The second thing I would like the SNP to understand is that the referendum on Scottish independence only went ahead due to the fact that the Parliament in Westminster allowed it to do so.
Scotland's Parliament has powers given to it by that same Parliament in Westminster by means of devolution. Therefore those powers that it does have, have been devolved to it by the United Kingdom government. The old saying "I am the boss in my house because my wife says I can be" comes to mind.
Now I apologise if that is teaching Granny to suck eggs or whichever metaphor the reader may prefer but with the behaviour of the SNP in Westminster I think it requires stating.
Why am I waffling on about this subject? Simple. Because I cannot believe the temerity of the SNP in Westminster banging on about Scotland, in effect having its own referendum on Europe. To state that each of the countries that make up the United Kingdom has the right to veto the outcome of the European Referendum based on the individual countries votes, if the voters in that particular part of the United Kingdom are at odds with the majority is outrageous. The individual countries that make up the United Kingdom are not the members of the European Union, the United Kingdom is. The referendum will be run under the auspices of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the result should be based on the vote throughout the United Kingdom as a whole. It is a one nation vote.
Simply put: the Scottish National Party are wrong in their demands.
Personal note: I am neither pro nor anti Europe. I have not made my mind up on the subject.
Opinion polls in Scotland are now showing majority support for independence. The referendum may be recent but it is clearly not the settled will of Scotland. (The election of the Conservatives in the 2015 general election does not mean that the UK should not have another general election...)
ReplyDeleteDays before the referendum voters in Scotland were promised The Vow. It stated that a No vote was not the status quo but in fact for Devo Max, full fiscal autonomy. A No vote should be taken as a vote to change the Union - and it was Westminster's poor form on delivering the full fiscal autonomy promised that lead to the SNP getting 56 out of 59 seats in the general election.
Westminster 'granted' the Scottish independence as it knew that the SNP would just have a consultative referendum on Scottish independence anyway if it didn't. If not for the Edinburgh Agreement then Westminster would have little control over the indyref. So it categorically not true that the indyref only went ahead because of Westminster.
Thank you for your comment.
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