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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• 391. Sohail Khan - London

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 00:48

  Scotland can realise its goals and objectives by being independent. The former Russian states have become successful sovereign nation states.
  Greater fiscal autonomy and independence with Scotland own Chancellor and Its own Foreign Minister.
  A Political system that would bring greater autonomy from Westminister that is fit for purpose in this modern climate.
  The ability for the people to decide what to do about Scottish Energy Portfio for the generations ahead. A fiscally independent Scotland would prosper economically- after all where do you think the Chancellor gets his tax revenues from?
  Can Scotland flourish independently ? In my humble opinion I would say yes on an economic , social and political level.
  This is not a complicated constitutional issue, it is rather straightforward. Ask the people do they want Scotland to have its own seat at the United Nations and in Europe and the majority would say yes.
  And can there be a Scottish Chancellor in Scotland ? Absolutely , fiscal autonomy and independence would drive the Scottish economy forward and what matters is that this is the foundation for building a fiscally independent economic system for a sovereign nation state.
  And yes on a concluding note the Scottish Parliament should have an independent foreign Minister. A scottish ambassador at the United Nations and in Europe. A voice for the people,through the Scottish Parliament, to decide when to commit Scottish troops in future conflicts and not through Westminister.
  So when we look at attributes of leadership in a political system I would say that the intellect and integrity is there for Scotland to become and autonomous sovereign nation state.
  On an economic consideration I would say where there is a will there is a way, and the time has come for Scotland to manage its fiscal affairs independently. If other nation states in Europe with a less developed infrastructure than Scotland have become sucessful sovereign nation states then I cannot see why Scotland can follow suit.
  This is the modern world where the political dynamics of governance and self determination and economic sovereignty are prevailing issues of many nation states. This includes Scotland and the days of Colonial or emperical rule are now confined in fashion to history.
  It is time for a proud Scotland to now move forward.
  

• 392. Gordon Murray - Livingston

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 00:53

  193. Jason - Glasgow
  When you move to London don't expect to have your underground etc paid for.
  People who live in cities should expect congestion and overcrowding.
  

• 393. Eb Morris - Fife

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:02

  I have trawled through all of the above contributions, and, as I thought, this is not really a conversation, more an endless stream of declarations for or against independence. In order to discuss the matter properly, should we not begin by listing all the powers which are NOT presently devolved, and discussing why we should or should not acquire each one. If reasoned pro and con arguments are made for each, and the consensus is that ALL of them should be devolved, that would imply idependence. If even ONE of them is judged not to be "devolvable", we would have to settle for "more powers"
  Personally, I can`t think what that one could be.No doubt someone else can, but hopefully with a reasoned argument.

• 394. Chris Adams - Glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:03

  All you people who seem to have a problem with matters of pride and confidence... WAKE UP!!!
  
  The only people calling your worth into question are the SNP, because they know they can't win the argument on any rational level. They know that its much easier to sell a notion of how you feel about yourself and your nationality than to actually debate the potential consequences of independence WITH HONESTY.
  
  Independence is a huge GAMBLE. And compared to the RISKS the payoff is minimal.
  
  And what is the prospective payoff, when you set aside emotive issues like pride, confidence and the illusion of self determination - as more and more of our legislation comes from Brussels?
  
  Firstly we are not some Eastern European backwater recovering from the ravages of communism. We are already a functional developed nation. There is no great leap forward to be had.
  
  Secondly how much better can it really get? Independence will not magically improve our productivity, boost our GDP, transform our public services or turn our children into geniuses. It could take generations to see any meaningful improvement.
  
  Thirdly, we will need to choose a currency. There is no space to discuss this at length here, but if you do not understand the implications, then you owe it to your families, friends and communities to find out.
  
  Fourth, forget the oil. Its going to run out within a generation or two and countries like Norway have being banking the profits for decades for the rainy day when the pumps run dry.
  
  So what are the risks? That is a question the SNP must answer, but probably never will. They know that to tell the truth about what this gamble could mean for our people and our businesses would consign them to history as quickly as you can draw a cross in a box.
  
  If this is a genuine national conversation, then we need a truthful, honest, unspun, realistic and politically neutral appraisal of the prospects - good and/or bad from the SNP. Only then will a referendum be worthwhile.
  
  So, fellow Scots - set aside your feelings of inadequacy, and start asking questions!

