Alphen,
Netherlands. 22 October. Listening to
Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond on the the BBC Sunday morning one could
have been forgiven for thinking he was in charge of Scotland’s destiny. That of
course is precisely the impression he likes to give. His performance was the very epitome of the
hubris and arrogance of which he accuses Westminster and which he says does so
much damage to Scotland and its people.
He also gave the very firm impression that not only will he and his
fellow separatists win the September 18, 2014 referendum on Scottish
independence but he will also dictate the terms of the political settlement with
the United Kingdom thereafter.
As a part
Scot let me immediately disabuse Mr Salmond of his political fantasy. Mr Salmond has successfully denied his fellow
Britons a say on the most important constitutional issue facing my country for
over three hundred years. Come next
September I will insist on my say on Scotland’s relationship with my country
should the Scottish people choose for secession.
So here are
my terms for a political settlement between a Salmond-led independent Scotland and
the rest of the United Kingdom:
1. Scottish independence to mean full independence;
2. Her Majesty the Queen to be removed as Head of the Scottish state;
3. The Pound Sterling to be withdrawn as the currency of the Scottish
state with the Bank of England no longer the bank of last resort for failed
Scottish banks;
4. Scottish citizens to be denied the right to serve in the British
armed forces as Scotland will be neither a Commonwealth nor NATO member;
5. Scotland to be treated like any other aspirant state to EU
membership. That will mean should the
new Scottish Government apply for EU membership Edinburgh must fulfil all the
terms demanded of an Accession state and thus all 80,000 pages of the acquis communautaire;
6. Until Scotland accedes to the European Union Scottish citizens to
have the same rights to work in the United Kingdom as citizens of any other
aspirant state. That would mean all Scots would be required to have a full
working permit or have to leave the UK like any other non-EU migrant;
7. The British-Scottish border to be established as an external
border of the European Union.
There would
of course need to be safeguards for those Scots working or settled permanently
in the United Kingdom and for Britons living in Scotland. However, the Scottish people must understand
once and for all that Mr Salmond's bogus claim that a vote for independence
would have no negative implications must be seen for what it is; utter
nonsense.
And just
for the record – much of ‘Scotland’s’ oil is actually British. Under international law maritime energy
rights are established by extending land borders. Just look at a map, Mr Salmond.
Being part
Scot my respect for the Scotland’s people and culture is profound and heartfelt
and it is my hope that a deal could be arrived at fair to all. However, I do not believe that possible so
long as Mr Salmond is at the Edinburgh helm.
So Mr Salmond, be honest with the Scottish people. It is the rest of us in the United Kingdom
who will ultimately decide Scotland’s fate.
Independence
for Yorkshire! That is much more viable.
Julian
Lindley-French
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