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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• 11. Alan Boyd - Ayrshire

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:18

  I have awaited the release of this document with the expectation that the views of ALL Scots would be represented. Sadly not.
  
  It is my view that the so-called Scottish Parliament is a TOTAL waste of taxpayers (i.e. MY) money and I would like to see it completely and irrevocably abolished. I find a great many Scots share this view. I certainly hoped that our views would be represented in the 'conversation' document but of course they are not. No-one in the SNP REALLY wants to hear the views of the people.

• 12. Mike Hutchison - Alloa

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:18

  We need independence as soon as possible. It's the right of every nation to be independent and govern itself. Why do the opposition parties feel that the Scottish people are unable to do this? We have been run by others for far too long and it's now time to grasp the opportunity of independence.

• 13. John Stewart - Stirlingshire

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:22

  It is only right that the question of independance be put to the people of Scotland, especially in the context of educating them through the means of this "conversation".
  I only hope that people can see through the misinformation fed to them by the media - especially prior to the election.
  It is remarkable to see the U turn by some of the opposition on the question of expanding Holyrood's powers. This must surely be at the heart of SNP intentions to illustrate that we really can do our own thing, without any hint of Anglophobia. Surely, already the Scots must see the difference in having a party that is focussed on priorities for Scotland and not merely a reflection of Westminster. For the first time in my lifetime - 61 years - there is an excitement in Scottish politics and a real feeling that we can change Scotland for the better of all of its people.

• 14. Sheila McQueen - Eyemouth

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:23

  I am English (and proud of it) married to a Scot (and proud of it). Scotland is an amazing country, with huge resources and a world beating heritage. With global warming and failing resources world wide, Scotland can really make a difference - especially if it truly indpendent. We shouldn't be marching to the tune from down south!

• 15. Mark Johnston - Dundee

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:24

  I think the people should be given the opportunity to be asked the question in a straight forward way. I don't understand why, if they think they would win a referendum, unionist parties would not allow the people to express that. I suspect they know the answer will not be in their favour. Or as a certain Liberal "Democrat" politician said "if you don't like the answer, dont ask the question"... However if unionists will use any ploy to stop the people being asked then the Government should set up an independent commission to administer a referendum and have it paid for through a national loan system, as the Irish did in the early days of the republic, to finance the election. Scots should govern all of their affairs, not just the tit-bits handed down by grudging British nationalists (small n) in London.

• 16. Stuart Campbell - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:25

  Does the Labour party and there new freinds not trust the people of Scotland. We are being offer a discussion on all our futures Support the First Minister and let the people of Scotland decide.

• 17. Cllr Angus MacDonald - Sandnes, Norway

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:25

  I'm sitting in Norway watching the First Minister launch 'A National Conversation' and there is no doubt in my mind, as I look around at the confidence and prosperity in this proud oil rich nation that the sooner Scotland becomes independent the better. The White Paper probsbly doesn't go far enough in highlighting the economic benefits to Scotland from independence, however as the First Minister stated at the press conference there are numerous SNP policy documents which highlight the economic benefits of independence. Come on Scotland - let's go for it and join our Nordic cousins in the 'Arc of prosperity'!

• 18. Bryce Miller - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:25

  First Minister, you represent one of Doric speaking regions of Scotland. Doric Scots and our other Scots dialects have the status of traditional and regional languages in Scotland. Why hasn't the paper and website be summarised in Scots as it has in Gaelic and a variety of other languages spoken in Scotland? I hope this situation, as well as many situations where Scots is side-lined, sall be rectified smartly.

• 19. Kieran Dryden - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:33

  I believe that Scotland would be a more sucessful prosperous nation with Independence. Not everyone believes so but as has been said time and again a vast majority of the Scottish people want the chance to vote on this issue whatever their views on it. The only party that seems to be listening to the will of the people is the Snp and the Scottish Government.

• 20. Gill - Glasgow

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 11:38

  I am totally opposed to independence.
  
  I don't want to be governed by people who couldn't oversee the building of the Scottish parliament properly.
  Sorry, but the Scottish government will have to do so much better before I trust them to oversee another building project, never mind , run the country.

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