An open letter to proponents of Scottish independence

[pozorvlak]

I've been living in Scotland for nearly six consecutive years now (around ten years in total), and in that time I've become increasingly open to the ideas that

1. a viable independent Scotland is possible,
2. in the event of Scotland becoming independent, I might well choose to become a Scottish citizen¹.

There's a kind of baseline respect for the life of

Comments

[pozorvlak]

Thank you! The "secessionist region" argument isn't mine, but I can't remember where I first heard it, unfortunately. Still, I've never heard it addressed, and I was hoping someone more knowledgeable than I about EU law and politics would do so here.

[pozorvlak]

I've read and loved several of Charlie Stross' books, and have even met him a couple of times :-) I'll throw this at both of them. Thanks!

[nwhyte]

The EU question is somewhat untested waters. The tidiest solution is for both Scotland and EWNI to be considered as successor states and thus partners in the Treaty. But there are a number of reasons why that might not fly.

On the other hand, if Scotland is regarded as a non-EU member trying to join, then it is in an even easier negotiating position than Iceland, whose talks, to start imminently, will take only a few months; and bridging arrangements for funding programmes can certainly be found in the meantime.

The demonstration effect: elmyra didn't mention that I was also rather closely involved with Montenegro and Kosovo at the time of their independence. One could not describe the general reaction of European states to the news that they have another one in their company as ecstatic. But at the end of the day one has to accept a legal and democratic solution

[pozorvlak]

Interesting - thanks very much! So, you don't take the "secessionist region" possibility seriously, then - or rather, you think it would be outweighed by the other factors you mention?

[necaris]

I'd also be interested in further thoughts on this -- I don't know very much about the general attitude of member states to the EFA's member organizations and their goals.

[nwhyte]

Yes. I think that in the run-up to any referendum there would certainly be senior EU figures who would be easily lured into giving unhelpful quotes to the media, because that's what happens every time. But in the end it's a decision for the people of Scotland.

[wormwood_pearl]

Some excellent and well expressed points here. Many proponents of secession are driven more by their Anglophobia than wanting what's best for Scotland. I think there are good arguments for both staying and going: but maintaining the path of least resistance is probably best (and most likely) for now, IMHO.

[pozorvlak]

Yeah. I'd be really interested to see what would happen if the Scottish Parliament had more power to set taxes and control economic policy north of the border - the current balance of payments is pretty irrelevant with economic policy mostly set to benefit London and the South-East. Greater devolution would probably be a good thing whether or not it led to independence, IMHO.

[susannahf]

Despite living in the south-east, I completely agree with you. If only because the devolved parliaments of Wales and Scotland keep making pretty good decisions (by my personal definition), which can then be used by pressure groups to lobby Westminster.

[andrewducker]

Good piece. I'll be linking to it in my linkpost tomorrow.

[pozorvlak]

Thanks!

[gareth_rees]

I hope that after independence there's some kind of open border agreement, like Schengen. It would be a shame to have to take my passport to visit the Highlands.

[pozorvlak]

Yes, that would be a shame!