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.
Thanks Keith. I think Brexit is so important to the framing of the argument, not just as a cautionary tale, but also, as you say, at a more philosophical level about whether independence has any real meaning in an interdependent world.
Thanks Blair. I certainly wish non-nationalist politicians would stop using the word "independence" in the way nationalists do.
The most important point I made was about the need for a confirmatory vote. As you will know the 2014 campaign was based on lies that nearly all the benefits of the union could be kept without the commitment. Salmond was the principal perpetrator but Sturgeon was at his side all the way. She will repeat these if she gets the chance.
We need a broad-based campaign starting now to ensure that any vote is followed by a second referendum on the withdrawal terms. This is a basic precaution any sane person would take buying something online. Even if this campaign failed it provides a basis for rejecting the false claims that are already being made.
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.
Thanks Bill. I'm definitely keeping it going. Just thinking of how to build on it.
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.
Thanks Keith. I think Brexit is so important to the framing of the argument, not just as a cautionary tale, but also, as you say, at a more philosophical level about whether independence has any real meaning in an interdependent world.
Thanks Blair. I certainly wish non-nationalist politicians would stop using the word "independence" in the way nationalists do.
The most important point I made was about the need for a confirmatory vote. As you will know the 2014 campaign was based on lies that nearly all the benefits of the union could be kept without the commitment. Salmond was the principal perpetrator but Sturgeon was at his side all the way. She will repeat these if she gets the chance.
We need a broad-based campaign starting now to ensure that any vote is followed by a second referendum on the withdrawal terms. This is a basic precaution any sane person would take buying something online. Even if this campaign failed it provides a basis for rejecting the false claims that are already being made.
Great article
Thanks Robert