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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.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday June 25 2016, @03:56PM
Or more likely, supposing the Spaniards do not veto them joining the EU.
(Score: 1) by Pax on Saturday June 25 2016, @06:55PM
they'll not veto as a "fuck you" to Westminster , there's no love between them
(Score: 2, Interesting) by petecox on Sunday June 26 2016, @12:12AM
Spain is not in a position to dictate anything at this point.
After six months without a government, tomorrow's election may well see an equally momentous result where the old parties (PP, PSOE) are forced to accept a Catalan referendum as a compromise for forming minority government. It remains to be seen whether Felipe is as hardline centrist as his dad JC.
More likely Scotland would be allowed to join so long as the Gibraltar issue is resolved - adopting the Euro as a currency and devolving into a self-governing British Crown Dependency similar to Isle of Man and the channel islands.