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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• 661. Adam Cunningham - Kirkcaldy, Scotland

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:42

  I firmly believe that Scotland should be an independent country. We are more than capable of making our own decisions about the best interests of our own country. Scotland is larger and more prosperous than many independent small states in the European Union - the idea that Scotland is the only country in the world that couldn't afford independence is laughable. If Lativa, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Luxembourg, Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, etc, etc can all do it - then we can too. But it isn't just a matter of "can we afford it" for me - its about pride, Scotland is an ancient nation with a proud, unique culture and should stand as an equal with all the other independent nations in the world and not be treated as a mere "region". Its up to the people living here in Scotland today to make it a great, independent nation once again.

• 662. Lynda Henderson - Argyll

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:42

  This conversation is so compulsively interesting that Jack McConnell's resignation and whoever succeeds him as leader of the Labour Party in Scotland seems so irrelevant and far away from the heart of the matter that you wonder why the media bother to pay any attention to it. So much has moved so far in such a short time and the sense of new energy is genuinely exciting. Keep talking. Television is toast. This is much more interesting.

• 663. bill walker - cambuslang

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:45

  i look forward to the day when we will have an independant scotland once again

• 664. Davie - Greenock

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:46

  I wholeheartedly support independence for my country and strongly oppose remaining part of the UK.
  As we go into the 21st Century, the principal reason for the UK’s existence and for Scotland giving up its precious independence - The Empire - has disappeared. Moreover, a new Union has arisen which presents the same wide access to foreign markets and economic opportunities that we always sought– The E.U. This is a Union which allows Scotland to be an EQUAL amongst nations, not a subordinate.
  Scotland is one of the oldest countries in Europe. We owe it to our children to rejoin the international community and transform ourselves from the sick man of Europe, a forgotten province at the northwestern fringes of the continent, into a proud and dynamic independent state.
  COME ON SCOTLAND WE CAN DO IT!!!
  

• 665. Anthony - Gretna

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:46

  Firstly ,there is no need for independence-the Englisha re hardly `oppressing` us-if anything the West Lothian question gives us dispriortionate power over England at the moment, but futher more, a lot of people get bogged down in dry albeit important economic arguments. My unionism comes from a sense of historical achievement-we have achieved much this 300 years that would not have happened-in Scotland OR England without Union. We are hugely intermingled-with more Scots in London than Edinburgh for example.....do we want to turn our fellow Scots into foreign workers in England, and indeed, are we so small minded that we want to punish the Enlgish who like the vast majority of others in Scotland, are well meaning tax paying citizens, into foreign workers.
  
  My familly have a histroy of serving int he BRITISH military, and some of them have died serving their country. I dont want the country which my familly died defending to willingly do to itself what could not be done by force-tear itself apart..to do so would in effect be the SNP stamping upon my famillies, and the famillies of thousands of Scots, war graves.
  
  Why is it so hard to be British and Scottish-one does not negate the other.
  
  Plus there is a body of opinion that with the oil fast running out, Mr Salmonds fabled oil fund will hardly be full when the oil profits dissapear-what is going to fill the £ 11 billion gap that independence would leave...couldnt be extra taxes could it.
  
  THe simple fact is, independence is not a matter of purely economics,and Mr Salmonds anti English rable rousing (we forget now that he affects a stateman like appearence,that he is the one who in 1995 jumpt on the bandwagon of Mel Gibsons Braveheart-the most historically inaccurate film ever made, and stoked Anti Englishness with his odious cry of `FRREEEEEEEDDDOOOOMMMM`.
  
  Do we really want independence and government by men like that.

• 666. greig - glasgow

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:47

  ALEX & CO ARE DOING JUST GREAT.KEEP IT SIMPLE AND TRUE,THEN THE PEOPLE WILL TRUST YOU EVEN MORE.I LOOK FORWARD WITH CONFIDENCE TO SEEING MY CHILDREN GROWING IN STATURE IN A MODERN FREE SCOTLAND.

• 667. James Stewart Gray - Hamilton, South Lanarkshire

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:48

  What does Independance really mean to us? To me it is more than a constitutional settlement, it is also a state of mind that I use in almost every decision I make. We all became Independant when we moved from the parental nest. Did we get things right first time? No. Was it a struggle at times? Five years later,for me, it still is sometimes. Am I filled with a sense of satisfaction, pride and responsabilty of what I have achieved and still can achieve? Absolutely. And it's strange, that despite reservations from my parents, my relationship with them only got better!! I embrace this national conversation whole heartedly as I hope the nations majority will whatever their views on Independance and have every confidence in all my fellow Scots ability to meet any struggle that may be ahead with our renowned sense of determination, to realise our potential of becoming a strong, vibrant and confident nation and to finally, against all odds, take our place at the worlds table.

• 668. Roderick MacSween - Stornoway

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:52

  I originally joined the Scottish National Party in 1963 at its old headquarters in Elmbank Street, Glasgow, and although those heady days are now somewhat fuzzy I can nevertheless recall the jovial cameraderie dispensed so freely without let or hindrance. It was the Nation's Party then and is in similar vein into the present. An impressionable Island youngster in the big city suddenly felt he 'belonged' once again - a representative fulfillment as it were of past generations who had no voice in any 'National Consensus'. The Scots Diaspora whom I have encountered in my travels remain committed to a wholly Independent Scotland wherein uniqueness of identity is cherished to an even greater degree and where real power - as in days of yore, resides with the People of Scotland.

• 669. Nan Wallace - Stevenston

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:54

  I don't let my neighbour run my life so why should Scotland's neighbour make all the major decisions in Scottish lives?
  Devolution currently better than nothing, more devolution would be lots better, but give me Independence - that's what I want!

• 670. William Nicol - Largs

  Wednesday, August 15, 2007 19:57

  We have had a number of 'national conversations' over Independance for Scotland.These have been conducted during elections for the Westminster Parliament and the resounding response from the Scottish people has been NO.However the SNP find themselves in a position of having to pander to the extremists within their party ranks by bringing the issue of a referendum.Admittedly they can also legitimately claim to be fulfilling a manifesto commitment as they were the single party elected in May.However their mandate is based upon a decidedly dubious electoral process, which in the context of a one seat majority over Labour is a major factor. In addition time will tell whether they can afford to fully implement their manifesto eg reversing the decisions to downgrade A&E units in the face of overwhelming clinical advice;their position on the Community Charge and on PPP/PFI.Until now they have concentrated on easy hits with all the political aplomb of newly elected local councillors.It is all very well having a national conversation but in conducting that conversation all participants must listen. If the Scottish people say no will Mr Salmond resign?

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