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Peter Jones: Referendum on independence: is it to be or not to be?

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Published Date: 23 September 2009
REFERENDA, let's face it, are a political tactic. Political parties that propose them, and those that reject them, do so for tactical, political reasons.
When that is understood, it becomes a lot easier to see why the Scottish Liberal Democrats and their leader, Tavish Scott, are getting into a muddle over a referendum on Scottish independence.

Indeed, the party is in a terrible mess over this iss...



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  • Last Updated: 22 September 2009 11:14 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Peter Jones
 
1

State of Independence,

23/09/2009 00:48:36
It will be.

If you want the full comment on this article hand over some dosh.

Only joshing, we will have our referendum.
2

Tynietiger,

23/09/2009 08:03:09
The Brit Nats along with their friends in the English Defence League can't grasp that freedom is a noble thing.
3

Auld Twa,

Edinburgh 23/09/2009 10:45:00
For those who are opposed to independence we would like to mention that the Norwegian oil fund has now reached £258 billion, its highest ever. The UK now has a budget deficit of £175 billion.
Norway's oil fund also owns about 1% of all the companies in the world !
A pretty good effort for a small independent country. We have no doubt someone who will find that there is a problem with all this wealth, and that we are better staying put and enjoying the union dividend.
4

Gregor Addison,

Glasgow 23/09/2009 16:11:34
To be, if democracy has its day; not to be, if Labour, the Lib Dems, and Tories have their way. We have had the Calman Commission foisted upon us - a knee-jerk reaction from Wendy Alexander to the SNP win in 2007 - and a Commission, therefore, that was not in any of the Unionists election campaigns. No-one voted for Calman, though we are told we cannot have a vote on its proposals. Even the Lib Dems (who you'd think would champion democracy, given the clue is in their name) don't beleive we should have a vote on Calman, or Independence. So if the Unionist parties have their way, the answer will be "not to be".

While we're on Shakespeare, I can't help but look at Jim Murphy (or Iain Gray) and his rhetoric without thinking he is:

a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

The sound and the fury of the Unionists really does often amount to nothing. Every time Labour launch an attack they seem to have convinced themselves it is the last nail in the coffin of the SNP, the great attack that will sink the government; witness last year's budget, the Megrahi affair, the recent GARL issue. Labour are unable to contextualize and see themselves as ithers see them (another bard - sorry).

 

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