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| Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond (Photo: Getty Images, The Telegraph) |
According to an exclusive poll for the Sunday Express a clear majority of people in Scotland (51 per cent) now back independence. It’s the first such result since the Scottish National Party came to power in 2007.
If such a dramatic result were repeated in the autumn of 2014, the First Minister would have an absolute mandate to negotiate an end to the Union with England.
[...]
Angus Robertson, campaign director for the SNP, said the poll result came as a “huge boost”. He added: “It shows that voters understand the Scottish Government policy is for an independent Scotland with the Queen as head of state.
“Scotland and England would become united kingdoms – equal friends and neighbours – rather than the United Kingdom.
“Support is growing for Scotland gaining the full range of job-creating powers we need to boost jobs and recovery, and becoming an equal and independent country.”
Read the rest. See also here to learn about discussions over the referendum question.
Why not?
ReplyDeleteThe Scottish aspiration to freedom and independence is literally as old as the hills.
In 1996, after a mere 700 years, thanks to the initiative of the British PM John Major, and the approval of Queen Elizabeth II, the Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny) was taken from the Coronation Chair of Edward I in Westminster Abbey, and returned to Scotland. It's now in Edinburgh Castle. Quite a few Scots like to believe that the confiscated stone is a fake in any case.. Whatever, it seems to have had an immense importance for Edward I who triumphantly carted it off from the Abbey of Scone in 1296. It was, of course the Scottish coronation stone, and there are quite a few stories connected to it (next Viewfinder post- Scottish myths 12).
But it hasn't got a great deal to do with the Scottish wish for independence. History and the Declaration of Arbroath of 1320, make it a lot clearer.
Nevertheless, had Queen Elizabeth II refused to approve of the return of the Stone of Destiny, it would probably have changed the conditions the Scots would insist upon in their bid for independence.
Tony Blair conceded some measure of independence to Scotland, but obviously not enough. As the aspiration to freedom and independence is still very much alive, it's right that Scots gain what they have been fighting for since the twelfth century. To finally be able to turn the bloody and treacherous page of history, to thus be able to establish a stronger and more sincere union with England and the Sassenachs.
Thanks, Mirino. As always your opinion is very much appreciated, but in this case it was provoked...and needed! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI also thank you for the link reference (1320 Declaration of Abroath). Very interesting.
Thank you Rob.
ReplyDeleteIt goes without saying that yours too are always welcome and appreciated.
One of the most notorious examples of bloody treachery was the Massacre of Glencoe. The Scots never forget, this episode particularly. And one only has to pass through the Valley (glen) of Glencoe, especially when there's low cloud or mist, to feel the sad history that Glencoe is steeped in.
ReplyDelete