I have written extensively on the subject of Scottish independence.
For the masochists and 'anoraks' among you read here , here, here,, here on currency, and again here on currency , here on Shetlands and Oil here on Scotland and debt , also here on debt, and again, here. There have been other posts as well which, if you are so minded you can seek out.
Why so many posts? Something like 18 by my count.
Well, as an Englishman, of Irish parents, with a son and a grandson born in Scotland, Scotland is personally important to me. It is an integral part of a great nation - the United Kingdom. A country that I love. A country that has a Scottish part, a Welsh part, and Irish part and an English part. I will be very saddened if the people of Scotland were to take the irrevocable step of voting for 'independence' from the rest of the UK.
Why 'independence' and not independence? Well frankly, it is a funny kind of independence that is currently proposed. An independence that cedes economic policy power to the rest of the UK and, given the ever creeping federalising of the European Union, other powers to Brussels. Exactly what will Scotland be independent of? It seems to me that what is really happening is that Alex Salmond and the Scottish Nationalists resent, maybe even hate, the English and this is why they want independence.
Anyway, on Thursday 18 September 2014, a referendum will be held and Scotland's choice will be made. At the moment it looks like a narrow majority in favour of the No vote will be the answer.
In some ways that bothers me most. Non-Scottish politicians have been falling over themselves to offer to grant more powers to the devolved parliament for Scotland. This is wrong! Scotland has more than enough power already. It has had minor tax raising power since devolution was granted and has chosen not to use it.
Have a care ! You politicians may offer Scotland more power but what then of the English? In the House of Commons, today, we have MPs elected for constituencies in Scotland and in Wales that can vote on matters that solely affect England's constituencies and yet MPs representing English constituencies cannot vote on devolved issues relating to Scotland or Wales. Mind you, neither can those Scottish and Welsh MPs!
The argument runs that the Westminster parliament is not representative of Scottish opinion because the UK has had the temerity to elect Conservative governments. Well, bear in mind that Labour relies on the support of 55 Scottish based MPs as part of its power base and this is an overwhelming boost to Labour's electoral chances - absent these seats, Labour would struggle to be the major party in Westminster, as England typically leans toward the Conservative Party.
Since this will be my last blog post before the referendum, I also wanted to mention the tactics of the Yes campaign. These seem to fall into the following categories. If faced with a question that is uncomfortable and for which you have no answer, accuse the questioner of 'scare-mongering'. When your lack of a policy, e.g. on post-independence currency, is challenged, insist that the Westminster parties - all three of the major parties - are bluffing. When the governor of the Bank of England and numerous other economists chip in with the same questions, repeat the 'they're bluffing ' response.
Then there is the really nasty side to the debate. This is exemplified by Jim Sillars, the former leader of the SNP. He has basically threatened vengeance upon all of those companies that have the temerity to stand-up and be counted and voice their opinion that a Yes vote is the wrong vote. There is even talk of nationalising the likes of BP. Is it any wonder that companies like Standard Life and Royal Bank of Scotland are saying that if there a Yes vote, they will re-domicile their headquarters outside of Scotland. Obviously the currency uncertainty will play a part but they surely also have a fiduciary duty, in the light of Sillars' comments, to protect their shareholder's interests by avoiding nationalisation.
To the Scots reading this, I say vote No on Thursday and stay in the family of nations that is the greatest on earth.
To the other nationalities that are reading this, get in touch with your Scottish friends and implore them to vote No.
To the politicians I say, stop pandering. Scotland already has more than enough power. devolve no more.
Remember VOTE NO!
For the masochists and 'anoraks' among you read here , here, here,, here on currency, and again here on currency , here on Shetlands and Oil here on Scotland and debt , also here on debt, and again, here. There have been other posts as well which, if you are so minded you can seek out.
Why so many posts? Something like 18 by my count.
Well, as an Englishman, of Irish parents, with a son and a grandson born in Scotland, Scotland is personally important to me. It is an integral part of a great nation - the United Kingdom. A country that I love. A country that has a Scottish part, a Welsh part, and Irish part and an English part. I will be very saddened if the people of Scotland were to take the irrevocable step of voting for 'independence' from the rest of the UK.
