The Scottish Government

From reading some of the messages here its pretty clear that many 'nationalists' don't want independence full stop but "independence from England" or else why so keen to be subrogate their newly ‘free’ country into the EU?

At least be honest & admit Scottish independence is often no more than hatred of the English dressed up to look something more grand.

The mental health of a nation, just as with a person, depends on self-esteem. A person must respect themselves to function best and to respect others. A nation that is afraid to run its own affairs is not in the best health. Dependency is not good for confidence. The talent is overflowing, therefore we must take the plunge, remove the shackles and do ourselves justice. We must also accept the consequences.

#260. Ellis Sims (simse01) - Gosport

"their is a majority of people who are English ... but this is one of the reasons why Scotland ... Devolved Assemblys/Parliament, so it is fairer to balence out the Majority Question"

Regrettably it doesn't balance though. Scotland can only govern effectively on devolved matters; other issues such as "West Lothian" and "English" questions have been raised and continue to cause dissatisfaction and anger in England. The inequity continues. Also Consider the complete lack of support for nuclear weapons amongst Scottish MPs and MSPs yet continued imposition by Westminster, hardly surprising in the light of the MP figures.

Of course the numbers of MP's can hardly be altered in any sort of democratic manner, therefore independence is the only way to resolve the inequity.

Regards
Alasdair Martin

unionists have run scotland for decades and scotland has not prospered.time for independence folks.

Craig Cook, i can only say that i think that we both share the Exact same views when it comes down to Independence.

That the fact it will be the Greatest mistake this Country/Contries will ever make.

As to a response to Gavin Thompson's statement; what on earth are you thinking???

For a start, what is this "engagement" you talk about, the "engagement with Europe and the rest of the world". You mean the kind of European and Global engagement on the level of Bulgaria, Czech Republic or Greece?

Scotland deserves FAR better than this, it deserves to be part of its greater being (forgive me for being a lil bit Philosophical), its greater 'being', being Britain. To say that Scots were being controlled by Brits would be correct, after all, Scotland IS British. What you say about "North Britain" and such, i never agreed with, i do believe that Craig Cook has said that it is important to be BOTH not one or the other, like an American is both for e.g. Californian AND American or how a Spanaird can be both Catalese AND Spanish.

Its best for Scotland to be Scottish yet British at the same time. The short falls which have come about this country (Britain) are not to do with Unionism but with the Government which runs it, its just insane to think that Independence will solve problems which can be easily fixed while in the Union.

Get back to me

:)

The Scots and English will always be 'British' because we live on the island of Britain and within the British Isles
The meaning of the word 'British' will simply change
eip_enquiries@yahoo.com

ref # 257,258 Murdo, thankyou for your contribution. You have said it all. Only by confronting the hard realities can we move forward together with those other countries which make up the British Isles.

Having worked and lived in both England and Wales as well as overseas independence for Wales, England and Scotland can only have a positve impact on the values and quality of life we largely share. Its only when we resort to the blame game that relations sour.

Its the hubris of the political establishments in the respective countries that is the stumbling block to the creation of a more relevant political construct for the British Isles.

With our friends south of the border now, in increasing numbers, wishing us well there is a window of opportunity opening up that the politicians ignore at their peril. We need only look at what is going on in Belgium where self seeking politicians have destroyed any good will left between the seperate cultures which have coexisted for over a hundred and fifty years.

#97

"You say the Scottish and English identities are equal, but presumably the English are more equal than others, since it is they that run the Westminster government that controls Scotland,Wales and Ireland"

Ah... actually they dont control Ireland Gavin

Hello Craig

Refereshing to see that you were moved by my last missive. I merely followed the logic of your own argument to its conclusion. There was no intention to make a 'personal' attack.

I can only comment on what you actually write, and you're comments in response to my earlier response about xenophobia did not imply a denial. All you did say was that 'the majority of Scots are also Euro-sceptic'. I put it to you that the majority of Scots are now 'Brito-sceptic' and becoming increasingly so, as time goes on.

As part of the EU laws affecting Scotland will increasingly emanate from Europe, not Westminster. Most Scots do not see that as a bad thing. After all, we have a democratic deficit now in relation to reserve powers. Frankly, I have more faith in European principles of fairness than anything ever likely to come out of Westminster.

I understand that you consider your self both Scottish and British. I have absolutely no quarrel with that. It is how that view translates to practical government that matters however. We already have extensive devolution. You have already said you agree with that and with the possibility of further powers. What I can't get my head round is this problem with transferring all powers - surely it's just a little bit more of the same?

The only difference is that Scotland would no longer be politically dependent on England.

I have never said that 'you cannot truly be Scottish unless you marry yourself to everything Scottish'. I have in fact said the opposite - some of the strongest Scottish Nationalists I know were born and bred in the South of England. The reason they are Scottish nationalist is because they are sick and tired of this 'british is best' mantra that prevents Britain truly engaging as an equal with other countries in Europe and the rest of the world.

My nationalism is not about 'isolation', but about being able to properly engage with the rest of Europe and the world again. Sadly, this philosophy is alien the ruling elite of Britain, evidenced by the widespread euro-scepticism you speak of and support.

Of course, not all Scots and indeed not all Scottish Nationalists agree with this philosophy. I do not regard them any less for it. I think they are misguided, and will strive to persuade them by power of argument and logic.

You mention all the famous Scots that supported the unionist parties at the Holyrood election. Why not also mention the press that were almost universally opposed to nationalism ? Being famous or having control over the media does not make you right. Alex McLeish may be popular, but I don't think many people regard him as a 'political' guru.

You then delve into some spectacular fantasy when you say that. 'Even in the days when ‘Britishness’ was stronger a strong sense of ‘Scottishness’ always existed'.

Within living memory we had the 'North British' hotel in Glasgow and the 'North British' railway. That sense of Scottishness was pretty well smothered by the British Empire. The growth in nationalism has corresponded with the universal franchise, from 1918 onwards and accelerated with the decline of the British empire from 1945.
Scots played a huge part in running the Empire. Don't get me wrong I agree that in the past being politically part of Britain was of value. But these days have gone, as a nation we need to move on.

Regards a referendum you say '...the SNP ‘government’ should spend its time doing what it was elected to do, that is govern Scotland on devolved matters'. This is wrong in fact. The SNP manifesto is to not just to run the Scottish government but to represent Scottish interests. That may grate a little, but there it is - they won't allow Westminster to just walk all over us.

Given the assumed power of Unionist arguments I am a little surprised by your reticence regarding holding a referendum. Surely it would settle the matter for a generation or so anyway ?

You say it makes no sense in a small world for the countries of Britain to go their separate ways. But it's also a world where civil rights are more important than ever, and the old empires are spltting up e.g the USSR. Even countries like France and Spain have had to concede ever more devolution.

Expressing greater national political rights goes hand in hand with greater economic interdependence and is not contrary to it.

You are of course perfectly entitled to your views, but they are fundamentally flawed, and I will continue to strive to persuade you of that.

Awrabest

As a proud young scot, i feel that the break up of whats left of the british empire is coming near and i am all for it. I dont have a problem with english people, but im scottish and their english, times have changed! we are just slow at realising it! i find a lot of older generations still feel british because of WW2 etc, however us younger generations have a vision and we want to make it happen, its all our futures we are talking about. the british empire will never be what it was, lets move forward into this new age and show what we can offer the world.