“Scotland has been gearing itself up to follow the Irish example….”
Great quote from David Marquand in a powerful round up on Our Kingdom… Here’s his unkindest cut to the Unionist lobby:
As Norman Davies shows in his extraordinary Vanished Kingdoms, states, like human beings, are mortal. Some die peacefully; some do so in a welter of blood. But, sooner or later, they all die. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the immediate predecessor of the present United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, died when the 26 counties of southern Ireland seceded to form the state we now know as the Irish Republic. For a quarter of a century, Scotland has been gearing itself up to follow the Irish example. I doubt if it will do so immediately. Fudging and mudging will probably save the Union for a little longer. But the supply of fudge is running out.
David Marquand, decent man, an arch europhile of the old school who believes that English euophobia contrasts with Scottish and Welsh warmer feelings for the EU, Might this belief rest on an illusion that smaller poorer countries may get more dosh than bigger ones after Greece?. He’s also a fine exemplar of the age of managed British decline and is gloomy about UK politics. I don’t see how this cuts anything much .
He’s also not taking account of the sovereignty debate in the Republic which is almost paralysing in its effect…
To be fair, the referendum is a hard race to call. But I don’t think it will ever become a republic. That’s a scaremongering tactic pushed about by ‘extreme’ unionists. If Scotland does choose to go it alone, they will still continue to have links with England – and Ireland for that matter. Its only border will be with England, and no doubt they will continue to trade.
The fact that Scotland (and Wales) is largely rural, and even coastal, the country might come out the better in terms of EU subsidies? It can’t get any less than it currently gets.
Another unionist scaremongering cry is whether or not an independent Scotland would enter the EU. It could be blocked by some nations, but no other country has broken up while being a member of the EU, so who knows? They will enter that Union soon after, and will have to adopt the Euro (eventually).
Brian
It’s a bit off topic, but I’m wondering if you could answer five simple questions for me?
Why should he Mick?
Scotland’s a separate country.
When Britain or rather Britannia left the Roman Empire it was a cold impoverished land on the periphery of the empire that was eventually bailed out by the Germans.
Should I say more?
It’s a bit strange to look in the great context of things.
This is an interesting insight!
Galloglaigh
‘… no other country has broken up while being a member of the EU, so who knows?’
Greenland was formerly part of the EU, when it was part of the Kingdom of Denmark. However, it left the EU (or EEC) upon gaining home rule in 1985.
I believe it’s the only political unit of any kind to have left the EU/EEC, but I suppose it does provide a precedent, for those who would wish to suggest that Scotland’s EU membership would be unaffected by independence.
Of course, Greenland WANTED to leave the EEC.