Have your say on Scotland going it alone
Although the question of Scottish independence has been simmering in the background for some years we are finally waking up to the fact it is well and truly upon us and real debate is here. The negotiations last week between the First Minister for Scotland Alex Salmond, The Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore and the Prime Minister, David Cameron have indeed made headlines over the past few weeks. What is certain is that we have to confront the situation and there will be a referendum but how and when is still to be decided. Alex Salmond and the Scottish National Party (SNP) want to delay until 2014 whilst the UK Government want to go ahead with the referendum next year. Salmond also wants a second option to be included in the referendum, the offer of 'Home Rule or Devo-Max' whilst the government favour one 'in - out' simple question. Currently there are public consultations going on to inform the resolution of these issues. This is an important chance to have our say and we must take it.
When I over hear conversations about the Scottish question in England, it's usually goes ''who cares, it's not England's problem, let the Scots have it if they want it.'' I take issue with this attitude. Firstly there is the presumption that all Scots probably want independence. The media is partly to blame for this by presenting Scottish politics as dominated by the SNP view despite figures suggesting only about a third of Scots favour independence. Secondly there is the presumption that people in England and indeed Wales and Northern Ireland don't have an opinion and won't be affected by it. I am in the unusual position myself of being a Scots born half Chinese, half Scottish person living in England and the Scottish Question certainly is something I care about. Scotland is a key part of my identity, half my family are there and I care that we have a strong and successful Scotland.
As a Liberal Democrat I am naturally a federalist. The devolution experiment has been successful and I am firmly in favour of Home Rule and devolving more powers to Scotland to enable a fully functioning Parliament. I depart sharply when it comes to full independence because I believe it will weaken Scotland. The reality is the UK's armed forces would have to withdraw leaving the closure of military bases and jobs under threat in the defence and shipbuilding industries. More worrying is the currency question. If Scotland kept the pound sterling it would effectively be in a common currency with a foreign country (England) whose central bank naturally would dictate interest rates to the advantage of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Joining the Euro would mean that the Scottish budget would be monitored from Brussels and its interest rates set in Frankfurt, defeating the SNP's aim of giving Scottish people greater control over finance. In addition, Britain's enviable position as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council gives the Union the best chance to contribute positively to international affairs. Scotland would lose this.
The above points have been made by many others several times. What has been less documented and what I want to touch on here are the less tangible yet important cultural and identity implications of having an independent Scotland. For me, the idea of Scottish independence threatens to pose an identity crisis. I always think of myself and describe myself as being British. Although I am half Scottish and was born there I have lived in England since I was three and consider my roots to be in the 'United Kingdom.' The term 'British' for me is also about multi-culturalism, and being born to a Chinese father, I feel at home in 'Britain.' If the Union which has been successful and prospered for over 300 years is broken up then the idea of 'Britain' or the United Kingdom is no more.
In a divorce it takes two sides to come to an agreement and both voices involved in the marriage must be heard. Although this is unlikely to happen, my preference would be for both sides to be heard in a referendum. This marriage is 'our' United Kingdom and would be fair for all parties, so England, Wales Northern Ireland as well as Scotland to have a say on whether we divorce.
There are many questions left to answer on the nature of the referendum, independence and what Home Rule should and could look like. I would be really interested to hear your views and what you think about my comments; you can email them to info@chineselibdems.org.uk. Remember, you can make your voice heard on the future of Scotland and the United Kingdom. The outcomes are far from certain and we have a chance to shape them by taking part in the consultations and making our voices heard. There is both a UK Government consultation which closes on the 9th March and a Scottish Government Consultation which closes on the 11th May:
UK Government Consultation: www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/scotlandoffice/16424.html
Scottish Government Consultation: consult.scotland.gov.uk