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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• 121. Kieran Dryden - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:04

  Have to comment on the "Unionist parties are the majority so people have rejected independence."
  
  This is at best ill informed and at worst blatant lies. The only party banging on about independence constantly during the election was labour with all the fear tactics and their chums in the union biased media.
  
  On another note, even if you believe that poll that put support for independence at 30 odd percent (and i don't) thats still a large chunk of the population to be ignoring. Give us a referendum and we can settle this once and for all.

• 122. Fiona Williams - Angus

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:06

  People in Scotland don't realise how marginalised they have become, because of English media, news, programmes etc. The BBC in particluar focusses on English education, schools, exam results, English issues, problems in London with crime and transport, while issues in Scotland are of secondary importance. In Scotland we are expected to be interested in and understand all the issues of England, and yet, people in England do not get the Scottish TV news, Scottish newspapers or are the slightest bit interested in Scottish politics. I was in Leicester recently and none of the large stores I went into had staff that recognised Scottish paper money, in fact, one quoted as saying she didn't know we were a different country with our own banks!!! That for me, is the bottom line. We are a different country, with our own education and legal system, among other things, and should finally be able to take control of our own future. People in Spain are not expected to watch German television news, so why are Scottish people expected to sit down every night at 6pm and watch England's news???? The sooner we are independent the better, and perhaps then we can make English viewers watch Scottish news at 6pm each night instead!

• 123. Martin Chalmers - Houston, Texas, USA

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:09

  I'm part of the Scottish diaspora, born in Scotland, educated in Scotland, unemployed in Scotland, forced to look overseas for employment. It's interesting to be asked to comment on Scottish independence on a website that says it all: www.scotland.gov.uk Our devolved government can not even have their own website!
  I think that for a referendum to be successful that people need to have the pros and cons laid out before them. It's not sufficient to just want it for the sake of wanting it. Let's not make it a race thing either, it's not about where you come from or where you trace your roots to (as my Grandfather said: "Jesus was born in a stable but that didn't make him a horse"), it's about a country's right to self govern without having to ask permission for the big things! We've got a big anniversary coming in 2014, let's make it a double celebration.

• 124. Phil - Coatbridge

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:16

  Independence to govern our own country, to choose where our taxes are spent, to have a chance to decide when we go to war or not, to have the say over our own natural resources, to be able to invest the money from those resources the same way as Norway does in order to reduce tax & increase wealth! Count me in!!!

• 125. Ali - West Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:17

  As a non-white person, I am extremely fearful of the rise of Scottish nationalism. Specifically, I am afraid that independence will give a licence to every bigot and drunken youth to tell me this is 'their country'.
  
  I am British, but who will protect me when my face no longer fits?

• 126. Nick Lyon - Aberdeen

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:22

  Scotland needs to be a full Independent country and take its place alongside the other countries of the world. I would like to live in a country that doesn't get involved in illegal wars, doesn't have nuclear weapons on the Clyde (or anywhere else in Scotland), doesn't send huge amounts of money to another government and doesn’t tolerate getting a fraction of its money returned as a “generous subsidy”. A country where we do not lie to our people about the extent of their countries wealth in order to benefit interests out with Scotland.
  
  Our last first minister used to tell us we were the best small country in the world but he also told us we are not capable of being Independent. We should live in a Scotland that is equal with the other states of the world and not rely on others to speak for us.
  
  Our first minister and our Scottish government have proved that they are able to be an effective government and for the first time in 300years and our Scottish government is standing up for our country and putting Scotland first.
  
  Independence is natural and we will prosper, just ask our neighbours.
  

• 127. Johhny - Carlisle

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:23

  I think some Scots are imagining a scenario where the English are begging them to stay in the Union, but I think they might be in for a surprise.
  
  Many English people have had enough of Scots constantly carping about what a raw deal they get from the union.
  
  So, please go your own way and good luck but don't expect any favours from England.
  

• 128. Indranil Banerjee - Inverness

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:24

  During this short period of 3 years in Scotland, where I came straight from India, the friendliness of the people, the ease with which my two teenage daughters were welcomed by their Scottish friends and other similar experiences led me to become a great admirer of the Scots and Scotland.Also, as an outsider, I can see the inherent diffrences between the place , people from those in the South, and I feel that an independent and economically vibrant Scotland can give a boost to this region and staying within the EU framework, a cordial and cooperative relation is not only possible with England but also with the rest of EU.

• 129. Alexander J Cuthbert - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:25

  There shall be
  
  an independent Scotland. Open the doors
  let the people come, let them see
  what can be done, when hands
  make what hearts will.
  We will not undo
  what has already been undone
  but rebuild and renew;
  the past gifts this present.
  
  Three hundred years have turned
  and these nations have held firm,
  their paths misguided
  by the other’s truer course.
  London swells with Scots
  and Edinburgh is home to all;
  like siblings we share our parents
  but as adults we must live apart.
  
  Let us not talk of distance,
  the land is our common bond,
  a marriage bed in later life
  with each side firmly held,
  and sometimes from sleep
  we will embrace, our vows
  to renew, to live in amity, free
  from the passions of our youth.
  
  We are our voice.
  Sing not of dusty papers
  nor of fields now untrodden,
  our song is ourselves; our way ahead.
  Independence is not freedom,
  put your shoulders to the yoke.
  It’s about how we carry ourselves,
  not with a swagger but a stride.
  
  
  

• 130. steve - Hamburg

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 15:26

  Most of my european work friends dont understand the opposition to asking the scottish people about the future of their Countries constitution, and to be honest the westminster mps want to ask the whole country its views on the EU partnership by referendum anyway. Its a question that can only be answered by the population.
  However what I want as a member of the scottish public is a no-nonsense truthfull account of what is ours (oil etc), what is the state of our economy (no bull please)and what problems are forseen (no politicising please) An honest list of the pros and cons, what would we have to scrap, where can we make savings, what would we be able to do with any surplus. So far SNP says we'll be better off, TORIES LABour and LIB/DEMS say its disastrous. Im not sure disastrous is the right word, our GDP is better than most countries in the EU, were not as rich as the dutch, germans french etc but were are a smaller country and would play our part as such other small countries with less spending on Defence and such, focusing away from nuclear to more convetional troups would increase home land security for example(a nuclear bomb in a bunker does not track down terrorists nor does it dissuade a madman from using a nuclear briefcase bomb in glasgow). I cannot see how as scots we'd turn our country into a disaster, we might not have the political clout of a G8 member but its done us little good so-far. Please give us the Facts let us reflect upon them and make an informed choice this is no time for rash decisions.

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