Scotland and Europe continued
It isn't just Scotland and the rest of the UK who will have a lot of challenges as a result of tomorrow's Scottish Independence referendum, whichever way it goes.
Brussels is, if anything, even more alarmed than London, though most of them have the sense to realise that the best thing they could do is keep quiet. But there is a very interesting article here on the ITV News website.
I wrote that most of them are keeping quiet and trying to appear neutral but as the article reports, the Spaniards are not: the Spanish PM described Scottish Independence yesterday as
“a torpedo aimed at the European spirit”.
Yesterday his Europe minister spoke of a delay of at least five years before Scottish readmission, and even then only on the proviso that Edinburgh commit to joining the Euro, joining Schengen and losing its share of the UK budget rebate.
And these are not empty threats, because Spain (like each of the 28 members) has an absolute right of veto over the admission of any new member. The reason Spain is seriously upset about the Scottish Referendum is the impact on Catalonia.
On Friday the Catalan Government in Barcelona is to pass a law authorising a non-binding referendum (referred to as a a ‘public consultation’) on separation from Spain, scheduled for November 9.
The timing is no accident.
Just five days ago 1.8 million people were on the streets of Barcelona demanding to be given the same opportunity as Scotland to decide their future.
And it's not just Spain. On the very day that Scotland votes, Flemish separatists are to rally on the streets of Brussels demanding the break-up of Belgium.
If Scotland votes "Yes" tomorrow I will deeply regret it but we must respect their decision and work to make the separation as harmless as possible. I don't believe that the remainder of the UK should try to make things more difficult for Scotland - though that does not mean we should agree to things which are not in Scottish or UK interests, such as sharing the pound without a common fiscal policy.
But there will be ramifications all over Europe. And it won't just be with the rest of the UK that an independent Scotland would have some very difficult negotiations to conduct.
Brussels is, if anything, even more alarmed than London, though most of them have the sense to realise that the best thing they could do is keep quiet. But there is a very interesting article here on the ITV News website.
I wrote that most of them are keeping quiet and trying to appear neutral but as the article reports, the Spaniards are not: the Spanish PM described Scottish Independence yesterday as
“a torpedo aimed at the European spirit”.
Yesterday his Europe minister spoke of a delay of at least five years before Scottish readmission, and even then only on the proviso that Edinburgh commit to joining the Euro, joining Schengen and losing its share of the UK budget rebate.
And these are not empty threats, because Spain (like each of the 28 members) has an absolute right of veto over the admission of any new member. The reason Spain is seriously upset about the Scottish Referendum is the impact on Catalonia.
On Friday the Catalan Government in Barcelona is to pass a law authorising a non-binding referendum (referred to as a a ‘public consultation’) on separation from Spain, scheduled for November 9.
The timing is no accident.
Just five days ago 1.8 million people were on the streets of Barcelona demanding to be given the same opportunity as Scotland to decide their future.
And it's not just Spain. On the very day that Scotland votes, Flemish separatists are to rally on the streets of Brussels demanding the break-up of Belgium.
If Scotland votes "Yes" tomorrow I will deeply regret it but we must respect their decision and work to make the separation as harmless as possible. I don't believe that the remainder of the UK should try to make things more difficult for Scotland - though that does not mean we should agree to things which are not in Scottish or UK interests, such as sharing the pound without a common fiscal policy.
But there will be ramifications all over Europe. And it won't just be with the rest of the UK that an independent Scotland would have some very difficult negotiations to conduct.
Comments
Like i said before, I see this referendum as a bit of a "warm up" for a possible EU referendum, so have been keeping a keen eye on both campaigns to see what we can learn.
Now no doubt the No campaign will use the Economics to the end, there will be no mention from them about about the issue of governance and soverignty, also they will use FUD until its coming out of their ears, trying in effect to scare people into voting No.
The Yes campaign need to push hard the issue of sovereignty, also use a thought out and coherent exit plan in order to fight off the FUD.
Though I also take somthing for the fact that the internet is helping clear the way through the mud, and perhaps we are seeing a new generation of campaigning, one by which, thanks to the ability to fact check everything almost instantly, the Mainstream media, is no longer the Mainstream. I think that will help out a great deal, the EU loving BBC are not the main information providers to the voters.
I dont see the yes side winning the Scottish referendum today, but, that is why I say we need a credible exit plan for the EU referendum. I don't think anything less will cut it.