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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• 451. John Coghlan - Borders

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 09:50

   

• 452. Grant - Angus

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 09:59

  This is a groundbreaking day for Scottish democracy. A day which allows reflection,thought and comment on significant breathtaking opportunities our country has to decide upon.
  This is a welcome opportunity for Scotland to discuss our growth as a nation and take control of our destiny.
  Since the Holyrood election - and Alex Salmond's SNP victory at Holyrood, there has been a step change in the positivity felt by our nation. It is refreshing to hear a 'we can' attitude and words from our First Minister - instead of the last six years when Jack and Cathy have relentlessly and negatively done our country down. Scottish Labour is finished. These people should go back to their city councils - they are not worthy of national government.
  We are a proud nation, but I for one have never considered myself to be British in all my years. Perhaps this has been down to a relentlessly unionist broadcast and print media which tries to tell us Scotland could not survive. Scotland has a vast amount of natural resources at her disposal and these must be capitalised, utilised and monetised. Unfortunately much of Scotland reads 'newspapers' which do notinform and are more interested in lottery winners and celebrity than national debate. This is a shame because our people are misinformed and believe what the red top tabloids tell them - or rather don't tell them!
  It is heartening this dicussion is taking place however before Scotlad makes choices on her future we must publish more economic figures Decisions need to be made regarding income from oil which are currently disputed as 'extra regio' If these are clear and undisputed, Scotland would have no problem convincing her people to be independent nation. Bring it on.

• 453. Alain - Brechin

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 09:59

  It is really interesting to read the views of both fellow Scots and of those from the rest of the UK about this issue. What surprises me is how certain people from both sides of the wall perceive the whole idea as inward looking, xenophobic hysteria by a minority. I have many close friends from all the other UK nations, and never see it as them and us. I see our relashionship flourishing as an Independant state within the Commonwealth, with the Sovereign at the head of our State. To the people who say we would become a weak, army-less, country - would they say the same of Belgium, Netherlands or any other sovrereign state? We are a land of innovation, can we not lift our heads high enough to see our potential, instead of hanging on to the coat-tails of our bigger cousin. We all pay our taxes and are not subsidised by the English tax-payer as they would have you believe. True there are subsidies that come in from the EU that the current UK government quotes in its' figures when trying to show that we get more per head. I do feel for the English though, as I would be extremely dismayed if an English politician that lives in England could vote in a scottish matter in the Scottish Parliament, it is unfair and out of date. Devolution should work for our cousins on the wrong side of the wall too!

• 454. Mark Cartier - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:01

  The first reply to this site includes a reference to the media asking “how much will this cost”. What I want to know is how much HAS this cost the Executive so far to get to THIS point?

• 455. Andrew Lydon - Birmingham, England

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:05

  Would Scotland have a Central reserve Bank of Scotland ?
  
  I ask as someone from England who believes that the Bank of England should be regionalised, so that like in the US, the regions have a say in interest rate decisions.
  
  I would have thought Scotland would want more say in such decisions, and was wondering whether they would want to have a say in the management of Sterling, want to join the Euro or have a completely independant currency ?
  
  
  
  

• 456. Alister Troup - Aberdeen

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:06

  In the vote for devolution we were told the building would cost about 40 million. It cost 450 million.
  The vote for devolution was close with 3 parties for it.
  So now, we are being asked to allow those who couldn't check spending an extra 400 million pounds on a building that MIGHT last 70 years (its design life), more powers??? I think not.
  As to all those commenting about "bought for English gold", Scotland was bankrupted by the Darien Project! The English government agreed to take the debts owed by the Scottish Government to the Scottish People.
  If Independence is sought then the Darien debt will have to be repaid with interest and in full.
  
  Finally rather than waste time/effort/money on this, concentrate on the real problems, drugs, crime, failing and failing down schools, crumbling NHS, housing, early death (at 54 average in parts of Glasgow) etc etc

• 457. Angus Young - Australia

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:08

  Hopefully if Scotland is independent, we will have our own share of the UK's nuclear weapons with which to threaten anyone who gives us grief - especially England. So don't mess with us!
  
  Sore Elbow.

• 458. Stewart - Amsterdam

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:12

  I think this is a truly worthwhile debate and i hope that Scots will think big thoughts on this subject. If independence is what people want, we can absolutely achieve it - look at the history of E. European countries like the Czech Republic, which had far less favourable circumstances. Do we really feel we are incapable of achieving what they have with all our additional advantages?
  
  My one request to the SNP is not to make this debate about the English. We should discuss what we as Scots want - i have always felt that it is a sign of national insecurity to discuss ourselves always in relation to England. Let's, in this debate, move beyond that and ask what we as a distinct nation want for ourselves.
  
  As a Scot living and working abroad, i look forward to the day i can say im Scottish without explaining that Scotland is not a region, it's a country.
  
  I personally look forward to the debate.

• 459. Paul McDonald - North Wales, ex-Glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:15

  I think Alex Salmond's calls for greater broadcasting powers for the Scottish parliament must go hand in hand with any national debate on our constitutional future. I am appaled at the poor, uneducated coverage the BBC are giving to what is surely the most significant debate in Scotland for many years. If we are to be capable of having a full, frank and open debate on the issue we need an effective media to support it.

• 460. Tommy Davidson - West Lothian

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:16

  The facts are that more than 70% of us Scots DO NOT want to split from the United Kingdom, despite what any of the media, papers or politicians say!
  
  Alex Salmond and the SNP do not speak or act for the majority of Scots, they were elected as a minority.
  
  We are happy with our English, Welsh and Northern Ireland neighbours as we were in the trenches.
  
  Many fought and died in world wars to give us our today’s, have we forgotten our war dead? Many of these people came from the 4 nations and beyond.
  
  Alex Salmond and his vile jacobite cohorts are very dangerous, if they carry on this path of Independence it could cause civil unrest in Scotland.
  
  We saw 30+ years of it in Northern Ireland and I pray to god for our childrens sake Scotland does not take this route.
  
  Salmond refers to Ireland alot - a pint is £4 and god knows what it is to see a doctor. The cost of living, poverty and jobs in Ireland is scary.
  
  Alex and Co need booted out of Scotland and take George (whiskers) Galloway with you.
  

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