Scotland made measurable progress in setting a date for a historical confrontation: a referendum that would enable the Scots to declare independence from the United Kingdom. Following a statement from and debate with Scottish Secretary Michael Moore about the situtation, the pro-independence Scottish National Party "announced its preferred timetable for a referendum: Autumn 2012," according to the BBC. The process is over 300 years in the making, so there's no huge rush. But it's also very very complicated. Moore didn't mince his words in expressing his Edinburgh-based government's ambitions to be free of British rule. "It is essential that the referendum is legal, fair and decisive," Moore told Parliament. "As a government, we have been clear ... that we will not stand in the way of a referendum on independence. But neither will we stand on the sidelines and let uncertainty continue." Leaders in London aren't quite as eager to resolve the issues. "British Prime Minister David Cameron, who wants to keep the United Kingdom intact, says that delay creates uncertainty that is damaging investment in the Scottish economy and wants a referendum 'sooner rather than later,'" Reuters' Adrian Croft explained on Tuesday.Would we end up with an independent Scotland and Northern Ireland, the home of the Scots-Irish Presbyterians, still a part of the UK? That wouldn't seem to make any sense to me, but then again, ancient hatreds are pretty strong. Seriously, though, two partitioned islands side by side? Overall, it would seem to be more sensible to have a united Ireland and a united Britain, but none of the scenarios affects me.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Scottish Independence?
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You quote The Atlantic:
ReplyDelete'enable the Scots to declare independence from the United Kingdom...the pro-independence Scottish National Party "announced its preferred timetable for a referendum: Autumn 2012", according to the BBC'
I invite you to read my blog "The 'Sanitization' of Scottish History" - http://follonblogs.blogspot.com particularly the post "Understanding Scottish Independence" which clarifies why Scottish independence would not be from the United Kingdom. The preferred timetable for the referendum is Autumn 2014, as stated by First Minister Alex Salmond MSP and according to the BBC - not Autumn 2012.
Your reference to partition is inaccurate. Whereas the division of Ireland into the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland in 1920 was a case of partition Scottish independence would be a dissolution of the Treaty of Union in 1707 which created the political entity of Great Britain.
"Lane says, Scotland cannot break away like Ireland as it was 'one of the basic building blocks of "the United Kingdom of Great Britain"' (Lane 1991: 146). Without Scotland there is no 'Great Britain' and without Great Britain there is no 'United Kingdom'."
I guess my conception was that it would be odd to have two islands side by side which weren't united. I wonder what would happen with Wales, would it also separate from England? Finally, I don't see the point of Northern Ireland if there is an independent Scotland, would it become a part of Scotland? But I never understood the existence of Northern Ireland anyway.
ReplyDeleteWales was annexed by the realm of England in 1284 following an overthrow in 1282 this was later formalised in an Act of the English parliament in 1536. Prior to the Union with Scotland in 1707, apart from during a rebellion at the start of the fifteenth century, Wales had never been considered as being one country - since then it has become to be so regarded. On Scottish independence Wales would still be a part of the realm of England and Welsh independence would be an internal matter for remainder of the former UK. As far as Northern Ireland is concerned in my opinion it is part of Ireland - it was never part of Scotland and never should be.
ReplyDeleteI also think the six counties should be a part of Ireland. I'm curious what the plans of the current slight majority of residents of the six counties will be.
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