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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• 461. STUART RENNIE - IRVINE, AYRSHIRE.

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:18

  Before deciding INDEPENDENCE Yes or No we need to know all the facts. No one seems eager to actually spell out how pensions, transport, health and other vital services will be funded. Will Alex Salmond address all these issues before asking us to vote blindly on Independence.
  

• 462. Paul - Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:22

  For Scotland, this is the biggest and most exciting time in Scottish politics that there ever has been. It is so exciting as we are in the midst of a constitutional change which could either make us or break us. By make or break I mean that to gain independence would make us and to keep our status as part of the United Kingdom would break us and crush our spirit as the best small nation in the world. I relish the oportunity to vote for independence as I wish to be free and to make the most of our capabilities.
  
  The only problem i have is that the referendum in 2010 sounds as if it is going to be a yes, no or maybe question with yes, nor or maybe answers. This means that the "Lumpers" who don't really care either way about independence have an outlet to express their nothingness in the matter. it should be a simple yes or no question with yes or no answers as that will make people think about the answer they give, read the benefits and disadvantages (if any) of independence and we gain a true stance of the will of the scottish people.
  
  I would now like to pose three questions, they are all to the people of Scotland who do not favour the referendum and favour Scotland as being a part of the United Kingdom. The first question is thus:
  
  If you feel so sure that it is best being part of the united kingdom, do you feel that the referendum in 2010 should not be for independence but to ascertain whether or not the referendum on Scotlands independence should be asked all over Britain?
  
  This would involve the English, Northern Ireland and Welsh vote as well as the Scottish.
  
  The next question I pose is:
  
  Would you feel all safe and secure in britain when you realise that most of the English vote in the nationwide referendum on independence would be to give scotland independence?
  
  I ask this as I believe that a vast majority of English people see scotland as a burden on "their" state. my final question is:
  
  Would this make the Scottish "Lumpers" happy, sad, or angry that they wanted to be part of the "united kingdom"? I know which one it would make (and does make) me.
  
  Please vote in this referendum, and vote for whichever answer you like. but please make your opinion count as this truly is the biggest decision which we will make as our small, proud nation.

• 463. Dorothy Macdonald - Oban

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:22

  I am 63 years old and have aspired for Independence for Scotland since I was in my twenties.I am very heartened at the eloquence and pride shown in the comments of contributors who speak for a referendum (and ultimately for Independence) Go on youth of Scotland! Don't be as feart as so many in my generation were!

• 464. David - Stirling

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:25

  As an SNP voter in May - for the first time might I add I am particularly pleased at the progress made by the Parliament so far.
  
  On a recent trip to Wales for a job interview I found the Welsh people friendly and open - and even accepted my Scottish notes! Thankfully I have now been offered the job and will be moving in October. I can't however say the same for my visits to London where I was looked at and treated as a 'foreigner' and my money swiftly refused like I was handing over some monopoly notes. Why do some Scot's constantly strive to be part of the Union when frankly my dear the Union 'couldn't give a damn' about us. The English have no real interest in who Governs Scotland - and rightly so - we are two seperate nations. We are like the child constantly striving for attention when we know we could do it better alone.
  
  Nations which can work side by side as friends, removing the stigmas and prejudices that Scotland receives too much from Westminster. Let's stop arguing and get on with it.

• 465. jan martinez - fife

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:26

  Having worked with marginalised individuals and groups for many years, I witness the real cost of social injustice on a daily basis. The haunched shoulders of socio-economic and emotional poverty dull the brightest of days and refute loudly that Scotland has equally benefited from its subordinately patriarchal alliances with England.
  
  Scotland’s economy will grow and flourish when the coronary grip of Westminster and its ‘Neocon’ cousins in Brussels is determinedly loosened. Only then will a new Scotland emerge, only then will Scotland truly benefit from its natural resources, unique culture and passionate for fairness people.
  
