So my good mate Jamie asked me the following and I said I would come back on it today: if a third option was a United Federal Republic of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, with the parliament of the UFR relocated from London to say Manchester, would you feel more or less inclined to vote for independence. Personally I dont mind being Scottish and British but London and the south east being in charge along with the antiquated idea of having a monarchy does get on my nerves. The quick answer is yes and no. Yes: because it would be a step in the right direction and would begin to correct some of the considerable complaints I have about the nature of the Westminster Government. No: Because I dont think your proposal goes far enough. I should say, The Scottish Governments White Paper, for me, doesnt go far enough either. There is a lot more that could be done to address issues like gender equality, education and particularly energy policy, some of which I hope will be raised in the next 9 months. So, on balance, No, it wouldnt make me more inclined, as I see myself in a position further beyond what the Yes campaign currently inhabits. The reality however is that A. Your third option is not on the referendum ballot slip and B. It would never be endorsed or proposed by either Labour or The Tories. What we have is a simple choice: Do we stick with a status quo that says we are right to be governed by Westminster, with all its archaic faults and supposed international clout, or do we trust the people who live in Scotland to design a new democracy that better reflects our social, economic and political priorities. I believe that, as uncertain and scary as forging a new nation may be, the status quo is even less certain and even more frightening. I acknowledge the concerns people may have over untethering ourselves from Westminster, but I only ask them to imagine what we could do, should we have the strength of our conviction and fairness as our guiding principal. Neither YES nor NO can tell us exactly what the final design of the political landscape will be, post referendum, Which is why this debate over the currency and EU membership is so moot. What I can see, however, is that in the event of a YES vote, should those negotiations be conducted in the fairest, most open fashion, BOTH Scotland AND the Rest of the UK will emerge stronger and better equipped to succeed in a modern international context. I hope you believe me in this, Jamie: Id never attempt to persuade you, or indeed anyone else. My posts here are entirely designed to offer my view - I trust everyone to make a reasoned decision according to their own personal circumstances and opinions. What I like about discussions with you, not that you necessarily disagree with me, and people like Jo-ann, Ian and others who certainly disagree with me, is that nobody falls out over a difference of opinion or the vehicle with which we deliver progressive policies. Where I have a concern, is that people like Katie Hopkins (who sparked this thread in the first place after her performance on The Wright Stuff) is that without the facts and an an honest discussion on the issues, it becomes an us vs them debate that will take many years to heal, regardless of the outcome. We cant let her views go unchallenged, because it will needlessly divide. I say that as a warning to both sides. Perhaps a broader discussion than you intended Jamie, but does that make sense?
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 11:37:34 +0000