Why 'independence' and not independence? Well frankly, it is a funny kind of independence that is currently proposed. An independence that cedes economic policy power to the rest of the UK and, given the ever creeping federalising of the European Union, other powers to Brussels. Exactly what will Scotland be independent of? It seems to me that what is really happening is that Alex Salmond and the Scottish Nationalists resent, maybe even hate, the English and this is why they want independence.
Anyway, on Thursday 18 September 2014, a referendum will be held and Scotland's choice will be made. At the moment it looks like a narrow majority in favour of the No vote will be the answer.
In some ways that bothers me most. Non-Scottish politicians have been falling over themselves to offer to grant more powers to the devolved parliament for Scotland. This is wrong! Scotland has more than enough power already. It has had minor tax raising power since devolution was granted and has chosen not to use it.
Have a care ! You politicians may offer Scotland more power but what then of the English? In the House of Commons, today, we have MPs elected for constituencies in Scotland and in Wales that can vote on matters that solely affect England's constituencies and yet MPs representing English constituencies cannot vote on devolved issues relating to Scotland or Wales. Mind you, neither can those Scottish and Welsh MPs!
The argument runs that the Westminster parliament is not representative of Scottish opinion because the UK has had the temerity to elect Conservative governments. Well, bear in mind that Labour relies on the support of 55 Scottish based MPs as part of its power base and this is an overwhelming boost to Labour's electoral chances - absent these seats, Labour would struggle to be the major party in Westminster, as England typically leans toward the Conservative Party.
Since this will be my last blog post before the referendum, I also wanted to mention the tactics of the Yes campaign. These seem to fall into the following categories. If faced with a question that is uncomfortable and for which you have no answer, accuse the questioner of 'scare-mongering'. When your lack of a policy, e.g. on post-independence currency, is challenged, insist that the Westminster parties - all three of the major parties - are bluffing. When the governor of the Bank of England and numerous other economists chip in with the same questions, repeat the 'they're bluffing ' response.
Then there is the really nasty side to the debate. This is exemplified by Jim Sillars, the former leader of the SNP. He has basically threatened vengeance upon all of those companies that have the temerity to stand-up and be counted and voice their opinion that a Yes vote is the wrong vote. There is even talk of nationalising the likes of BP. Is it any wonder that companies like Standard Life and Royal Bank of Scotland are saying that if there a Yes vote, they will re-domicile their headquarters outside of Scotland. Obviously the currency uncertainty will play a part but they surely also have a fiduciary duty, in the light of Sillars' comments, to protect their shareholder's interests by avoiding nationalisation.
To the Scots reading this, I say vote No on Thursday and stay in the family of nations that is the greatest on earth.
To the other nationalities that are reading this, get in touch with your Scottish friends and implore them to vote No.
To the politicians I say, stop pandering. Scotland already has more than enough power. devolve no more.
Remember VOTE NO!
I nolonger have any faith in the Scots or their commtment to the UK. It would take a 70%+ no vote to convince me otherwise.
ReplyDeleteAfter LibLabCon promises of devo-max last week, I sincerely hope scots go thier own way - if they stay English/Scots friction will just get ever worse.
UK is a dead state walking.
I see your point and I am very concerned at the prospect of devo-max - this is independence without any responsibility - Holyrood writing cheques that the rest of the UK must cash. My post-referendum wish, if a No vote, is that the Barnett formula be tossed aside and a re-balanced allocation of resources be undertaken. If there is a Yes vote, then push for the date of independence to be before the 2015 General Election. We can't have Scottish MPs elected for what might be just a few months!
DeleteWe can only wait and see. But as everyone has long agreed that the Barnett Formula is broken, and still it hasn't been fixed, I see no reason that it will be fixed now. And any attempt to 'rebalancing' resoures will be met with cries of 'but we only voted No, because you promised us more'.
DeleteIf Sotland vote No, I will likely be campaigning for a referendum on English independence - independence from the EU and from the UK!
You know Scottish Indy. is caused by Tory Economic policy since Thatcher which is divisive. The UK as a Union will not change. Only UNION POLICY & Direction. it's nothing to do with The Ppl hating each other just Tories Murdering the Vulnerable
ReplyDelete