The Scottish Government

First Minister Alex Salmond

Friday, November 30, 2007

We in the Scottish Government believe that sovereignty in Scotland lies with its people.

That is why our manifesto for the Scottish Parliamentary elections this year promised to provide an opportunity for the people to consider the concept of Scottish independence in a referendum during this Parliament.

As First Minister, it is my responsibility to explore and lead discussion on the options for constitutional change. I lead the first Scottish National Party Government to be elected in a devolved Scotland, so I will put the case for independence, its benefits and opportunities.

However, I also recognise there is a range of other views in our country and represented in the Parliament. The national conversation on our future is to allow the people of Scotland to debate, reflect and then decide on the type of Government which best equips Scotland for the future.

It is 10 years since the referendum to establish the Scottish Parliament. We have seen the potential of a Scottish Parliament to respond to the wishes and needs of the people of this country. But we have also seen the limitations of its current responsibilities.

I believe it is now time for us, the people of Scotland, to consider and choose our own future in the modern world.

Alex Salmond, First Minister

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Comments

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• 101. Mike Ramsay - Arbroath

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:20

  Coming from the town that is the ancient crucible of Scots nationhood, I live for the day that independence arrives. I no longer live in hope, now I have expectation!
  
  I do not consider myself to be British at all, my passport confirms this but this is an imposition,not a choice. I want the right to choose for that is democracy.
  
  People on here have already sated that they do not want to lose any 'special relationship' with Englandarising out of shared economy & culture. I think neither of these things exists - our distinctive Scottish economy flourishes & suffers out of step with the wider UK economy most of the time & as for culture England & Scotland have their own unique cultures, which cannot be undermined by independence & would likely be strengthened by celebration of diversity. The social union with remainder of the UK, England especially - as our nearest neighbour, would remain upon independence, I believe.
  
  Saor Alba!

• 102. Fraser - Aberdeen

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:20

  "Get me a home I can afford. Improve my salary. Get me faster hospital appointments. Make it easier for me to travel about on public transport. Improve the environment. These are my priorities. None of them depend on independence. Please get on with governing on these issues." Ross McLean, Edinburgh.
  
  Firstly to adress your first two points. Have you been to Ireland recently?. They are getting rich through building houses which are massive. They are getting massive holiday homes as well. That is getting them a better salary. Better public transport will happen when the Scottish Government in an independent nation takes back the control of the transport network from the private companies. It will be easier to improve the environment on our own with cheaper public transport ran by the Scottish Government.
  
  We CAN afford independence. Again to use Ireland the British robbed them of their money and they forced the British out. They had no money but now they are becoming rich. Just with bricks and mortar. Half the oil is still left in the North Sea for Scotland to take. When the oil runs out we can then become a green powerhouse by using renewable energy especially the wind and hydro electricity and export that keeping us in the money. Money is no object in our way.
  
  As for foreign relations the border will be open like they are thoughout most of Europe. And as Alex Salmond said in the lead up to the elections England would still be our best buddie.
  
  I was happy in the UK until I saw what Ireland has achieved and I realised that we have been robbed blind for years. I am now pro Independence with or without the monarch. We have to do it. The Unionist parties are running scared otherwise they would let us have a vote. To use the pro independence motto from 1979 Scotland free or a desert. This is coming from a fifteen year old boy.

• 103. Joan McDowall - Rosneath, Nr Helensburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:20

  As a pensioner living in Scotland I welcome this conversation. I am sick and tired of hearing about what we get from England in terms of money and how we would loose out if we broke away. What about the revenue that is generated in Scotland?
  Westminster has a long history of rape and pilage throughout the world then when all the assests are gone they take a huge step back.
  Westminster does not speak for the people of UK, they only speak for Westminster. Iraq was a typical example of that.
  I am proud to live in Scotland and long to see it become a nation in it's own right.

• 104. Billy - Lanarkshire

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:21

  Two areas of the British Isles already have extensively more devolved powers (formerly known as Dominion Status) than Scotland, namely the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man and of course our nearest "foreigners" the Republic of Ireland were formerly an intrinsic part of the United Kingdom. I don't see any of the above clamouring to be governed completely by Westminster! Devolution, Home Rule, Dominion Status call it what you will is an on going process which I believe will eventually lead to Independance.

• 105. Alistair - Perth

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:22

  Can Scotland go it alone? Yes, of course it can. Should it? That's the question.
  
  If the answer is yes, we'd better make pretty damn sure we make a success of it politicaly, socially and, above all else, economically.
  
  For one thing is certain - once we are out of the union, we won't be able to shamefacedly go back a few years' later saying "we wuz wrang - pleez let us back in!"
  
  
  
  
  

• 106. Richard Gosling - Aberdeen

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:22

  I am confident the majority of Scots want to remain part of the UK, so I would welcome a referendum to answer this question clearly and put the issue to bed once and for all. As a unionist I have nothing to fear from a referendum.
  
  However, in the process a lot of money and a lot of attention would be expended on a referendum that would eventually leave us exactly where we are now - that money and attention would be better spent elsewhere.

• 107. Hugh - Gauldry, Fife

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:23

  Absolutely the right approach, to consider the future of Scotland as a conversation and not as a political slanging match. The evidence of the last 100 days suggests to me that the First Minister and the Scottish Executive have ample ability to lead the conversation, and take care of all their other commitments at the same time. Why be scared of debate and argument? The opposition parties may quite legitimately be in favour of the Union, but there's no need for any cringing just because one of the many routes to the future is independence.

• 108. Alastair - North Berwick

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:25

  I don't want to point the finger at anyone in particular but it seems to me that the whole nationalist agenda is underpinned by nothing more than crude anti-English racism.
  
  How long before an independent Soctland would be hearing calls for ethnic cleansing?
  
  The English have bent over backwards to accomodate Scotland in the Union - financially, in representation at Westminster and lately in devolution.
  
  They have welcomed a huge diaspora of Scots with no problems or tension at all.
  
  And yet, so many of us have this petty grudge. Who will they blame for our problems *after* independence?
  
  Finally, why would people in, say, Thurso imagine their needs would be better met by a civil servant in Edinburgh than one in London?

• 109. Iain Davidson - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:30

  Can we clear this up once and for all: We have a system of PR in Scotland, that means that we have a democracy. It is a moot point how many people did not vote for the SNP, the only point is that more people (once the list and constituency wranglings have been worked out) put a cross in a box for the SNP than for any other single party.
  
  This is a good thing, it means that they govern by consensus. That is what a democratic unicameral parliamentary system should be about. Any other way would be veering towards autocracy.
  
  On a personal note, I wasn't around to be asked if i wanted the treaty of union 300 years ago but i'm pretty certain we were sold down the river due to the greed of the negotiators and the prevailing conditions at the time due to the Dalriada debacle. I'm a member of the SNP, not because I agree with all their politics but because I want my countries view to be taken into account - So well done, First Minister et al, you are doing what I and my kind want. To all those who try to deny us a hand in writing our own constitution, What are you scared of?

• 110. George - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 14:30

  Congratulations to the Government for getting this conversation underway. It is important that the other parties also make their visions for the future clear. Knee jerk negative reactions are not good enough and proved counter productive during the election. The way back for the Scottish branches of the UK parties is for them to make their own policies for Scotland rather than obediently following instructions from their Westminster leaders.

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