Alex Salmond, leader of the Scottish National Party is pushing for
a referendum in 2014, as David Cameron looks to act quickly. Polls show that
43% of Scottish people wish to remain in the union of the United Kingdom.
The debate of whether or not the union is likely to split will run
for a long time. It is therefore important to look at some key issues that
would be affected if a split were to happen, economically, politically and
socially.
If Scotland were to gain its independence from the United Kingdom
they would wish to keep the British Sterling as their currency, claims Salmond.
Economically, this would mean that the Bank of England would still tightly
control their monetary policy.
A lack for economic independence proved to be the downfall of
Irish, Greek and Portuguese economies over the last few years and Scotland
would put themselves in a similar situation if they were to follow this route.
The other economic alternative would be to join the Euro, though this would
mean that Scotland would adopt the same debt of many Eurozone countries and
would be obligated to contribute to Greek recovery.
One thing going for Scotland is that it controls the North Sea oil
rigs which give it vital capital to trade in Europe and across the world. This
is something the people of Scotland believe would help economic stability if
they were to break from the United Kingdom.
The separation of the United Kingdom could also lead to further
alienation between the people of both countries. The separation of friends and
families would make it more difficult to visit one another if independence was
given to Scotland.
Scotland’s interests are protected by the British armed forces,
though independence would mean funding an entirely new defense program. All
weaponry from the Navy, Army and Air Force will still belong to the United
Kingdom of England, Northern Ireland and Wales. It would also mean that a new
network would be created for a foreign ambassador for every country in the
world.
Scotland’s borders would also come under fire, if it chooses to
sign up to the Schengen Agreement in Europe, its borders will be open to the 25
other European countries for free movement and immigration. If it does not sign
up to the agreement, Scotland will find itself isolated from the single market.
Scottish people would require a passport if they were crossing southern
boarders, due to the UK’s opt out from the Schengen agreement in 1995.
Whatever Scotland decides to do when they come to vote on their
independence, they must look at both the short-term and the long-term impacts
on their economy and society.
Personally I believe the United Kingdom should stay as one, we are
better and stronger together on all things socially and economically. It’s been
300 years; lets make it another 300 years.
Written by: Nicholas Donnelly
WSU International Student
United Kingdom
This post makes assumptions regarding Scotland's constitutional position in relation to the rest of the United Kingdom. The title of the post makes that clear -
ReplyDelete'Scottish independence from the United Kingdom'
Scottish independence is not about separating from anyone or anything. What it is about is the restoration of Scotland's international sovereignty. When Scotland regains its independence the Treaty of Union in 1707 will effectively be DISSOLVED and both Great Britain and the United Kingdom will CEASE to exist.
'The Union of Scotland and England from 1707 (known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain)became in 1801 the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Lane's argument is that Scottish withdrawal from the United Kingdom cannot be compared to the withdrawal of the Irish Free State in 1921-2, which led to the creation and recognition of two sovereign and independent States (the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland in 1937). In contrast, Lane says, Scotland cannot break away like Ireland as it was 'one of the basic building blocks of "the United Kingdom of Great Britain"' (Lane 1991: 146). Without Scotland there is no 'Great Britain' and without Great Britain there is no 'United Kingdom'.'
SOURCE: 'SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE: A Practical Guide' by Jo Eric Murkens with Peter Jones and Michael Keating, p.109, ISBN 0 7486 1699 3.
Independence could NOT be 'given to Scotland' -
'If the Scottish people expressed a desire for independence the stage would be set for a direct clash between what is the English doctrine of sovereignty and the Scottish doctrine of the sovereignty of the people.'
SOURCE: 'The Operation of Multi-Layer Democracy', Scottish Affairs Committee Second Report of Session 1997-1998, HC 460-I, 2 December 1998, paragraph 27.
'All weaponry from the Navy, Army and Airforce will still belong to the United Kingdom of England, Northern Ireland and Wales.'
That is absolute nonsense for two reasons -
1. When Scotland regains its independence those assets will be divided between Scotland and the remainder of the current UK.
2. The United Kingdom of England, Northern Ireland and Wales does not currently exist. It would only be able to inherit that proportion of them as was agreed in the Scottish independence negotiations. Wales is part of the Realm of England and has been since 1284.