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Scotland's Calm Stroll to Independence

posted by martyb on Saturday June 25 2016, @12:29PM   
from the separate-so-as-to-stay-in? dept.

n1 writes:

Scottish nationals have two supra-national citizenships. One is UK citizenship, the second is EU citizenship. In democratic referenda over the past two years, Scots have voted clearly to retain both citizenships.

Unfortunately it is not possible to respect both democratic decisions of the Scottish people, due to a vote by other nationalities. So where you have democratic decisions which cannot both be implemented, which does democracy demand should take precedence?

It is not a simple question. The vote to retain EU citizenship was more recent and carried a much larger majority than the earlier vote. In addition it was made crystal clear during the campaign that it may require the overturning of the earlier vote. So on these grounds I believe the most recent vote must, as an exercise in democracy, have precedence.

In these circumstances the announcement by the First Minister that she is initiating the procedure on a new referendum for Scottish independence from the UK, in order to retain Scottish membership of the EU, is a sensible step.

Source: Craig Murray

Craig Murray is an author, broadcaster and human rights activist. He was British Ambassador to Uzbekistan from August 2002 to October 2004 and Rector of the University of Dundee from 2007 to 2010.

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Original Submission

• Re:I'm confused about Scotland and Wales (Score: 2) by zocalo on Saturday June 25 2016, @01:39PM

  by zocalo (302) on Saturday June 25 2016, @01:39PM (#365558)

  There is a group of countries together, that form a single land mass (and some associated islands); England, Scotland and Wales. There is also Northern Ireland, part of another landmass that borders Ireland, an EU country in its own right.
  
  England: The single country of England.
  Great Britain: The common land mass of England, Scotland and Wales.
  The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (AKA "The UK"): the combination of all four counties; England, Scotland, Wales *and* Northern Island.
  
  Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales all have their own regional government, which have varying degrees of autonomy over decision making and budgets, but all are beholden to the central government in London, England, which sets laws for the entire UK and also manages the specific affairs that only apply to England. There is also a process underway to divest more power from London to major urban centres in England, such as Manchester, allowing them a greater degree of autonomy over regional budgets but not legislation.

  --
  UNIX? They're not even circumcised! Savages!

  Parent

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