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I know many intelligent and rational Scotsmen, my esteemed
fellow-countrymen. They form the sensible majority in my homeland. I also know
many less intelligent Scotsmen ranging from the somewhat deluded to the
terminally moronic. All nationalities have a minority group like this. The
sensible will always prevail over the deluded. I refuse to believe that there
is the slightest chance that a majority of Scots will vote with the separatists
for independence at the Referendum on Thursday 18 September 2014. I am
confident that after all the debate and controversy, a resounding “No” vote
will carry the day and the Union will thankfully be preserved.
The debate has been furious and bitter. The Unionists have
demonstrated the fragility of a Scots economy highly dependent on volatile oil
revenues: Scots businesses have warned that they will move to England:
Scotland’s benefits in terms of UK public spending per head under the “Barnett
Formula” have been emphasised: David Cameron has promised enhanced taxation
powers for the devolved Scottish government: the EU has confirmed that Scotland
would have to apply for membership from scratch and the Bank of England has
stated that the pound could not be used by an independent Scotland.
The SNP/Nationalists/Separatists pooh-pooh these objections,
claiming that they are largely bluff, likely to be moderated on actual
independence. The Yes lobby (posing as the impartial Scottish government)
produced a weighty tome on an independent Scotland, full of tendentious
projections of economic growth and fiscal viability. A weary unravelling of
these claims and counter-claims has bored the Scottish public, but the
Unionists have won the intellectual argument.
The Yes campaign is focussing on its strongest suit – the emotional
appeal of A Braveheart Nation Once Again! Somehow rationality disappears from
the debate in this scenario fuelled by a surfeit of shortbread-tin patriotism,
sporrans, skirling bagpipes, soused herrings and delectable Speyside Scotch.
The SNP shout from the roof-tops that Scotland will never again have this real
chance to break free – to stick a thumb in the eyes of their viscerally-hated
caricature of the English, and to avenge themselves on their bug-bear, the
shade of Maggie Thatcher, saviour of our united nation. Chippy, contrarian
propaganda of the kind peddled by Alex Salmond and his acolytes is frankly
shaming.
There are many good Scotsmen tempted by and hesitating
before taking the separatist plunge. They need to be inspired by a fresh vision
of the United Kingdom. David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling, supplemented
by all articulate Scots, need to turn up the oratorical heat and defend the
Union with real passion. It seems obvious to me that the Scots get an excellent
deal out of the Union, financial and cultural: that a leap in the dark to
independence is imprudent folly doubly damned: that the Scots nation has
prospered mightily in the Union and can long continue to do so.
To be sure, the United Kingdom is not without her faults, both
historically and at present. The Westminster political arena and devolved
government are designed to rectify these difficulties. I am sure that the
United Kingdom is greater than the sum of its parts – the poetic inspiration of
the Welsh, the rugged charm of the Irish, the confident energy of the English,
the passion and application of the Scots. United we make a world-class team.
Scotland, stay a cherished member of a winning side and please deliver a
suitably robust “No” to independence!
SMD
25.03.14.
Copyright © Sidney Donald 2014
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