The Scottish Government

An Independent Scotland

Friday, November 30, 2007

The White Paper says: For Scotland to achieve full independence, the UK Parliament must cease to have competence to legislate for Scotland and the UK Government must cease to have competence in respect of executive action in Scotland. Correspondingly, the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government would assume the full range of competence, duties and responsibilities accorded to sovereign states under international law.

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Comments

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• 631. Jimmy Nelson - Louisville, Kentucky - USA

  Thursday, June 12, 2008 01:47

  Sadly, I've never been to Scotland, or anywhere in Europe. I'm very proud of my Scottish heritage. I've only been following Scottish politics just this past week and, have learned quite a bit in such a short period of time. Yet, there is SO much more I need to learn (about the Country as a whole: politics, culture, history, etc.).
  
  I really don't know what to say, other than I am in favor of an Independent Scotland. However, I agree with allot of the comments, could an Independent Scotland be self-supporting? I know that, in the beginning, it will be tough (as with any new Country emerging). America did it. It took Scots to help make it so. Still, 200 years later, we’re making mistakes.
  
  As you all know, to talk of independence is one thing, but to actually put it into practice is something different. If it meant to bring home the Scottish Diaspora to support the Country, then I'll be there. There is an estimated 30-40 million people around the globe of Scottish descent/ethnicity (Scotland has just over 5 million; the USA has an estimated 11 million; England and Wales has an estimated 700,000; Canada has an estimated 4.1 million; Australia has an estimated 500,000). It will take allot of dedication and willingness to ensure the success of an Independent Scotland. And not from just those living in Scotland, it will require the support from the Scottish Diaspora.
  
  Even though, my family emigrated from Scotland in the late 1600’s, early 1700’s, my heart has always been and will always be . . Scotland.
  
  Alba gu Bràth!

• 632. Stars and Stripes - Welcome Home - Fife

  Thursday, June 12, 2008 22:38

  #631 Jimmy Nelson
  
  Nice to hear from you Jimmy and I hope you are prospering in your homeland. I note you have either researched the Gaelic or have it as a heritage. More than can be said for the current population of Scotland where less than 1 in 100 speak it. If your ancestors had the Gaelic that would suggest your ancestors came from the islands or more probably the highlands, in which case they were given the boot by the laird to make way for sheep! Many of the others of Scots descent could make the same claim, or were deported as an option to jail! However your return to the home of your ancestors will be more than welcome if you care to visit, however I would expect you to give our laws and the same respect that you would require of me visiting your country.
  
  I would expect that you are in fact an American, as the others you list are Canadian, Australian, etc, and as such have no more say in our destiny than you have. As it happens, a majority of those of us, who stayed and worked here, don't have the same opinion as you, fortunately. I won't respond in that vein known to a minority in your ancestral home, as it never has been the language of the mainland. Try Scots or Doric the next time.
  

• 633. Andrew WALKER - Isle of Benbecula

  Friday, June 13, 2008 00:01

  I support Alex Salmond and the SNP in its stance over the iniquitous fuel levies (taxes) now being siphoned off the poor motorist in Scotland by the Westminster govt, esp in the more remote and rural areas where diesel is now approaching 150p per ltr. The knock-on effect in many spheres of life and within the business and public services communities is incalculable. Only by returning (restoring) power to Scotland, as a nation, with complete independence over the management of its own fiscal affairs will we be able to control and respond more sympathetically to the needs of all of our people. Well done to Angus Brendan MacNeil MP for raising this in Westminster and to Alasdair Allan for pleading the cause of fuel poverty in the Western Isles, in Holyrood. The people of Scotland are now ready for independence and wish to have more direct control over their own destiny ... confidently and proudly we will surely move forward and again achieve greatness.

• 634. PMK - Ayrshire

  Friday, June 13, 2008 10:49

  Another posting from Fife there completely ignoring the polls and claiming "a majority" are against independence. When, in fact, the more recent polls put independence neck and neck with the status quo or slightly ahead. In the words of one Wendy Alexander: "Bring it on ... [we] don't fear the judgement of the Scottish people". (Incidentally, she should). If the unionist side is so filled with misplaced confidence, back the independence referendum bill waiting to be tabled.
  
