In Conservative Party Forum: Scottish independence
Hamish Macdonald
12 days ago
I am a native Scot, proud member of Clan Donald and whose father campaigned tirelessly for greater Scottish devolution
( domestic Scottish affairs to be decided by Scots in Scotland and now achieved), but live in England. Both my father and I valued and wished to remain in the Union which of course shares the same monarch.
Scotland is a small, sparsely populated nation with a truly global population. The people need a larger stage. The Union offered just that with a shared language and long history together.
There is the proposal for a second referendum in Scotland which should be refused and certainly not countenanced until Brexit has fully settled down.
If and when it does take place, there must be attention as to what electorate is appropriate. In the referendum non Scottish natives with property in Scotland had a vote but native born Scots residing elsewhere in the UK were not included. That is unacceptable. Scotland was my land of birth and I expect to remain Scottish with full rights which should include complete equality with my fellow nationals. I want a say in what happens and feel at least as entitled as all the non Scottish voters.
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Shantanu Panigrahi
a few seconds ago
Thank you Hamish for a pleasant exposition of your personal circumstances in relation to the issue of Scottish independence.
From my personal experience, the concept of birth-right citizenship has seemingly evaporated in the past 40 years. I am a citizen of the United Kingdom but wished to explore the possibility of returning to my home country where I was born (India) to see if I could follow a career that I developed some specialism in but found that the Indian government does not automatically restore a person to birthright Indian citizenship and an Indian passport. After 20 years of trying to do so, I came to the view point that home is where the heart is. One cannot have a foot in each camp. If a person has made strides to accommodate himself or herself in the United Kingdom that should be irrevocable in international law. This is borne out from my personal circumstances. So, you need to chose where you live. There should be no scope for dual nationality in international law.
So I do not believe that as a resident of England or what is the rest of the United Kingdom outside Scotland, that you should have any vote in Scottish referendum if it was to be held again with or without the assent of Westminster.
Peaceful transition is the vital evolutionary process to adhere to. One should never be afraid to let the Scottish people have a second referendem. But to make it legitmate there should be two referendums within Scotland, the first to ask the primary question of whether the present 18 plus Scottish people do want a second referendum so soon after the first one, If this comes up with a two-thirds majority that says Yes the population wishes this second referendum. Then only the Scottish government should approach the Westminister for permission to hold a referendum that would be enforceable in international law so that in the eventuality that Scotland does vote for independence on a simple 50.1 per cent majority of the electorate, Scotland can get recognistion as a State in the United Nations.
This procedure is needed to prevent self-serving politicians of the Scottish National Party manipulating the electoral process and enforcing the independence on dubious legal arguments. The process outlined should be tested in the Courts of Scotland and the at the Royal Courts of Justice in Strand, London before even the preliminary referendum is held.
There is further no need for any delays such as letting Brexit settle down before a dictatorial Prime Minister in Westminster plays his own political games to work towards the legacy he wishes to leave as Prime Minister.
Regards
Shantanu
