Scottish referendum revisited: Is an independent Scotland becoming inevitable? September 7, 2015 A fortnight today (18 September) will mark the first anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum – arguably the most important political event any of us in Scotland have experienced – giving pause for reflection on a year that has seen the referendum losers seem like winners, and vice versa. Despite the relatively decisive [...]
SNP bites back at PM after David Cameron vows to halt second Scottish independence referendum July 28, 2015 The SNP has rejected Prime Minister David Cameron’s claim that he would block another vote on Scottish independence. On Monday, Cameron said that he had the ability to shoot down a second referendum did “not see the need for another” vote. “It will be my ultimate decision, in line with the democratic decision-making processes of the [...]
David Cameron: There will be no second Scottish independence referendum while I am Prime Minister July 28, 2015 The Prime Minister has rejected claims by Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon that she will dictate when a second Scottish independence referendum takes place, ruling out another vote in the current parliament. The timing of a second vote, Sturgeon said, would ultimately be her decision, agreeing with Alex Salmond, former SNP leader, that it [...]
Scottish secretary David Mundell: There are no plans for a second Scottish independence referendum July 27, 2015 Following Alex Salmond's remarks yesterday, it looks like in-fighting between Westminster and Holyrood about the prospects of another Scottish independence referendum isn't going to go away, after Scottish secretary David Mundell waded in saying there are no plans in place for such a vote to take place. Read more: SNP could be eyeing a second Scottish [...]
Alex Salmond says second Scottish independence referendum “inevitable” July 26, 2015 He may have failed in his attempt to lead Scotland to independence, but former First Minister and now SNP MP in Westminster Alex Salmond, believes it's not the end of the dream. He has called a second vote on Scottish independence "inevitable" speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show on Sunday morning. "I think a [...]
Against the Grain: What Yanis Varoufakis can learn from a real game theory master – Nicola Sturgeon June 23, 2015 The gracious Palladian architecture of Edinburgh has often led the city to be described as the Athens of the North. If the referendum result had gone the other way, much closer parallels would have rapidly emerged. A high spending left wing government, faced with a collapse in revenues due to the fall in the oil [...]
Bills, bills, bills: EU referendum and Scotland bills go before parliament May 28, 2015 Just a day after the Queen's Speech confirmed what we knew the Tories would have to do, a bill has dropped into the House of Commons' in-tray aimed at clearing a path for the in-out vote to take place. The summary of the European Union Referendum Bill says its aim is “to make provision [...]
As Nicola Sturgeon demands more powers, is a second Scottish independence vote inevitable? May 17, 2015 Tim Bale, professor of politics at Queen Mary, University of London, says Yes. The genie is out of the bottle, the toothpaste out of the tube. Pick whichever metaphor you like, but be sure of one thing: it’s a case of “when”, not “if”. The SNP is simply biding its time, waiting for its chance. [...]
Nicola Sturgeon’s EU mischief-making is a taste of the political blackmail to come April 29, 2015 Both Sinn Fein and the SNP launched their General Election manifestos last week, demanding that, in any future referendum, all four nations of the UK must agree to leave the European Union before it can happen. If ever there was a policy that claims to be about unity when it is all about fomenting division, [...]
Neverendum revisited: The break-up of the Union is more likely than ever April 26, 2015 Like some George Romero zombie film sequel, the Scottish question simply refuses to die. As I posited in September last year, the supposedly definitive referendum vote was likely to be anything but that. Rather, Scotland’s status in the Union was more likely to morph into a “Neverendum” – a huge, unsolved, existential distraction that would [...]