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Scotland Unveils ‘Landmark Document’ on Independence from Britain Scotland Unveils ‘Landmark Document’ on Independence from Britain
(about 2 hours later)
LONDON — Raising the stakes in its struggle for independence in advance of a referendum next year, the Scottish government on Tuesday unveiled a voluminous prospectus for a new state with its own embassies and identity, but retaining significant bonds to Britain including a common currency — the pound — and allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. LONDON — Raising the stakes in its struggle for independence in advance of a referendum next year, the Scottish government on Tuesday unveiled a voluminous prospectus for a new state that would have its own embassies and identity, but would retain significant bonds to Britain, including a common currency — the pound — and allegiance to Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.
The new nation would strike out on its own in defense and its relationship with Europe, expelling British nuclear submarines from their current Scottish bases and seeking separate membership inNATO and the 28-nation European Union. The new nation would strike out on its own in defense and its relationship with Europe, expelling British nuclear submarines from their Scottish bases and seeking separate membership in NATO and the 28-nation European Union.
“Following a vote for independence we would make early agreement on the speediest safe removal of nuclear weapons a priority,” the 670-page document said. “Following a vote for independence, we would make early agreement on the speediest safe removal of nuclear weapons a priority,” the 670-page document said.
Its publication, 10 months before a referendum on Sept. 18, seemed designed to encourage greater support among Scotland’s five million people, many of whom, according to opinion surveys, are undecided or opposed to independence — a step that would end more than 300 years of union reshape the political landscape north and south of the border with the rest of Britain. Publication of the prospectus on Tuesday, 10 months before the referendum on Scottish independence that is scheduled for Sept. 18, 2014, seemed intended to encourage greater support for the idea among Scotland’s five million people. Opinion surveys indicate that many are undecided or opposed to ending Scotland’s 306-year union with Britain, which would reshape the political landscape north and south of the border.
The latest survey in The Sunday Times of London said 47 percent of Scottish voters were opposed to leaving the United Kingdom, 38 percent were in favor and 15 percent were undecided. The latest survey in The Sunday Times of London said 47 percent of Scottish voters were against leaving the United Kingdom, 38 percent were in favor and 15 percent were undecided.
“If we vote no, Scotland stands still,” the document said. “A once-in-a-generation opportunity to follow a different path, and choose a new and better direction for our nation, is lost. Decisions about Scotland would remain in the hands of others.” “If we vote no, Scotland stands still,” the government document said. “A once-in-a-generation opportunity to follow a different path, and choose a new and better direction for our nation, is lost. Decisions about Scotland would remain in the hands of others.”
But approval would mean that “the most important decisions about our economy and society will be taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is by the people of Scotland.” Approval, it said, would mean that “the most important decisions about our economy and society will be taken by the people who care most about Scotland, that is, by the people of Scotland.”
“The door will open to a new era for our nation. Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands,” it said. Scottish leaders have already said they want independence to come on March 24, 2016 — a historic date commemorating key steps in the fusion of England and Scotland centuries ago. “The door will open to a new era for our nation,” it said. “Scotland’s future will be in Scotland’s hands.” Scottish leaders have already said that they want independence to come on March 24, 2016 — a historic date commemorating key steps in the fusion of England and Scotland centuries ago.
The drive for independence has been led by Alex Salmond, the head of the Scottish National Party that dominates the Scottish authority which has its own government and Parliament under longstanding constitutional measures to grant limited powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The drive for independence has been led by Alex Salmond, the head of the Scottish National Party, which dominates the Scottish regional government, which has its own Parliament under longstanding constitutional measures to grant limited powers to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Mr. Salmond called the proposal “a mission statement and a prospectus for the kind of country we should be and which this government believes we can be.”Mr. Salmond called the proposal “a mission statement and a prospectus for the kind of country we should be and which this government believes we can be.”
