It seems as if some patriotic Scots think that if Scotland becomes independent that certain areas should have the right to cede from Scotland. You have to wonder if these Scots have thought this out and if they have asked the people of these area what they think? In days gone by they would of been charged with treason but we are too civilised now to go that far. We just think that it is a few politicians who dislike of the SNP and what they stand and this gets in their way of rational thought and not what is best for the constituencies they represent & those Earls & Lords whose only claim to represent us is who his great great great ..... great grandfather was and who that relative killed to gain the land & title.
Do these 'representatives' think that any area that votes against independence should be able to cede from Scotland. If so which areas or is it only the Orkney & Shetland Isles? What about the outer Hebrides or the old Kingdom of Fife. If Scotland become independence then should Berwick be returned it is rightful country. Doncaster who it seems is part of Scotland should it remain in Scotland?
We also come to the tricky question of the question. How many questions should be on the ballot paper. Should it be one referendum or 2 or 3?
We cannot assume that a No to independents means a Yes I want to remain within the UK if the rest of Scotland votes Yes. If they do withdraw from an independent Scotland and remain within the UK then do they have devolution as a new united country of Orkney, Shetland, Harris & Fife or do they become a part of England or Wales? Do the islands form their own area country, separate from Fife? This has not been spelt out yet. I think we are entitled to these answers, why have we not been given them. Surely they have had enough time to formulate the policies on these matters. As Pembrokeshire is called Little England should it at the same time be able to cede from Wales and become a part of England?
Do these 'representatives' think that any area that votes against independence should be able to cede from Scotland. If so which areas or is it only the Orkney & Shetland Isles? What about the outer Hebrides or the old Kingdom of Fife. If Scotland become independence then should Berwick be returned it is rightful country. Doncaster who it seems is part of Scotland should it remain in Scotland?
We also come to the tricky question of the question. How many questions should be on the ballot paper. Should it be one referendum or 2 or 3?
- Do you want Scotland to be a Independent Country
- If NO, Do you want more power transferred to
a) Scotland
b) Your region
c) Keep it the same - If YES, do you
a) Want to remain part of Scotland
b) Be Independent
c) Be a new country within the rump of the UK.
We cannot assume that a No to independents means a Yes I want to remain within the UK if the rest of Scotland votes Yes. If they do withdraw from an independent Scotland and remain within the UK then do they have devolution as a new united country of Orkney, Shetland, Harris & Fife or do they become a part of England or Wales? Do the islands form their own area country, separate from Fife? This has not been spelt out yet. I think we are entitled to these answers, why have we not been given them. Surely they have had enough time to formulate the policies on these matters. As Pembrokeshire is called Little England should it at the same time be able to cede from Wales and become a part of England?
Scotland is a sovereign state, the monarch is not the monarch of the United Kingdom but of England, Scotland,Wales, N. Ireland, etc. Whilst I fully agree with the right of a nations right to govern itself it is silly to suggest that regions should be able to hop from country to country. I do believe that power should be devolved from the centre to local areas. I do believe that the Highlands as a council is far to big to satisfy the needs of such diverse areas as Speyside with Inverness, with Caithness, with Harris. That is why I am a LibDem but lets not be ridiculous and lets have sensible suggestions. Some points I have made here I agree are ridiculous but I thought I would keep with the whole suggestions some of our 'representatives' are making.
We're voting on whether to dissolve the Act of Union. As far as I know, that act had nothing to say about a distinct status for the northern isles or Fife.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that Tavish Scott and Liam McArthur think there is any substance to the argument they make, or that there is any support within their constituencies for anything other than acceptance of the decision made by Scotland as a whole.
The only point of this has been to distract the media and electorate from a debate we should all be treating seriously, and perhaps to garner some UK wide publicity for the MSPs themselves.
I wrote this tongue in cheek. I don't believe that the 2 MSP's have taken any real sounding and are really making mischief. It is sad that they cannot put forward positive ideas and sit on the sidelines sniping.
DeleteI knew it was tongue in cheek Gerry, I should've added a smiley after my first paragraph. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt does worry me that flippant issues like this get lots of airtime, especially in national (UK) press, and on the BBC, when far more pertinent ones are ignored.
Perhaps as a Nationalist I should be happy that no better arguments for the UK continuing are being aired.
Was looking forward to Charlie Kennedy on QT to see if he could do better - shame he couldn't make it.
It is sad because the Unionist and that seems to be most of the media try to use any story to say Independence won't work, it will go wrong. I long for an adult debate on the issues but the other parties seem to cloud the issues with their prejudice against the SNP. This is me a LibDem supporter. When will my party grow up on the issue
ReplyDelete"When will my party grow up on the issue?" I don't know. I think it would be a useful start if the likes of Scott and MacArthur didn't use the pathetic arguments already made (and discredited) by the Tory Earl of Caithness.
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, ni co-ordinated campaign for Orkney/Shetland seperation has taken place, nor is there any indication that the inhabitants of those islands would not abide by the democratic vote of the whole nation. After all, they voted by a narrow margin NOT to have a devolved parliament in 1997 but there has been no outcry since. I don't think there are too many Fife nationalists or even any Lordship of the Isles revivalists who look set to challenge the right of Scotland to independence or even assert their own right to self-determination. It's a theoretical situation created by politicians rather than an expression of feeling on the ground.
Anyway Gerry - as you rightly say there's an absence of positivity at the moment in the Lib Dems but also in the other "unionist" parties. How activists turn that around I don't know.
Andrew, after attending the conference, I despair. I saw very little sign that the majority of the activists wanted to change the party. Even if they did the leadership would not, they have invested too much in their current thinking. Willie & Moore have been silent on this issue and so we must assume they agree with it.
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