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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: 1) by khallow on Sunday June 26 2016, @12:05AM
you do realise that the first Minister has set up an advisory board, has invited all the consuls of the EU who have a presence in Edinburgh next week and the week after and put together q research panel to look into the option and put together a fresh independence referendum.... don't you?
you seem to assume that somehow Boris will back-peddle on the EU Ref vote? that's an AWFUL lot of supposition and utter political suicide for him
Ok, are you trying to disagree or something? Just here we see in your first paragraph the sudden interest in another Scottish independence referendum with EU involvement. As to Boris Johnson, backpeddling is not that politically risky. First, there will be another referendum on UK departure because the first one didn't actually count. I gather the Scottish independence referendum is to scare voters into a "remain" position for that. Second, even if Johnson were to become reviled in the UK, he can always take on a position in the EU bureaucracy. They always have room for more turncoats.
I note that Cameron campaigned on a mildly Euroskeptic platform including a referendum on whether to stay part of the EU, but successfully put off the referendum for six years. There's no reason to expect his successor is going to be any more ambitious about pushing forward on this matter.
WOW.. do you actually live in Scotland? because that's really NOT why at all....
I said it before and I'll say it again for your benefit too
The Prime Minister made a "VOW" to the Scots before the last indy ref that we would be promised a list of stuff including "the guaranteed security of EU membership" and extra powers for the Scottish parliament to be delivered last year ( hint.. they didn't actually deliver them at all.. any of them!).
Funny way to agree with me. The pro-EU part of the UK political system stabbed them in the back. What a coincidence.
Here's my prediction on the matter which I doubt diverges much from whatever you think on the matter ("doors will magically start opening"). If the UK continues towards separation from the EU, the EU won't have any trouble incorporating an independent Scotland and will have plenty of opportunity to say so, especially during any future UK referendums on departing from the EU. If the UK doesn't follow through on the current referendum (which I still think is where the smart money is on this) and stays firmly part of the EU, then the EU will noisily prevaricate during any Scottish independence referendums about how they are unable to guarantee a place for Scotland in the EU. And if Scotland does become independent, no matter what the circumstances, then there will promptly and spontaneously be a place in the EU for Scotland.