  At least the tone has changed to those contributing from outside Scotland. Like many, I remember the earlier greeting recieved by some along the lines of "not another one" or "what are you doing here"; frankly "welcome home" is a marked improvement! Clearly all are welcome to contribute here - although the contributions of those current living in Scotland will doubtless carry more weight than those of interested "outsiders".
  
  * Scotland is currently running a budget surplus of between £4.4 and £6.2 billion. This would allow income tax to be cut by 5% across the board, corporation tax to be cut from 28 to 12.5% and leave somewhere between £2 to £4 billion to be invested in an oil fund every year to make the country's wealth last. After saving for less than a decade, the interest alone would generate an additional £1-1.5 billion a year.

• 635. Trevor Swistchew - edinburgh

  Sunday, June 15, 2008 16:34

  Forum is for people with a view Jackie Baillie just so you know.Unionist theology was tried in Scotland for 50 years.It failed to equalise the nations which are in the UK resulting in the people in Sciotland giving the snp an opportunity to prove that the nation can create its own future.People know now that unionist truth is not the only choice.

• 636. John Hannah - West Lothian

  Monday, June 16, 2008 21:55

  Jimmy Nelson
  It's good to see support from outside Scotland. It's also very important to have that support as well. Home is where the heart lies and if you feel an affinity through ancestry then fantastic. You are welcome here anytime.
  
  I believe Scotland will be an independent nation and I believe that situation isn't far away.
  
  I think the strength of the Scottish people will make it so and that strength make it work. It will be a challenge. That challenge will be with us always. It's up to us to rise to the challenge and prove our worth by becoming a successful nation.
  
  I for one am just waiting to see the flag fly on independence day.

• 637. Neil Anderson - Glasgow

  Tuesday, June 17, 2008 15:24

  In response to my previous posting about Scottish indepednence I am more convinced by the argument that Scotland would be better being split up because of the strong divide within public opinion.
  
  It is also clear that there is the North-South Divide in Scotland where a significant majority in the North support independence whereas those in some areas of the south are in favour of remaining in the union (like me).
  
  Therefore it is only fair that that Scotland should be split up into seperate administrative regions and they should have seperate referendums to decide if they would like to be part of an indendepent Scotland or remain within the union. Even though this suggestion sounds crazy, breaking up Britain according to others is crazy so why not go the whole way and split up Scotland. It is the only fair way to tackle the argument for independence because there will always be a split in public opinion where those who want independence can have it and those who want to remain within Britain can do so. After all it might be a good thing that Scotland is split up therefore increasing economic competition and stimualating further growth.
  
  I've often wondered Glasgow with it's own devolved parliament would perform much better in tackling it's own social and economic problems than those bureaucrats in Edinburgh and London.
  
  

• 638. SG - East Lothian

  Wednesday, June 18, 2008 10:58

  [637] Perhaps when Scotland gains Independence you and those of the same conviction can campaign for further devolution within Scotland, but I suspect there will then be more interest in discussing the merits of Scotland continuing in the European Union. In the meantime, except for those desperate to stop Independence in the face of changing public opinion, there seems little merit in pursuing an idea which is unlikely to win the support of any of the major political parties at this time.

• 639. PMK - Ayrshire

  Wednesday, June 18, 2008 11:56

  It is undoubtedly a clever argument to try and break up Scotland, rather than treat it as a naturally whole (which, unlike the UK: it is) and make it decide. However, the argument about economic competition is largely nonsense - look at Northern Ireland's economic performance alongside that of the Republic's.
  
  The North-South divide idea is frankly out of date, areas such as mine, in Ayrshire, saw a 46% showing for pro-independence candidates (and let us remember that was when the SNP was only seeking election - not pushing independence - but the Labour Party and others were attacking the idea rather than the party).

• 640. Dave Eastabrook - Largs, Ayrshire

  Wednesday, June 18, 2008 17:34

  632. Stars and Stripes - Welcome Home - Fife
  
  That's a rude posting, no need for it just because you disagree with the posting. Which is in English, bar the postscipt. I hope you're not in the tourism business - or in any business with foreign customers.
  
  Hasta La Vista!

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