This from Holyrood Magazine:
"There isn’t an SNP mandate for a second question, yet Nicola Sturgeon invokes “democracy and fairness” umpteen times to justify its inclusion. But where exactly is the democratic test? As for fairness, it excludes a large number of people who would be profoundly affected by it, but who are not considered as having the right to vote – the English"
The words of an arch-unionist implacably set against separation?
Hardly.
These are the words of the respected senior SNP figure, Jim Sillars. Mr Sillars goes further in this devasting piece in Holyrood Magazine. Read it here:
http://www.holyrood.com/articles/2012/02/13/second-rate-option/.
http://www.holyrood.com/articles/2012/02/13/second-rate-option/.
Is Mr Sillars correct?
Is the referendum Mr Salmond's way of ditching the SNP's most unpopular policy - separation?
No.
ReplyDeleteThats a snp 'NO' absolutely never! sort of maybe Hmm You never know....Well on the other hand in the snps version of “democracy and fairness”(and wanting the wooden spoon) they mean 'YES'.
DeleteConan, You would say that - I have my doubts.
DeleteThe one question about separation which has been almost answered by the SNP regards their policy on currency. I assume you're a wee bit concerned that the SNP were unable (or unwilling) to argue for an 'independent' currency; it doesn't bode well for them when asked about the advantages of separation vis a vis currency they were forced to admit there was none.
Ouch.
Heading for some sort of compromise in short/medium term - yes, ditching a commitment for independence in the long run - no.
ReplyDeleteTo give an Austro-Hungarian comparison, Salmond is playing the Kossuth card (Hungarian independence or bust) whilst being pragmatic and going for the Deak card (get some sort of compromise/Ausgliech). Both men eventually won, Deak in 1867 and Kossuth in 1918.
Remember that Hungary was in union with Austria from 1526------
Talking about Austria-Hungary, did Gramsci as I guess an Italian "unionist" believe that the Italian state should encourage Italian separatist movements in states such as Austria-Hungary? What was his view of his fellow socialist, the Austro-Italian sepratist Cesare Battisti and Austo-Italian unionists such as Rudolf Montecuccoli? What was his view on the partition of the ancient province of the Tyrol on ethnic lines?
Anyhoos, I suppose the Scots has as much right to dictate its place in the UK as the UK seems to think it has the right to dictate its place in the EU--- as according to the right and left we Brits are all apparently Eurosceptics together now against the continent infested with -------
And since it is the hour - a little light music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztwEHwiS9iw&NR=1&feature=fvwp
Fascinating.
DeleteIf you happened to be an undergraduate political history student.
In the meantime, thanks for your comments and I thoroughly enjoyed your musical interlude.
Let me return the favour with this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rXHt2kpEjs
Oh yes.