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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• 31. Gary Masson - Fraserburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:11

  To Gil in Glasgow.
  Your condemnation of the Scottish Parliament re the building costs should not dictate your stance on independence. Please remember that a British Govt in London gave us the ill fated Dome; they gave England a massivley over budgeted Wembley and now they are in seroius trouble over the costs of the London Olympics. How can you say appear to support remaining within the UK that botched all those jobs and more?

• 32. Peter - Stirling

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:13

  Let us remember the Scottish Parliament fiasco, that massive overspend that forever tainted the reputation of those who came to govern us. Many people in Scotland, believe it or not, are fed-up with politicians who flit between Holyrood and Westminster when it suits. If anything, the Parliament should have less power not more!

• 33. Linda McDoanald - Buckie

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:15

  Let the people of Scotland have a fair and open debate on Independence. The Scots have a democratic right to choose how their own country should be run. I have no fear that in the end they will decide on INDEPENDENCE.

• 34. Petra Maddock - Melrose

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:21

  I'm not surprised the other parties don't support a referendum - why should they support it on a topic they absolutely do not believe in? It would be like expecting them to support a referendum on capital punishment. The pro-independence parties didn't win a majority in the parliament at the last election, and the SNP need to face facts and stop wasting time and money on this nonsense "conversation". If the Scottish public wanted independence they would have voted for it, that's how democracy works.

• 35. Joy Mowatt - Brechin

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:23

  It is time the question on Scotland's future was put to the people of Scotland.
  The media should give it fair coverage considering the enormous amount of media coverage that has been given during recent elections to the unionists in support of the union.
  Any debate must be open and fair and without prejudice so that Scots feel free to have their say.
  
  And, I believe it's time Scots recognised our potential,took responsibility for our own actions and declared for Scotland.
  
  
  

• 36. Fiona Orr - Edinburgh

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:23

  The White Paper is well presented and thought provoking.
  What does being a country mean? Yes, the paper talks of boundaries and legal protocols - the hard fact is that although Scotland has all the basic details in place, including a strong national identity, we are neither flesh nor fowl and this has been the unique situation for many, many years.
  There is a sense of a desire for change, positive change, that I cannot remember having happened before and I welcome the National Conversation which I hope will examine what being Scottish means in our day to day lives, as well as the political arena.
  Whether that means independence or not is for us to find out - do we simply want more power in Holyrood and be partly governed by Westminster? Are we confident and secure enough to stand alone again for the first time since 400 years ago?
  Let the conversation find out.

• 37. Angus McTavish - Auchtermuchty

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:24

  The truth is that Scotland needs England much more than England needs Scotland.
  
  If Mr Salmond thinks he would sit down at the negotiating table on equal terms with a future English Prime Minister, he is deluding himself.
  
  Scotland is much better off keeping England as close as possible - i.e. as we used to say in the army "inside the tent p***ing out!".

• 38. Peter - Stirling

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:27

  Gary, I disagree with your view regarding the building of the Scottish Parliament. Indeed, the building project was perhaps the first proper test of MSPs' abilities. If there was squabbling, empire building, delay, overspend and changing of opinion over a building, what hope do we have when it comes to supposedly being able to trust MSPs to run an entire country (without, I might add, any particular experience with currently reserved matters)?

• 39. Donald Young - Aberdeen

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:28

  As a Scot I strongly welcome the chance to contribute to the debate on the future of our nation, I hope my fellow Scots view this chance similarly and take advantage of it. I also hope that the First Minister sticks by his promises to listen to the population and abide by what we want. Further devolved powers:definaltely, Independance:only if it is truly right for Scotland.
  
  Gordon Brown currently refuses to listen on the European referendum. We have a chance to be heard don't look a gift horse in the mouth,if the First Minister does not listen the he will head out of Bute House at the next election.

• 40. Javed Hussain - Preston, England

  Tuesday, August 14, 2007 12:29

  Maybe we could give you Blackpool as a leaving present?

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