Scottish referendum

Scotland: Degrees of Freedom.

Dewi on January 21, 2012, 12:00 pm

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Devo Max (or Full Fiscal Autonomy) seems to be getting some traction. There’s been two big name proponents over the last week or so. Canon Kenyon Wright wrote to the Herald: My own view is that a straight choice between independence and the status quo effectively disenfranchises a large number of Scots who want neither. Since this is a crucial decision for Scotland’s future governance, that is unacceptable. And: Imagine going into the polling booth in such circumstances and being forced …

Another Post on Scotland…..

Dewi on January 15, 2012, 10:24 am

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A few things: 1) A letter to the Scotsman from Lord Kilclooney (John Taylor): As an Ulster Scot I know there would be concern in Northern Ireland should Scotland vote to leave the United Kingdom. Northern Ireland is not only geographically close to Scotland but shares more with Scotland than with any other country. When the majority in Ireland voted for independence from the UK there were 220,000 people in County Donegal. After independence thousands emigrated back to the UK – …

Unionist forces begin to muster

Brian Walker on January 12, 2012, 10:12 am

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So it’s game on for the early rounds of the referendum campaign. The Westminster government says Alex Salmond can have a binding referendum provided he sticks to a Yes, No question on independence. No fudging over devo max. The UK parties are uniting to save the Union, although the others would like Cameron and the Tories to take a back seat according to the Guardian, for reasons which Alex Salmond himself makes clear in the Independent. They have all but conceded …

A constitutional crisis over a Scottish referendum?

Brian Walker on January 11, 2012, 10:08 am

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Just how serious is the new stand-off between Westminster and Holyrood over a referendum on Scottish independence? I take the view that it’s largely shadow boxing. The two governments will do a deal in the end, even though there’s quite a way to go before it’s clinched. Many believe Cameron boobed badly yesterday by trying to dictate terms.The Guardian covered the other view which holds that it was a bold wheeze from the Chancellor George Osborne. Salmond picked up the gauntlet …

Only a fool would call the Scottish independence referendum at this distance

Gerry Lynch on January 10, 2012, 8:02 am

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“Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled – Scots, wham Bruce has aften led – Welcome to your gory bed. Or to victorie!” Punditry is not an art that suits the modest. Anyone asking people to take time and trouble to read their writing, let alone expecting them to pay for the privilege, is usually best advised to claim some sort of special knowledge or insight that repays the time invested in reading their thoughts. In that context, I suppose I …