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rfmcdonaldI'd like to thank ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
feorag for pointing out that the Scottish civil service is already planning for policy approaches in the case of Scottish independence. That's a wise idea, speaking from a Canadian perspective; having beforehand an idea what to do if Québec votes "Oui" is always smart. I can't help but be somewhat concerned by what I see Salmond has been saying.
The above reminds me far too much of the sovereignty-association concept first proposed by Québec nationalists in the 1970s, which imagines the existence of a Canada-Québec confederation of sorts. That's decent enough an image, I suppose. The problem with that is that it presumes that the other party wants to negotiate this. In the case of the 1995 referendum, moreover, this leads to very confusing questions that can easily mislead voters: "Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Québec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?"
[/rant]
The above was just a warning, that's all.
feorag for pointing out that the Scottish civil service is already planning for policy approaches in the case of Scottish independence. That's a wise idea, speaking from a Canadian perspective; having beforehand an idea what to do if Québec votes "Oui" is always smart. I can't help but be somewhat concerned by what I see Salmond has been saying.The SNP administration at Holyrood has for the first time raised the concept of people holding "dual citizenship" following Scottish independence.
[. . .]
The First Minister has also promised that a separate Scotland would keep the Pound, at least initially, and even that the Bank of England would continue to set interest rates north of the Border.
However, his citizenship pledge risks infuriating extremist elements of his party, known as the "fundies", short for fundamentalists, who are infamous for their anti-British rhetoric.
Leading SNP figures, including John Swinney, the party's former leader, have previously launched high-profile tirades against "the Brits" and the "Brit establishment".
Six years ago Mr Swinney, now the Scottish finance minister said the SNP should "ask the big question - do you want independence, yes or no? And then tell the Brits to get off."
Mr Salmond plans to hold a referendum next year, but a recent YouGov opinion poll said that barely a quarter of the population back the break-up of Britain.
The British citizenship promise is made in a Scottish Executive report, launched in Brussels yesterday (tues), examining foreign policy in post-independence Scotland.
It is the latest in a series of papers SNP ministers plan to release as part of the National Conversation, their taxpayer-funded campaign promoting separation.
The document shows Mr Salmond envisages an independent Scotland continuing to use UK embassies abroad, becoming a haven for asylum seekers, and enjoying an open border with England.
It indicates states that a flexible attitude to citizenship would be adopted, with people allowed to be Scottish and British.
The above reminds me far too much of the sovereignty-association concept first proposed by Québec nationalists in the 1970s, which imagines the existence of a Canada-Québec confederation of sorts. That's decent enough an image, I suppose. The problem with that is that it presumes that the other party wants to negotiate this. In the case of the 1995 referendum, moreover, this leads to very confusing questions that can easily mislead voters: "Do you agree that Québec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of the bill respecting the future of Québec and of the agreement signed on June 12, 1995?"
[/rant]
The above was just a warning, that's all.
