Hopefully, the debate can stay rational, so lets see if I can get my feelings across without causing issues to anyone. I’m NOT asking anyone to agree with me – only that those who are looking from the outside might become more subjective and more informed on a topic which, like it or not, will dominate the next few months and WILL affect them significantly, whether they accept that or not.
Firstly, I don't want to speak for all, but let me try to broadly explain the Scottish desire to be independent:
• Scotland IS a country and a nation (always has been, always will be) with a distinct national identity and a culture which differs from our neighbour(s). Those who suggest anything contrary, that we are just a region of ‘North Britain’ in the same manner as (e.g.) Tyne & Wear, only serve to insult and cause further divide.
• With a population of 5 million, our political views and wishes for our COUNTRY can never be represented at Westminster, when 14 million people in the South East of England alone might think differently about any number of topics.
• Due to the foregoing, our nations wealth and assets will always be squandered on projects which suit the opposite end of the UK.
• We are treated as subservient citizens – not necessarily by all the people of rUK, but most certainly by the parliament of Westminster and even by the Scottish politicians we elect to represent us there.
Reasons to stay in the union:
• To remain a bigger player on the world stage
• To retain a ‘representative’ seat on the UN permanent security council
• A bigger voice in Europe
• A greater defence force
Essentially, to be in the gang with the biggest stick and therefore impose our ‘views’ on other smaller nations. What most of the English (in particular) mindset cannot comprehend, is that we actually don't give a flying
about this sort of thing. We were not raised on the prospect of world domination and we really like getting along with people who want to get along with us. This is a cultural difference and it is palpable.
Reasons to leave the union:
• To look after our own affairs and keep our own house in order
• To be viewed as a ‘responsible adult’, rather than ‘stroppy teenager’ or ‘ex-wife’
• To tax and spend on priorities which apply only to OUR country
• To put an end to all the ‘issues’ of Westminster & The Lords at a stroke
• To be seen as a good neighbour, friendly and hospitable, rather than imperialist and arrogant
There are a majority of good people in England, Wales and N.I. A lot of these people feel similar to the Scots about a lot of issues of national governance. However, the mindset of a significant chunk is that England=UK. This mindset increases the closer you get to London.
I am not suggesting for one second that Scotland is a wasteland and London is not. There are parts of London that make the east end of Glasgow look positively special. But we here don’t need to consider that, when the people of London don’t consider Govan. Most of Scotland’s people can accurately point to the major centres of UK population on a map and many of them have been there. By contrast (personal experience), there is a huge degree of ignorance of the locations of Scottish interest, even in professional people, south of Carlisle (or more importantly, South of Milton Keynes). To make light hearted use of the ‘divorce’ analogy, it’s like suggesting that the woman knows exactly where the husbands ‘bits’ are, while he hasn’t a clue what a clitoris is, never mind where to find it!
The problem in the UK is one of scale and democracy. If Westminster do something that we in Scotland don’t like, it’s a long way to go to protest. We are also too small a voice – even if 250,000 Scots were to march on parliament. So where is the democracy for a country there? By contrast, if 250,000 Scots were to march on an Edinburgh parliament, this would be logistically simple and you can guarantee that we’d be heard. I personally believe in a ‘smaller state’ and I know from sound business experience that it will be far simpler and much more efficient to run ‘Scotland Ltd’ than it can ever be to run ‘UK Plc’. Some will cry “what about economies of scale” and they may have a point, but I believe that a smaller business can negotiate better terms (if they try) whilst making commensurate savings in the waste of a larger organisation. Purchase price alone is not an indication of net profit to be realised. The smaller business can also adapt more quickly to changing markets and take advantage of an innate ability to be more nimble as it moves forward. If the UK is an articulated lorry, then Scotland is a Mini Cooper. True to say that one can squash the other, but the mini is quicker and more efficient (and it looks better too).
There are facts, figures and forecasts in abundance. Each side will manipulate these to their greatest advantage, such is human nature. Furthermore, politicians will lie, feather their nests and look to the interests of their friends and family. This is certainly the way of things at the moment and it’s unlikely to change, or more likely, it will get worse until someone shakes the tree.
To take a prime example, we can look at Gordon Brown. A fine upstanding MP, ex-PM and member of the Fife community….. or is he? Recently seen patronising a few pensioners in Lochgelly who are struggling to heat their homes, whilst his tenure in office allows the ‘cronies’ to be on the payroll of a US banking institution as an advisor. Tony Blair gets £2Million a year as a part-time ‘advisor’ to JPMorgan bank without ever needing to go into the office. This is the same bank that was saved by Gordon Brown selling off all the UK’s gold assets at a ridiculous knock down price.
Now, whilst I don’t want to be having a pop at one particular MP/PM, I simply want to illustrate what happens to MP’s (specifically ‘Scottish’ ones for the purposes of this debate) when they get to Westminster. By the way, Ed Balls was Gordon Browns sidekick at the time of the gold sell off – the same Ed Balls who is now part of the trio that says Scotland can’t have the £pound.
The issue for Scots here is one of accountability – particularly to the people. It should also be an issue for the rest of the people in rUK, as their representatives are often just as culpable. We have a situation here in Scotland now, where democratically elected Scottish MP’s have publicly stated that the positive economic prosperity of their own constituents is less important than their own seat in Westminster - that is, 'the Union'. Put another way, “vote for me and I will put my access to the parliamentary trough above the prospects of your pocket”.
Now, how about turning the debate away from home to look at a.n.other country and pretend for a moment that it is elsewhere on the globe rather than Scotland.
This notional country has:
• An embarrassing wealth of natural resources
• A world top-ten GDP per capita
• Self sufficiency (excess) in ‘life basics’ (food etc)
• A growing economy
• Low unemployment
• A secure global export product
• A wealth of open spaces to expand if necessary
Can any sane person suggest that this notional country can’t run its own affairs successfully – especially when you consider the reality that every nation on the planet (of a similar size) is doing so, most often with FAR less going for it?
The next question is why, if this notional country is in close proximity to your own, would YOU not wish them ‘all the best’ and be prepared to help them find their feet in a neighbourly fashion, rather than doing everything possible to hamper their quest for self determination? After all, you have previously helped (and continue to help) many other countries, be they neighbours or foreign powers who probably don’t actually need the help.
Ridicule or discuss as you see fit.
At the end of the day, THIS IS HOW MANY OF US SEE THINGS. Unfortunately, a lot of people will call this view a variety of names. However, let me make one final (and very important) point:
I hold my family & friends in England, Wales and Ireland (not to mention France, Holland and the USA) in EXACTLY the same high regard, no matter what the eventual outcome of the debate is.
This is NOT about people, this is about government.
I should also point out that a huge amount of PEOPLE south of the border are sending messages of support northwards. The BBC comment section includes such items as “Dear Scotland, all the best with your desire to free yourself from Westminster. If you win, can you please take us with you. Best Regards, The North West” The same has come from the North-East, The Midlands, Wales, Devon & Cornwall etc.
" over the next twenty or a hundred years - which path gets us to the better result? Self-determination toward that outcome, or being a cork in the UK tide?
). As I said earlier, we fought and died alongside each other in two world wars. Not for Scotland, Wales, or England, but for Britain.
