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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• 211. Colin McDonald - Walton-on-Thames

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:26

  I for one am pleased to see the beginnings of this national conversation. I happen to be a firm SNP supporter, but hope many from all political persuasions join this discussion, set out their position and engage in constructive debate as to the best way forward for Scotland.
  
  I shall be showing this site to many friends who's political beliefs span all of Scotland's main parties and I would encourage all who visit this site to do the same as each one of us deserves the right to be informed, to ask questions, to debate and to make up our own minds.
  
  To facilitate this conversation I personally would like the government of Scotland and that of the UK work together to produce a non-partisan, coherent, accessible document which analyses Scotland's financial impact on the UK at present, together with the costs/benefits which Scotland would see as a result of independence both short term and with a view to what may be expected as an independent Scotland finds it's own way in the world. Who else would like to see such a document?

• 212. Iain - Kinross

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:27

  I firmly believe that some things are worth paying for, and that we should be independent.
  
  Given the skills of our people and our natural resources, I'm sure we will grow to be very successful - though I do realise that there may be some difficulties initially, and that some things may get worse before they get better, but I survived that when I got my first flat away from home and I wouldn't go back now!

• 213. Niall Aslen - Cairnbulg Aberdeenshire

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:33

  For the past 300 years, the People of Scotland have never been given a say as to whether or not the union should continue. Therefore the people of Scotland have a democratic right to decide their future but are being denied that right by an unholy cabal of unionist parties.
  
  These unionist parties profess to be democratic, but, by their very actions they prove that they are not democratic at all. What are they afraid of? That they will lose? If they were so confident that they would win, we would have had an election before now.
  
  Niall

• 214. andy mac adam - glasgow, u.k.

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:38

  I have just witnessed salmon on the new saying that the Scottish people have the right to decide there future and what ever that decision is he will abide with it,….what about the last time when the people of Scotland voted, the snp and the nationalist were told by the people that Scotland says NO’ to independence, when are you going to listen to the people, after all you got devolution with less that 50% of those eligible to vote acutely voting on it, you got into power in the last elections with less than 50% of the people voting again. Why don’t you make it law that everyone eligible to vote must vote, then and only then will you get the true thinking of the people and I am sure you won’t be in the position you are at the moment.
  
  Scottish by birth, British by the grace of God.
  

• 215. MJ McCafferty - Bonnie Scotland

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:40

  If anyone wants an argument for independence simply watch the 'national' news. BBC had the important story way down its list of news items, whilst Channel 5 didn't even mention it.
  Independence. Nothing less.

• 216. Kenny Hutchison - Aberdeen City

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:41

  I really don't understand what all the fuss is about concerning a referendum. If the Unionist Parties are so convinced that the Scots are content to be governed from London, why be opposed to asking our opinion?
  
  The Labour and the Tory responses are predictable: they've never made any bones about their disdain for democracy. For the Liberal Democrats to outright refuse a referendum, however, is simply disgraceful. Any party willing to use the word "democrat" in their name should practice what they preach.
  
  The biggest party at Holyrood made a manifesto commitment, and they are pushing it forward. For the SNP to do anything else would have entailed going back on promises made to the Scots people, and as a party that isn't something they could, or should do.
  
  Mr. Salmond isn't even forcing an "all or nothing" referendum. He has stated that there will possibly be additional options, which I imagine will probably include full fiscal autonomy. Even if the majority of Scots didn't want full independence just yet, a consistent majority has been shown to be in favour of greater powers for Holyrood. If the nation votes for fiscal autonomy, a few years down the line Mr. Salmond will have been able to prove Scotland's ability to survive on her own initiative. Then the naysayers truly won't have a leg to stand on.
  
  I live for the day when we are a free, sovereign, independent nation.
  Independence is coming, and it's a matter of "when" rather than "if".
  
  KJHutchison

• 217. Andy - Dundee

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:47

  What hope for fullfilment when they can't even manage to remove tolls from bridges which were their first priority prior to election

• 218. Colin Williamson - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:48

  The honest choice to be given at a referendum would be between full independance and complete disbandment of the Scottish parliament. The poll as proposed does not give this option, and it is an option which a large number of people would support.
  
  Lets disband the parliament as a failed experiment and direct the large sums of money it consumes on useful projects such as schools hospitals and roads.

• 219. S. Hurst - chadderton england

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:49

  The sooner Scotland breaks away from England the better.You won,t be getting all the freebies the labour government shower on you,also we could probably send back the 60 or so Scottish mps because most of the people of England don,t want them.

• 220. Colin John Macrae - Blackburn West Lothian

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 18:58

  Roll on Independence, I'm a Nationalist 57 years old and voted SNP since I was 18 as I see no future for Scotland within the union and even I want and demand a future.

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