Excellent series, Blair, flagging up the holes in the SNP argument, particularly on currency and national bank (Nicola was still arguing the other night that they could borrow money without such a bank). There will be a grateful audience if you continue and develop the newsletter.
You are right about the timing of any referendum but I think there is more for non-nationalists to concern themselves about than that.
in the first instance is the use of the word "independence" which despite its endless use has no clear meaning but carries a distinctly positive aura. Nationalists love it for that reason but any meaningful discussion of actual independence is complicated and in my view the word should not bear the weight of a vital referendum.
In the second place is the fact that most of the debate in 2014 was about how the UK would react to Scotland leaving, This reflects the vital importance of the practical relationship with the UK in Scottish life. The nationalists made a string of unjustified promises to the effect that all the worthwhile bits of the relationship would remain without the irksome commitment. They will do so again.
This means that a confirmatory vote on the withdrawal terms is vital in any future referendum and non-nationalists should start campaigning on that now. The dreadful example of Brexit must be on the public's mind.
Excellent series, Blair, flagging up the holes in the SNP argument, particularly on currency and national bank (Nicola was still arguing the other night that they could borrow money without such a bank). There will be a grateful audience if you continue and develop the newsletter.
You are right about the timing of any referendum but I think there is more for non-nationalists to concern themselves about than that.
in the first instance is the use of the word "independence" which despite its endless use has no clear meaning but carries a distinctly positive aura. Nationalists love it for that reason but any meaningful discussion of actual independence is complicated and in my view the word should not bear the weight of a vital referendum.
In the second place is the fact that most of the debate in 2014 was about how the UK would react to Scotland leaving, This reflects the vital importance of the practical relationship with the UK in Scottish life. The nationalists made a string of unjustified promises to the effect that all the worthwhile bits of the relationship would remain without the irksome commitment. They will do so again.
This means that a confirmatory vote on the withdrawal terms is vital in any future referendum and non-nationalists should start campaigning on that now. The dreadful example of Brexit must be on the public's mind.
Great article