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

This blog is now closed to comments.

Comments

[Latest First] | [Earliest First] Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] [95] [96] [97] [98] [99] [100] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106] [107] [108] [109] [110] [111] [112] [113] [114] [115] [116] [117] [118] [119] [120] [121] [122] [123] [124] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134] [135] [136] [137] [138] [139] [140] [141] [142] [143] [144] [145] [146] [147] [148] [149] [150] [151] [152] [153] [154] [155] [156] [157] [158] [159] [160] [161] [162] [163] [164] [165] [166] [167] [168] [169] [170] [171] [172] [173] [174] [175] [176] [177] [178] [179] [180] [181] [182]

• 601. Victoria - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:39

  Let the people of Scotland decide. If the unionist parties are so confident that the Scottish people do not want independence, then why are they refusing to allow a referendum? What are they scared of?
  
  It is the Scottish people that need to decide the future of our country and the best way is through a referendum! I know it, we know it and every politician knows it too.
  
  Our politicians need to trust us! They need to trust the Scottish people to decide what is best for Scotland!

• 602. MJ McCafferty - Bonnie Scotland

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:40

  The real 'seperatists' in this debate are the unionists, who for decades have plotted to keep the Scottish people away from the spheres of power in Europe and elsewhere. It is those in favour of normality, ie independence, who are the true internationalists and democrats.
  
  Incidentally, the arguments for and against membership of the EU will be for another day, after independence is achieved.

• 603. Scott MacIver - Inverness

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:41

  You know, until very recently I've been a closet Nationalist for as long as I've had an opinion in politics. This does not necessarily make me an avid SNP supporter however, there are other parties with nationalistic views remember. Although I have voted for them in in at least part of the three elections I've been old enough and in the country for.
  
  I've been ashamed (for lack of a better word) of my views mainly because of the stereotype of Nationalists that use to exist; Football loving, kilt wearing, anti-English idiots. Thankfully this (largely thanks to the SNP) stereotype has dissipated in recent years.
  
  However, when telling people of my views I still receive some backlash because of it. the assumption still exists that to be pro-Scottish one must be anti-English (which, living in the part of the country i do with such a relatively large amount of English incomers would be a problem). I am anti-British certainly, the Union was a good idea for Scotland at the time, it gave us the security to lead the world during the Scottish Enlightenment but now it's an outdated and archaic arrangement within the modern world.
  
  Looking to history, you can often guess the future; Scotland arguably was one of the first nations to join the British Empire in 1707, and it looks like logically we'll be one of the last to leave.
  
  I am Scottish, I am European, I am a Westerner and I am a citizen of the Earth. But I have never been, and shall never be (no matter what it says on my passport) British.

• 604. G Berrie - Dunbar

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:43

  Instead of wasting time and money on something that two thirds did not vote for, why not prove that you can actually govern Scotland satisfacturaly, unlike Labour. Maybe then would be the time to have a referendum on Independence.

• 605. Scott - Nairn

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:52

  We keep hearing from the English press and media about how much we Scots are subsidized by westminster in comparison to our English neighbours. If this was true, then why are they doing everything in their power to rubbish the very idea of Scottish independence. Surely, if Scotland was such a liability to westminster, they should let us go. But they won't, and the reason is obvious - THEY would struggle financialy without US.
  Scotland,under proper rule, has a thriving whisky, fishing, tourist, farming and oil industry to name but a few. It is extremely important that all Scots take this opportunity, and demand independence to move this proud nation forward.

• 606. Ashley Proctor - Glenrothes

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:54

  I really hope this goes ahead and we can finally be given a referendum on Independence. What is the point of more powers, we might as well go the whole hog. Why are people in this country so scared to take a chance?
  
  I think it is about time we were able to make all our own decisions ourselves, we don't need another country to manage us. The Scots are more than capable of taking Scotland forward and making it a more prosperous nation with a better standard of living than we have now.
  
  We have been lied to, experimented on (Namely the Poll Tax), used as a dumping ground for hazardous wastes, our resources have and are being pillaged (Fish, Oil, Gas, Land, Soliders) and we are standing around thanking Westminister for it. We have been mugs to long!!
  
  It's time we get back what we give out, and take responsibility for our own choices.
  
  I also think that the stance taken by the unionist parties in Scotland is disgusting and derogatory. They presume that the people of Scotland are either A - to stupid to be able to understand a referendum and that they, the parties, know better, or B - are scared that they cannot trust the will of the people to do their bidding or C - don't want the truth about Scotlands wealth and economic ability to come into the public domain.
  
  The people should have there say!

• 607. Gordon Johnson - Edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 15:58

  Independence for Scotland is historically unavoidable. Look at Egypt, Greece, Rome, Russia etc. all countries like England who have expanded by taking over neighboring countries and creating empires. They reach a peak as England did in the first half of last century then declined as England has since the war. The Empire has gone, Ireland has gone and Scotland will be next so let's get on with it, have a referendum and vote YES !.

• 608. Chris - edinburgh

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 16:02

  Thank you to the SNP for giving us the opportunity to discuss our future as a nation.
  
  Personally I think independence will come (and will be a very good thing for all concerned) but is still a few years off.
  
  A lot of people in Scotland are still overly cautious about change (largely because of the ridiculous scaremongering that's gone on about constitutional change). But the vitality of the new SNP administration is changing that - it's all to the good.
  
  

• 609. tam macmillan - glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 16:02

  our country has been used and abused by the numpties in westminster since we were sold out for a few pieces of silver by the forefathers of the labour party, please lets send them the way of the tory party , freedom and independence for ALBA , GO ON YOUR DOING A GREAT JOB

• 610. GM Lindsay - Scotland

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 16:03

  Here we go again - yet another distraction! Why don't our MSPs and government demonstrate that they can use and manage the powers that they already have - how many people realise the extent of the current powers of Holyrood - NHS, criminal justice, transport, education, council taxes etc.?
  As a taxpayer I strongly object to my money being used to pay the civil service to largely re-gurgitate the SNP election manifesto into this white paper. This is not to mention the massive costs of the 129 MSPs and their staff and expenses - who will undoubtedly be preoccupied with this constitutional issue for months (if not years) to come. This is not why they were elected.
  A final thought - since the EU is now responsible for around 70% of UK (including Scotland!)legislation - and this percentage increasing year on year, why is the SNP only talking about devolving more powers FROM Westminster? It seems to me that powers are being devolved from Westminster to the EU, thereby bypassing Scotland and Alex Salmond wants us to be "independent in Europe". How does that work exactly??

[Latest First] | [Earliest First] Page: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] [52] [53] [54] [55] [56] [57] [58] [59] [60] [61] [62] [63] [64] [65] [66] [67] [68] [69] [70] [71] [72] [73] [74] [75] [76] [77] [78] [79] [80] [81] [82] [83] [84] [85] [86] [87] [88] [89] [90] [91] [92] [93] [94] [95] [96] [97] [98] [99] [100] [101] [102] [103] [104] [105] [106] [107] [108] [109] [110] [111] [112] [113] [114] [115] [116] [117] [118] [119] [120] [121] [122] [123] [124] [125] [126] [127] [128] [129] [130] [131] [132] [133] [134] [135] [136] [137] [138] [139] [140] [141] [142] [143] [144] [145] [146] [147] [148] [149] [150] [151] [152] [153] [154] [155] [156] [157] [158] [159] [160] [161] [162] [163] [164] [165] [166] [167] [168] [169] [170] [171] [172] [173] [174] [175] [176] [177] [178] [179] [180] [181] [182]