The REAL Scottish Politics: Opponents of independence reveal worry for Union

By | February 15, 2022

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YOU can virtually scent the panic from die-hard opponents of Scottish independence as they realise that Theresa Might’s “valuable Union” is about to crumble to mud, thanks largely to the conceitedness and contempt of these self-same Anglo-British nationalists who declare to like Scotland and this so-called Union.

There are a selection of telling indicators of this panic, such because the latest revival of reheated scare tales from 2014, and the virtually fixed gaslighting from Conservatives who assert that they’re “augmenting devolution”. Despite the fact that we are able to all see that the Westminster Tories are by-passing and undermining the powers of the Scottish Parliament, and changing Holyrood funding with Westminster pork barrel tasks which shamelessly and transparently have the purpose of boosting Conservative help.

Nevertheless, the clearest signal of their blind panic is that outwith the Labour social gathering, there is no such thing as a longer any discuss of considerable additional powers for Holyrood, or the transformation of the UK right into a federal system. Even the Labour social gathering is realising that the federalism pony has been flogged to loss of life and is convincing to utterly nobody.

As a substitute, the Über-unionists are descending into rank authoritarianism and denial of democracy. Labour MP Ian Murray has already demanded that Scottish civil servants shouldn’t be permitted to work on preparatory work for one more referendum, although they’re engaged in aiding the Scottish Authorities to implement its manifesto commitments. Even former Conservative MSP Adam Tomkins recognised that Murray’s name was basically undemocratic and an unwelcome try to politicise the civil service.

Now right-wing journalist Stephen Daisley has gone one additional and demanded that Westminster introduce laws to ban Holyrood from ever holding a referendum, a consultative poll or a residents’ meeting on the structure with out the specific prior consent of the Westminster Authorities. He additionally means that the civil service guidelines ought to be modified in an effort to forestall civil servants from finishing up any actions associated to independence, except Westminster has legislated to allow a referendum.

He additionally urges each the Labour and Conservative events to pledge that they are going to by no means allow one other independence referendum, even when the voters of Scotland votes to have one.

What Daisley is proposing is surprising in its authoritarian contempt for democracy in Scotland. It additionally represents a unilateral ripping up of the Scottish Declare of Proper, which was agreed to by all of the anti-independence events. This ensures absolutely the proper of the folks of Scotland to decide on the type of authorities greatest suited to their wants.

Moreover, Daisley’s proposal entails a basic change within the nature of the UK and the destruction of conventional Scottish Unionism. It has all the time been a degree of precept amongst conventional Scottish Unionists that the UK’s union is based on consent. Daisley’s thought would destroy that and switch the UK right into a state based upon coercion. This could probably be counterproductive as it might outrage public opinion in Scotland, particularly the essential teams of average Unionists and those that are undecided on the constitutional subject.

Both Daisley is being critical right here, during which case he’s revealing himself as an anti-democratic authoritarian, who ought to be confined to the far fringes of British nationalist totalitarian moon howlers, whose opinions deprive them of any proper to be taken severely in democratic political debate. Or Daisley is trolling, during which case he is merely a petulant and immature foot-stamping consideration seeker, who’s extra to be pitied than anything.

Both manner, what this crazed and determined proposal tells us is that opponents of Scottish independence are scared of one other independence referendum as a result of they know that they themselves have destroyed the strongest arguments that they deployed in 2014 and that they know they don’t have any persuasive optimistic case to make. You do not attempt to forestall a referendum from ever taking place if you end up assured of successful it. Daisley’s proposal just isn’t a lot a critical political plan, it is extra a determined and panicked cry for assist.

This piece is an extract from as we speak’s REAL Scottish Politics publication, which is emailed out at 7pm each weekday with a round-up of the day’s prime tales and unique evaluation from the Wee Ginger Dug.

To obtain our full publication together with this evaluation straight to your electronic mail inbox, click on right here and tick the field for the REAL Scottish Politics

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