OK, we have that out of the way..
Posted on 07/15/2012 11:03:50 AM PDT by robowombat
Scotland's 'explosive' push to secede from the U.K. Scotland's first minister promises to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. Could it really succeed? POSTED ON JANUARY 13, 2012, AT 5:21 PM
Scottish nationalists have dreamed of independence for centuries, and now, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond is really trying to pull it off. Salmond has announced plans to hold a referendum in fall 2014 on breaking away from the United Kingdom, setting off a week of friction between Edinburgh and London. Will Scotland and the U.K. really part ways? Here's what you should know:
What exactly is Scotland's relationship to the U.K.? More than 300 years ago, Scotland and England were joined by the Act of Union that formally created the U.K. (the two nations, though separate, had already been ruled by one king for more than a century). Today, Queen Elizabeth II is still Scotland's head of state. Scotland has a government, legal system, and parliament of its own, in addition to representatives in the U.K. Parliament.
And Scotland wants independence? Some Scots do. Such talk has been percolating ever since 1707, when the U.K. was formed. But over the centuries, there didn't seem to be much chance that the split would actually happen. Now, says Alex Massie at The Daily Beast, "for the first time since Bonnie Prince Charlie led an army of Highland Scots into England in 1745, the survival of the United Kingdom is in doubt."
What's driving this latest push? In the 1980s, conservative Tories failed to deliver a promised referendum to establish a Scottish assembly and faced a brutal backlash from voters. The Labor party didn't want to make the same mistake, and in 1997, a referendum passed leading to the creation of the Scottish Parliament. There, resurgent Scottish national sentiment has thrived. One major driver: The common wisdom that unity with its larger neighbor was essential for Scotland's prosperity has eroded over the last few decades, particularly as Scotland's heavy industry declined.
But why now? Last May, Salmond's Scottish National Party won 69 of Parliament's 129 seats. It was "a thumping, astonishing victory" when you consider there are five parties in the system, Massie says, and the seemingly clear and overwhelming mandate made a referendum on independence "inevitable." Indeed, it makes perfect sense that this would be happening now, says Heather Horn at The Atlantic. Europe is in the grip of a painful economic crisis, and "nationalism surges as economies stagnate."
So is this the end of the union? Not necessarily. A referendum is bound to be "explosive," says Anna Tomforde at Monsters and Critics. And its success or failure could depend on many variables — such as whether it's a yes-or-no vote on full independence, or a multi-question ballot with a middle-ground option maintaining an element of unity. Despite Salmond's popularity, polls suggest most Scots don't actually support full independence. Thirty-five percent want to be a completely separate nation, while 55 percent remain opposed. So the government in London, which at first insisted that British Parliament would have to OK any vote, is now pushing for a referendum as soon as possible, says Agence France Presse, so Salmond won't have time to win over a majority.
Sources: AFP, Atlantic, Daily Beast, Guardian, Monsters and Critics, Telegraph
OK, we have that out of the way..
Crikeys! Put another shrimp on the barbie and watch how this turns out.
If just a quarter of regular daily visitors donated $1 a month, we would have no Freepathons and equipment could get regular preventive maintenance? Maybe even have standby servers?
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Just wondering.
"Aye, the haggis is in the fire for sure..."
How important is this issue to people in Scotland and England these days? Does anyone care one way or another?
I see it so much differently.
No matter what difficulties, or hard times Scotland faces, I can say this without hesitation:
If I had the only choices of living in Scotland or England today, it would be no contest.
Scotland.
I’m always amused by so many european nation-wanna-be’s who can’t wait to become independent from the country they’re currently part of to then rush to become slaves of the EU.
I’m sure Scotland would follow the path of the Baltic countries, the slovaks, and the former yugoslavian provinces.
Believe it or not, i agree with you,and wish them well for the future.
Scotland is a beautiful country, and deserves to be independent.
Just hope the people look before they leap!
An independent Scotland would be a blow against spreading Islam!!!
If the Scottish want to get out of the stinkin’ EU this is one way to do it. London and South England have more affinity with The Continentals than does further away from Brussels, Scotland
80%of Scotland’s economy is government based, either from government employment or welfare payments. It’s a huge sink for funds from the south.
Thanks robowombat.
Good reminder. Cracking open wallet now.
Time to rebuild Hadrian’s Wall?
It seems that most of FR don’t know how much of a socialist parasite Scotland is to England? It sucks up vast amounts of government benefits and contributes little financially.
Let the Scottish socialists and welfare whores have their own country. They will soon starve or be forced to abandon socialism. They won’t be able to live off England any more. Meanwhile, Labour will collapse.
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