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Alex Salmond
Thus, according to the Scottish National Party, the four million Scots will be presented with the question: “Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?” The step he has taken is seen by many analysts as a personal match with the British prime minister David Cameron, who had said last month that it was the prerogative of the British parliament to decide on matters related to the referendum, and that it was London which should approve such a referendum, its conditions and timing.
In his approach of the matter last month, Cameron had suggested that the referendum on Scotland’s independence be held as soon as possible, and that the question to be asked to be simple and to require a “yes” or “no” answer.
He argued that the more the matter is delayed, the more Scotland loses because of the economic uncertainty such an endeavor entails. The underlying reasons for such a hurry seem to be connected to the fact that as of now Salmond does not have enough supporters of his cause to break the 1707 Union Act by which the two countries were bound together.
More then that, it would appear that the appetite of the Scots for complete independence is even lower, as many favor what came to be known as “devo max,” that is maximum devolution, which is merely a larger autonomy inside the British Crown.
While the British PM wanted the people to be asked whether they wanted to break away from the Union, the Scottish First Minister argues in favor of allowing the Scots to have a third way. The idea of a dynastic union was brought into discussion, with the point of reference being Commonwealth realms such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Jamaica.
Alex Salmond rejected the British pressure put on him by the prime minister and announced on Wednesday that the deadline for public consultation on his proposition was May.
He said that he could agree to include a devo max question, such as whether the people agreed to have foreign affairs and defense run by London, and also agreed that the UK Electoral Commission should run the referendum, but without granting it the prerogative to set or authorize the question to be asked.
Salmond argued that the referendum continues the effort of the Scottish kingdoms of preserving their independence over the last millenium, and added that the date of the referendum would be during the 700th anniversary of the Scottish victory over English in 1314, at Bannockburn.
With the most optimistic polls showing that 60 percent of the people would vote against his bid for independence, Salmond is presenting the Scots with the prospect of an England and Scotland prospering as equal partners rather than colonial power and dominion, respectively.
As for the continuing sharing of the same currency, the first minister said that the independent Scotland could continue to have the sterling pound as national currency, if it wanted so, because Scotland has values that could contribute to the value of the pound, such as oil and gas reserves, whisky and other trade mark that make them valuable on the international market.
The contribution Scotland could make, he said, was significant enough to have any Chancellor of the Exchequer convince the Britons to accept Scotland inside the pound area.
By asserting that, the first minister retorted to a question raised by Labor party representatives, who were demanding whether remaining in the area of the pound wouldn’t mean that London has an important saying in the economic matters. He explained that as long as Scotland has a significant contribution to the value of the pound, London will have to treat Scotland as partner.
When the separation talks began, one of the question was whether Scotland could adhere to the eurozone. Some argued that not only it could not adhere to the eurozone, but that it would not even become a member of the European Union automatically.
It is said that if Scotland becomes completely independent from England, and the United Kingdom ceases to exist, Scotland would have to undertake the same procedure the other countries have undertaken, that is to negotiate its adherence to the union.
Only then, Scotland would be able to pose the question of the eurozone, but in the eurozone would have to be admitted after it passes economic steps.
The question Salmond proposes is considered by many people in Scotland, including politicians, who demanded that the British government interfered to change the question, which is considered “loaded and biased.”
Salmond’s question is considered loaded because it practically pushes the voters toward accepting a radical separation of England and Scotland.
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