding ( I am not sure any referendum is binding on the UK Government) but this would give a sense of English and Scottish feelings.on the matter.
Also, whatever the outcome, the Barnett formula must go and the subsidy to Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) must end. This needs to happen before the March Budget.
Then we can see if they can afford free university education and prescriptions etc.
Well, seems like someone is finally listening. The timing of the referendum is being discussed by the UK government as well as the question to be posed.
Salmond and Co. want a three choice option. Something like:
Do you want complete independence for Scotland and a break with the United Kingdom or do you want greater powers for the Scottish Assembly?
- Yes, complete independence
- No, remain part of the United Kingdom
- Greater powers for the Scottish Assembly but remain part of the UK
The SNP and fellow travelers think that when faced with such a choice, they will get what they really want - Greater Powers.
I believe that they know they will not get a majority Yes (what would be a majority? More than 50% of the eligible voters (that is those registered to vote in Scotland) or more than 50% of those that bother to vote?)
Getting Greater Powers is what they really want as this way they can strut and preen themselves as leaders without needing to face the full economic consequences of their actions - i.e. they will demand that the English continue to subsidize them.
As I said earlier, I think that the English should also be asked for their opinion or view.
I think the question on both sides of the border should be:
Do you want Scotland to remain a member country of the United Kingdom?
- Yes
- No
The referendum needn't be binding ( I am not sure any referendum is binding on the UK Government) but this would give a sense of English and Scottish feelings.on the matter.
Also, whatever the outcome, the Barnett formula must go and the subsidy to Scotland (and Wales and Northern Ireland) must end. This needs to happen before the March Budget.
Then we can see if they can afford free university education and prescriptions etc.
If you want to deal with subsidies, I suggest you start with London which by far has the highest spending per capita in the UK, and has a bigger population than second placed Northern Ireland and third placed Scotland combined.
ReplyDeleteScotland also makes a profit for the UK according to the last 8 years of GERS figures whereas the rest of the UK recorded a massive deficit. So our health care and education spending is well within our means without the need for subsidy.
And by the way Scotland does not have an assembly it has a Parliament and according to UN rules on nations' right to self determination (which the UK is signed up to), it is our parliament which should be in charge of the referendum.
You would not expect the whole EU to take part in a vote on UK membership and nor should Westminster interfere in a vote on Scotland's future, especially as David Cameron's Tory's only have 1 MP in Scotland whereas the SNP has a majority.
Scotland's future should be decided by Scotland and England should look forward to a new more equal and mature relationship with Scotland.
I completely agree with the anonymous poster above. This matter is for the Scottish to decide.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I can see what you are saying about the responsibility they might avoid from the third option, the chances of getting a majority with three options is made even more difficult. What if the majority that might be achieved by a simple Yes, No question is further divided, so that 50%+1 who would vote yes, could become 40% yes and 10% further powers only.
I don't think you can say that the Scottish Parliament is simply adding the third option to decrease responsibility and secure a majority that way.
I think this proposed referendum is very brave and bold of the Scottish people and a very democratic way of achieving it. I hope that it all goes well, and that the rest of the UK keep themselves to themselves and let the Scottish deal with their own matters.
As for who the Scottish are in this referendum, I believe it should be those registered to vote there, as they reside in Scotland, they choose MPs for Scotland and they voted in their Scottish Parliament. To only allow those born in Scotland to vote there, would basically remove their representation in that country, especially when this parliament is voted in by a very proportional system where everybody's voice is heard much better than in the UK as a whole.
In Scotland we are used to misrepresentation of the facts by Unionists.
ReplyDeleteThe SNP leadership have made it quite clear that the SNP prefers a 2 question yes/no referendum but are minded to go with a third option ( Devo-max) if the other Parties in Scotland wish this but it is up to them to make the case.
Nothing could be clearer but there are none so blind as those who will not see