“Our vision is of an independent Scotland regaining its place as an equal member of the family of nations. However, we do not seek independence as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better,” he told a ceremony in Glasgow to unveil the document. “Our vision is of an independent Scotland regaining its place as an equal member of the family of nations,” he said at a ceremony in Glasgow to unveil the document. “However, we do not seek independence as an end in itself, but rather as a means to changing Scotland for the better.”
The document said an independent Scotland — a proposal opposed by the major political parties in England — would retain the British pound in a “sterling zone” with other components of the United Kingdom. “The pound is Scotland’s currency just as much as it is the rest of the U.K.'s,” the document said. The document said that an independent Scotland — a proposal opposed by the major political parties in England — would retain the British pound in a “sterling zone” with other components of the United Kingdom. “The pound is Scotland’s currency, just as much as it is the rest of the U.K.'s,” the document said.
That notion was immediately challenged by British politicians who said Scottish leaders could not simply assume that the government in London would agree. That notion was immediately challenged by British politicians, who said Scottish leaders could not simply assume that the government in London would agree.
By seeking to maintain the pound as a common currency, the Scottish authorities seemed to share an antipathy toward the euro, which Britain has long rejected. But while many Scots are seen as favoring membership in the European Union, Britain’s Conservatives, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, display a deep vein of euroskepticism. By seeking to maintain the pound as a common currency, the Scottish authorities seemed to share an antipathy toward the euro, which Britain has long rejected. But while many Scots are seen as favoring continued membership in the European Union, Britain’s Conservative Party, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, displays a deep vein of euro-skepticism. Mr. Cameron has promised a referendum on whether to remain in the European Union if he wins the next election in 2015.
Indeed, Mr. Cameron has promised a referendum on continued membership in the European Union if he wins the next election in 2015. A key point of dispute between London and Edinburgh lies in the financial relationship between Scotland and Britain. British officials say the Scots receive a greater share of government spending, proportional to population, than England does, while some Scots accuse the British authorities of squandering revenue from the oil and gas fields off the Scottish coast in the North Sea.
A key point of dispute between London and Edinburgh lies in the financial relationship between Scotland and Britain, with British officials arguing that Scots receive a proportionately greater share of tax revenues, while some Scotsaccuse British authorities of squandering North Sea oil revenues. Both sides want to persuade Scottish voters that their prosperity will depend on how they vote in the referendum. Danny Alexander, a Scottish member of the British Parliament and a senior figure at the British Treasury, has said that Scots would pay higher taxes in an independent Scotland to maintain public services.
Both sides are seeking to convince Scots that their prosperity will depend on the way they vote in the referendum. Danny Alexander, a Scottish member of the British Parliament and a senior figure at the British Treasury, has said that Scots would pay higher taxes in an independent Scotland to maintain public services. But the document on Tuesday — titled “Scotland’s Future: Your Guide to an Independent Scotland” — declared that “Scotland is a wealthy country and can more than afford to be independent.”
But the document on Tuesday — entitled “Scotland’s future: Your guide to an independent Scotland” — declared that “Scotland is a wealthy country and can more than afford to be independent.”
“Our public finances have consistently been healthier than those elsewhere in the U.K., giving us a strong platform upon which to build economic success,” it said.“Our public finances have consistently been healthier than those elsewhere in the U.K., giving us a strong platform upon which to build economic success,” it said.
The document went into some detail to answer 650 questions about the nature of an independent state. The document addresses 650 questions about the nature of an independent state, often in some detail.
“On independence in 2016 Her Majesty the Queen will be head of state,” it said. A new Scottish Broadcasting Service would replace the British Broadcasting Corporation, but some programs with a strong following, including the East Enders soap opera and the Strictly Come Dancing contest, would continue to be broadcast. “On independence in 2016, Her Majesty the Queen will be head of state,” it said. A new Scottish Broadcasting Service would replace the British Broadcasting Corporation, but some programs with a strong following, including the “EastEnders” soap opera and the “Strictly Come Dancing” contest, would continue to be broadcast.