Why we want to stay in the United Kingdom? Within Edinburgh, the Royal Mile, has been known not only as one of the most historical places in the whole of Europe but for the last five decades has hosted the many visitors and artists to the city’s’ Festival of Arts and Culture. As I walked, along it today it was fantastic to see such a vibrant city and it made me sad to wonder what the Festival may turn out like at this time next year. This annual art-festival continues well into every evening during the month of August and one of the main centrepieces is the wonderful military parade – the “Tattoo”. It is a beautiful performance of military expertise honed from the friendship primarily within the commonwealth countries to the United Kingdom. It is one of the many sophisticated examples of the United Kingdom working well together. Recently, we all watched the debate with PM of Scotland, Alex Salmond, and Ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alastair Darling. With less than five weeks left until the referendum on Independence of Scotland for me it was a truly sobering and terrifying glimpse of our possible future should Scotland exit the United Kingdom? This big issues and questions surrounding an Independent Scotland are still unanswered. What about population who would like to be remain as UK citizens? What currency will be used? What will be the value of the pound (or whatever) in our pocket? What will happen to our Pensions? What will happen to our armed forces? The SNP party are loud and scream on the streets, on the internet and on any available opportunity about Independence for Scotland, but they never answer the fundamental questions. Jibes to anyone who disagrees with them centre on being unpatriotic, tory lovers or being tied to England in some fashion. Mob rule comes to mind as a phrase to describe them. They simply do not have any clue as to what it is actually going to be like being out with the UK. They almost drown whole country in the uncertainty they have created. On March 14th, I went to support “Better together campaign”, which was held in Edinburgh Conference Centre. I saw many Scottish people who were young, middle age or senior elderly and most were Conservative party supporters and members. The debate centred on how we should all stand up together in the upcoming September referendum. The main speaker was the Rt Hon PM David Cameron. I certainly valued his passion and patriotic mood. I am sure he will continue his hard work to bring the country back to its feet from catastrophic economic crisis and shambolic time of the previous left wing government who made such a mess with this country. On his speech, HE PM David Cameron said “Clans of Scotland please come together to fight for brighter future and to safer Great Britain…” After debate with ex-chequer Alastair Darling, the first Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond said “This opportunity for Scotland. This is our moment, let’s take it!” As ever empty rhetoric with no facts. Much of their so-called arguments imply that a Yes vote will make everyone richer and it is distressing that the SNP followers naively believe this when simple economics dictate the opposite. They are part of this historical moment. They are given a choice. However, before they vote they should think very hard about what unity has delivered for the last 307 years. What were the main reasons to be united – economic and political stability!! Has it worked – undoubtedly!! Before choosing any sides, they have to stop and think about the many aspects of the outcome. Monumental changes are always long and painful process. The Country will be on its knees for decades as uncertainty and lack of confidence in business takes hold. Overspending by the socialist leaning SNP will deliver crippling public finances. I think I am correct in saying that every country in the world that has gained independence has struggled and the people have suffered. Past three years has been recently very difficult for small and big business companies. So many opportunities were closed down, so many young and intelligent people, some of them jobless, left country for good. Moreover, this numbers are rising, with uncertainty in political situation in Scotland. Population of Scotland is only 5 million compare with whole United Kingdom, together populations are 65 million, any economist without any skills could say: hang on, what about completely tax issues, where mostly Scotland could gain so much profit from this. Very clear massage to anyone who is working hard and still undecided, please vote for better future of our families and kids. Living in capitalist society, we should consider about, what we are aiming to achieve and what we are going to lose with separation? The economic issue is undoubtedly the Big Issue. I am now settled in the UK for almost thirteen years after being originally from Kyrgyzstan. I myself was brought up in Soviet system until the early 1990’s when the whole system virtually collapsed in one night as the USSR dissolved and Kyrgyzstan became Independent. On first reflection trying to draw the parallels to my previous experience of Independence gaining are very hard. However, as time passes the parallels become evident. Ideologically I was brought up in a perfect value system, where everyone should be equal, happy, and proud to be Soviet child - that was the main agenda. We all had wonderful free education, we all dreamed to be members of Communist party, achieve more, build together much better future. Unfortunately, everything suddenly disappeared in a blink of an eye. The Economy that was set up and build by Soviet system for almost seventy years had to change from a Soviet centrally controlled system with a strong underlying black-market system into a market economy. In one night, when the currency “rouble” devalued, people’s lives simple turned into a chaos. Poverty was everywhere in a month. Some people lost everything and most of all people lost hope for the future. My generation were only in second term at the University. We went through toughest and challenging times. I remember how shops were empty in a week. Our parents were jobless suddenly, who previously had moved in high society as fine communists. Process of Independence in Kyrgyzstan arrived with so many dreadful difficulties - we did not have any choice. Now, almost more than 20 years of Independent Kyrgyzstan, already went through two painful revolutions to fight for the democracy and suppose to thrive and flourish under first and second presidents, both end up run away and left empty budgets to our countries. In addition, that is only the small part for the big and painful changes, independent issue. I still feel until those days in my deep memories. Never going to forget either chaotic period of the slow recovery countries of the rest of the Ex-SSSR. Even though I moved to different country for better future for my family , where I rebuild everything from scratch, terrifies me till this days, whole “ Independence” things. One is more than enough for me, in my lifetime, I guess. I hope that after 18th of September, we still be one fantastic great country including Scotland as well. To learn value of our neighbours and value of the British economy and pound! No offence, no doubt about SNP party. They should exist, but in a different form. I certainly do not want to repeat the false ideology and definitely not going to support Independence of Scotland. I would like to see this country as a future to my kids and family, which I could do my best, work harder. Human’s right in British policy is one of the things that I respect most. And all ex-pats just like myself, who came to the UK have built their lives from scratch and they still hope people of Scotland will vote to make them welcome and make them willing to stay as British. I certainly do not want to see empty shops, which happened after Soviet Union collapsed. Soviet ideology field badly. Lesson to be learned. Never forgot about how many intelligent, very clever, academic’s, scientists were searching in rubbish bin’s something for themselves. How humiliating is that! Alternatively, elderly people who left in hospitals without electricity, hot water, without pensions, which they work and they did, earned for themselves. I will hope for better future and success for campaigners of “No, thanks”! I hope that we would not fail miserably, as I do not want to even imagine how many clever, young, and talented people will leave this country for good. They will search strong politically, economically better countries. How many embassies should be reopened, in what taxpayer’s money? Prime minister of Scotland Alex Salmond loves making smart witty sound bites – his favourite is “There are more pandas in Scotland rather than Conservative party MP’s” as may be – but does this not simply show that he loathes another political party and that is no credential to be purporting as to how a country should progress. However, let us hope that young people, including hardworking emigrants who have the rights to vote help us to stay together in the United Kingdom. Not this time, and not in our watch. Sorry, PM of Scotland for the “yes” campaigners. My simple answer “No, thanks! “. Written by Shahsanem Murray. Edited by Gordon Murray
Posted on: Thu, 14 Aug 2014 09:41:04 +0000
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