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Resistance See other Resistance Articles Title: Scotland's 'explosive' push to secede from the U.K. Scotland's first minister promises to hold a referendum on Scottish independence. Could it really succeed? Scottish nationalists have dreamed of independence for centuries, and now, Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond is really trying to pull it off. Salmond has announced plans to hold a referendum in fall 2014 on breaking away from the United Kingdom, setting off a week of friction between Edinburgh and London. Will Scotland and the U.K. really part ways? Here's what you should know: What exactly is Scotland's relationship to the U.K.? More than 300 years ago, Scotland and England were joined by the Act of Union that formally created the U.K. (the two nations, though separate, had already been ruled by one king for more than a century). Today, Queen Elizabeth II is still Scotland's head of state. Scotland has a government, legal system, and parliament of its own, in addition to representatives in the U.K. And Scotland wants independence? Some Scots do. Such talk has been percolating ever since 1707, when the U.K. was formed. But over the centuries, there didn't seem to be much chance that the split would actually happen. Now, says Alex Massie at The Daily Beast, "for the first time since Bonnie Prince Charlie led an army of Highland Scots into England in 1745, the survival of the United Kingdom is in doubt." What's driving this latest push? In the 1980s, conservative Tories failed to deliver a promised referendum to establish a Scottish assembly and faced a brutal backlash from voters. The Labor party didn't want to make the same mistake, and in 1997, a referendum passed leading to the creation of the Scottish Parliament. There, resurgent Scottish national sentiment has thrived. One major driver: The common wisdom that unity with its larger neighbor was essential for Scotland's prosperity has eroded over the last few decades, particularly as Scotland's heavy industry declined. But why now? Last May, Salmond's Scottish National Party won 69 of Parliament's 129 seats. It was "a thumping, astonishing victory" when you consider there are five parties in the system, Massie says, and the seemingly clear and overwhelming mandate made a referendum on independence "inevitable." Indeed, it makes perfect sense that this would be happening now, says Heather Horn at The Atlantic. Europe is in the grip of a painful economic crisis, and "nationalism surges as economies stagnate." So is this the end of the union? Not necessarily. A referendum is bound to be "explosive," says Anna Tomforde at Monsters and Critics. And its success or failure could depend on many variables — such as whether it's a yes-or-no vote on full independence, or a multi-question ballot with a middle-ground option maintaining an element of unity. Despite Salmond's popularity, polls suggest most Scots don't actually support full independence. Thirty-five percent want to be a completely separate nation, while 55 percent remain opposed. So the government in London, which at first insisted that British Parliament would have to OK any vote, is now pushing for a referendum as soon as possible, says Agence France Presse, so Salmond won't have time to win over a majority. … Poster Comment: David • London, United Kingdom • This article is very poorly written and full of inaccuracies Firstly "the survival of the United Kingdom is in doubt" ......Wrong it is not. There are four countries in the United Kingdom if Scotland leaves, there will be three countries in the United Kingdom "In the 1980s, conservative Tories failed to deliver a promised referendum to establish a Scottish assembly and faced a brutal backlash from voters." .... wrong again. The Labour party in power until May 1979 gave the Scots a referendum in March 1979. There was a poor turnout of 63% and 51% said yes but there had been a precondition that 40% of the total electorate had to be in favour so with a 63% turn out only 32% of the registered electorate as a whole had voted for it. Thatcher came to power just 2 months after their vote and didn't offer them another .... and the Conservatives didn't "suffer a backlash" .... they never had any real support in Scotland anyway LOL Scotland is much more Socialist than England! The SNP had a "thumping, astonishing victory when you consider there are five parties in the system" ...... The SNP won because the Conservatives never get anywhere in Scotland (they only got one seat at the UK general election) .... the Scottish electorate usually vote Labour but were disillusioned with Labour after 3 terms in office (and Iraq etc) so sent them a clear message. I know many Scots who voted SNP (Scottish national party) who do not support withdrawing from the UK . "So Salmond won't have time to win over a majority" ..... He will. He will hold the referendum in the Autumn of 2014 because he wishes make his case and maximise national sentiment over the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn. Cameron was just making the point that the vote would be better taken sooner because there is uncertainty over Scotlands future (will Scotland be in the UK or not in 2015 and will it be using Stirling £ or Euros) .... Camerons point was uncertainty was damaging future investment in our isles and having the matter settled sooner was more important Saundra • Irvine, California • It will be interesting to see if the Scots cling to the Socialist traditions that the British paralyzed the economies the rest of the kingdom with. Labour has destroyed most of British business, & manufacturing. Once the unions took over the government, England headed down the Socialist road to insolvency. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Yay for Scotland. My last name's Scottish, and if they get their act together I'd move there.
Serial killer psychopaths ruin families. Corporate psychopaths ruin societies -- Prof. Robert Hare
Thge Scots won their freedom at the Battle of Bannockburn. I wish them well in seceding from the U.K.
"When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one." Edmund Burke
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