  Accepting fear, arrogance and greed are the unequivocal motivators of unaccountability, bad politics and anodyne policies, Westminster has done an unsurpassed job of scaremongering, penalising and oppressing the Scottish public. In tandem ‘Mr J Mc Connell’ and smug brigade have an outstanding record in loss of control, increased unemployment, the corruption of pension rights, insurmountable inequalities in health care and overwhelmingly the increased disparity and despair disaffecting a third of Scottish households is a disgrace in any civil society and an affront to Scotland as a whole.
  
  Scotland has survived its subordinate alliance with England but only just, labour brought a new resurgence in parasitical aristocratic allegiance; feudal ownerships and misaligned controls to Scotland and they will remain strongly domineering if Scotland refuses to grasp with two hands its hallowed right to freedom and self governance.
  
  Whether one agrees or not, Salmond is a true pioneer the face of a future Scotland, working cohesively for the people of Scotland. And comparing the political past and now, I for one will be voting for a forward thinking, economically stable and socially responsible independent Scotland under home rule.
  

• 466. Damian Killeen - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:27

  It has taken a 15 year old from Glasgow (287) to ask the key question 'Independence, for what...?' The government has set out its vision for Scotland - this is from a speech by Richard Lochead which opened the Parliament's debate on a Greener Scotland on June 13th 2007:
  
  'We want to create a Scotland in which there is economic stability and social justice; a Scotland that has a cohesive co-operative society in which people live fulfilling lives; a Scotland where protecting our environment is seen as being in the national and global interests; a Scotland where people are committed to contributing to securing the environment for the future; and a Scotland where people know how to engage effectively in decision making.'
  
  The shorthand for this is 'sustainable development'. If we share this vision and think it is realisable, we need to identify the constitutional framework for Scotland that will best deliver it. If we have another vision for Scotland we need to say what that is and what form of government is needed to bring it about.
  
  I would like this National Conversation to move on from the small minded issues of party politics and how the Scots and English feel about each other and begin to answer this 15 year old's question. After all she or he will have to live with the consequences longer than I will. Damian Killeen is 61.
  
  

• 467. George - Isle of Man

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:36

   

• 468. Gary Masson - Fraserburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:37

  Comment 294 Jim Johnstone Livingston
  You wrote that currently 1/3 of Scots are below the poverty line with overcrowded schools and a poor health record yet you want to remain part of the very Union that gave us those problems. Wake up man!
  As for the others on here who want to remain part of this imbalanced Union; take a good look at some of the posts emanating from England about us being subsidy junkies and spongers. Can't you see what many of them actually feel about Scots. Granted, there are some English posters who are not so stupid and even better are the English people now resident in Scotland and have seen for themselves what damage has been done to this nation as part of very imbalanced UK.
  There are some very gutless Scots around and I am ashamed to have them as fellow countrymen.
  I have a fairly comfortable standard of living and could easily sit back and say "no change please" life is good. However, I am of the opinion that independence would improve Scotland and the people of all nations who choose to live and work in my country.
  Scotland needs to be a modern, competitive, multi-racial and open society; and only a move to independence will bring that about.

• 469. Andrew - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:40

  The National Conversation is to be welcomed and hopefully will get rid of the nonsense peddled by Gordon Brown and others at the last Scottish Elections when they claimed "separation would mean passport controls at Berwick" and relations in England would be foreigners. Since the EU was establshed, independence has taken on a new meaning and that should be explained fully by those in favour.
  Lets have a mature debate on Scotland's future and the early contribution by Robert Crawford former head of Scottish Enterprise is to be welcomed. He states that only independence will generate high economic growth and that in any event the Scottish Parliament's powers are very limited.

• 470. Margaret Hart - Glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 10:47

  Time for indepenence is long over due. I would hope that my fellows Scots will see that also and help restore our right to freedom and independence that we have so long been denied. Time to get up off your knees people and get some self-respect!

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