• 395. Bruce - Glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:17

  Whetehr your pro indepenadance, british nationalist or think that some more powers can be devolved..... join in! - it should be the people who debate and decided on this, not political parties.

• 396. Andrew - England

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:19

  I was born and bread in England but I also love and visit Scotland as often as I can I really do not want the UNION between England and Scotland broken it has helped both countries for 300 years personally I really think it will be a bad decision for all if Scotland spilts and goes it own way now in my eyes both need 1 another
  
  A mighty fine country like Scotland does not need to prove itself it already has over the hundreds of years through many inventions I really urge you all in Scotland to really think about this as what has worked well for hundreds of years could in the end be the ruin of us all
  
  
  
  Remember UNITED we stand DEVIDED we fall

• 397. Jimbo - Scotland

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:24

  I really do feel that the Scottish people have the right to express themselves in a national referendum re membership of the UK. The Scots have never been allowed any say on this matter. Of the four countries who make up the UK membership, three of them did not voluntarily join the club.
  
  I heard Kirsty Wart on Newsnight saying that even asking for increased powers for Holyrood made life more difficult for Gordon Brown in Westminster with regards to the West Lothian Question and should Scottish Labour not 'be against' this? So there you have it. To Give Brown an easier time in Westminster Scotland's ambitions should be put on the back burner and we should be held back yet again by New Labour who would rather put party and personal ambition before their country's best interests.

• 398. Bart - West Lothian

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:24

  As a Dutchman living in Scotland, often I find myself explaining to my compatriots that Scotland has Edinburgh for its capital, is not part of England, but part of the UK, the capital of which is London, which is also England’s capital. Marginally more concerning, I remember talking to an Englishman while on holidays and, half an hour into the conversation, being asked how long did I say I had been living in England now? I am sure he was one of those that also think England is an island.
  
  For what my voice is worth, I am in favour of independence. Not because I dislike the idea of the UK - which I actually do - or because I dislike the English - which I generally don’t (my fellow holidaymaker was an exception).
  
  Historically we see that empires forged from different nations do not tend to last more than 4-6 centuries and then break up; examples abound. It is natural for these constructs to cease to exist and this fate awaits the UK; in fact, this process has already started with the secession of Ireland, part of the then-UK. The asymmetry of the Union (one dominant/more populous /larger constituent) will only precipitate its dissolution, q.v. the USSR.
  
  The idea of Scottish independence is becoming more and more tangible; it is very much part of this day and age. Proportionally many influential Scots, artists, actors, authors, etc., advocate independence. Things simply seem to be heading towards independence, whether you like it or not. It is probably going to happen in the next 100 years anyway. Surely it is best to be pragmatic and control the process politically, asking “how?” rather than “why?”
  
  OK, I cannot really “prove” this point, but ever wonder why you read so many statistics with the UK, or Scotland, scoring the poorest in Northern / Western Europe on education, health, fair distribution of wealth, etc.? Here’s a hint: what sets the UK apart from the rest of Europe? You get one guess only - it’s not the North Sea.
  
  Statistics like these show there is something wrong with the political setup of the UK; it should encourage you to make profound changes to it, not scare you away from it.
  
  And to those who think their country is not strong enough to go alone: Why can it not be done? Why not? Of course Scotland “needs” England but you can only say that in the context of the Union. Being independent will be a struggle and a mess but it will be worth it. In case you did not know: Finland, Norway, Iceland and Ireland pulled off the same trick in similar circumstances in the last 100 or so years: they struggled and now flourish, among the best places to live in Europe, still improving on many fronts. I daresay Scotland can match those countries…
  

• 399. James Waugh - Scotland

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:29

  Unfortunately the Labour, Liberal and Tory obsession with unionism is a road-block to consensus.

• 400. Ally S. - Argyll

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 01:33

  The publication of this white paper is just another sign of how things are moving forward. Remember the last eight years? No. Me neither. It was, to say the least, a real turn-off. Now, we have in Salmond, a man of conviction, of energy, of purpose, of ambition. Independence will come. And today is the first step. There is no hurry and whilst opinion polls put independence at 30-35% (though approval of the union seems to range from an uninspiring 35-49%) the coming years will see a growth. To those who reject that assumption think of this: before the Holyrood Parliament was established, many dismissed the notion that we would one day be running much of our own affairs from our own Parliament. But it happened. Then when the SNP were defeated in the first two elections, many believed that they were destined for countless years in opposition. But the SNP won. And change happened. Devolution is, indeed, a process.

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