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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• 181. Boyd MacKenzie - Perth

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:22

  Were it no the case that the union was strongly opposed when it were first bought in? How would many a great Scot from yesterday feel theday with the attitude of the unionists? For what reason do you support another country over and above your own - the union have killed our national pride and fragmented our sense of identity. Do I support independance, aye, i am no traitor to my country. As many people seem to be.

• 182. Gordon C Ford - Newton Mearns

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:23

  I dont really see what the prob,s are, surely its a win win situation all round. If the people of Scotland want a referendum then lets have one. If we vote for greater powers within the Union so be it. If we vote for Independence even better.What have the "Gang of Three" got to fear????

• 183. Peter Henry - Fife

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:25

  Take a look around, Scotland is a mess. Approximately 3/4 of teenagers admit to binge drinking and the biggest killer amongst young Scottish adults is suicide. Scotland lags behind the rest of the United Kingdom by 20% according to the UN Human Development Index.
  Studies show that you can discover what a government wants you to think about your own country by what they teach you in history class at secondary school. My Standard Grade course diet consisted of: declining industry, tenement squalor and highland clearances. Messers Carnegie and Smith weren't MENTIONED... and that in a school a short distance from both their respective birth-places. I certainly wasn't taught to be proud of my country in school. (cont/)

• 184. Nick - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:26

  Why do we need a referendum? We have the chance to choose full independence at every election through voting for the SNP and the great majority of Scots choose not to do so.
  
  In my opinion Scotland needs independence and the years (decades?) of upheaval and uncetrainty that will bring like a hole in the head.

• 185. Fraser - Dunblane. Scotland

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:27

  I didn't know what to expect from some of the comments, all I can say is the unionists are getting scared now, disturbing comments from them but its a funny read.
  
  I do feel for any people from outside Scotland reading this, as a Scot I would not like them to take away the image of a subsidy junky dependent people clinging on to Englands purse strings, or even more scary, an image of someone so petrified with Scottish independence that they would want to go backwards to the original settlement which was
  undemocratic and anti Scottish.
  
  I think Scotland has a right to choose its own path, 80% of libdem voters want a referndum so I don't what their party are thinking at all. May the 3rd was about a change in government, not independence.
  
  Independence would be good for Scotland.

• 186. james - dundee

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:27

  Over the years Labour has claimed far too much credit for any movement towards devolution ,the catalyst for any moves towards self determination was and still is the SNP.Right back to the days of Winnie Ewing at Hamilton,back then the SNP lit a fire below Labours backside that they have never been able to put out, however hard the've tried.
  John Smith was smart enough to recognise this and became a proponent of devolution,not only so much for its principle but as a means of containing the SNP,unfortunately he died before achieving power and it was left to Donald Dewar to carry it through in Blair's government and according to the words of George Robertson "this will kill the SNP stone dead" famous last words from a mediocre former labour Scottish Secretary.
  And in spite of having an electoral system imposed on Scotland that the Labour or Tory parties would never accept at Westminster the SNP has come through as the party with the largest amount of votes among the parties,something that was most certainly not in Labour's game plan to continually dominate Scotland
  In spite of the Scottish media's appalling unionist bias this historical trend has continued and Scotland will inevitably run its own affairs, the only question is when, not if.

• 187. Margaret - Lanarkshire

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:27

  Three hundred years ago we were "Bought and Sold for English Gold" Ordinary people were not asked if they wanted to give up their parliament. Indeed some of those who objected were imprisoned in English prisons. Thank you Mr Salmond. The time is right for us to decide on our own destiny that would be real democracy. Lets not go back to the fear of being ruled by the
  government voted in by the south of England.

• 188. Shug - East Calder

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:31

  Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the party with most seats in the Parliament (i.e. the SNP) was invited to form an "Executive", not a Government as the SNP like call it.
  
  It just another PR mind game played by Alex Salmond and his troop of weak lemmings in order to influence the many fickle minded voting Scots.
  

• 189. Graham Simpson - Vancouver Canada

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:32

  Can you imagine?...A government leader with no spin doctors...actually trying to speak directly to the people. Not only within honest dialogue but challenging them to think, to care, to participate, to offer their thoughts and opinions... opposing or not...to become fully engaged in their nations future!
  
  Maybe our little, old country is actually going to show the world...real democracy!
  
  Alex Salmond we have been waiting for you for a long time. Go forth with courage and conviction! You have more than a thousand years of history behind you.
  
  Report as unsuitable

• 190. Stewart McDonald - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 17:35

  I think now it's getting serious. Before, the independence debate has never really had a real platform, as we've never been in a position where it may actually happen. There's a new team in town, and they have provided the Scottish people with the platform which is way overdue. I fully support Independence! Scotland is a Nation and Nation's work better when they are governed by themselves, all the evidence shows this from countries like Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Finland and Denmark to name but a few. This debate isn't about seperatism, it's about what we all think is best for Scotland and the SNP are putting forward the case for independence as a result of that. I'm behind them 100%! Surely Scotland aren't unique in the sense that we are the only people in the world who cannot run our own affairs! I think we can, and furthermore, I think we can do it well. It's just upsetting a few people that this government has ambition for the country it leads and the people who they were elected to serve! A breath of well overdue fresh air!
  

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