author: Rodionova A.E.tutor: Chistyakova S.L.

Economic value of Scotland’s

independence: background and

reality

117.02.2015

What is a historical background?

What are the results of the referendum?

What are the main positions?

Why the Scotland’s independence was not accepted?

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What is a historical background? Scotland became the part of Great Britain when The Acts of Union of 1707 united two kingdoms to form a single kingdom encompassing the whole island of Great Britain and its outlying islands. But when the Scottish National Party was organized the question of Scotland’s independence was discussed at the political level. In 1979, a referendum was held about the establishment of the Scottish Parliament, which has the authority to dispose partly the local finance.

The majority of voters voted for the creation the Parliament, however, because of the poor organization of the referendum, these votes were not enough. Soon, a second referendum was held in 1997, where voters were in favor of the establishment of the local parliament. The question of independence had risen only in 2007 by the leader of the Scottish National Party- Alex Salmond. However, it was unsuccessful – the party did not win the required number of seats.

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June 1, 2012 The political union "Better Together" against the independence of Scotland in the upcoming referendum was created.

October 15, 2012 The British Prime Minister David Cameron and the first Minister of the autonomous government of Scotland, Alex Salmond, signed an agreement that defines the standing order of the referendum on the Scotland’s independence in the autumn of 2014.

March 21, 2013 The First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond announced the date of the referendum – it was the 18-th of September 2014.According to him, voters have to answer only one question:

November 26, 2013, Alex Salmond presented the "White Book" - a document including 670 pages which described the new state. In independent Scotland it was proposed to retain the British pound, and the Head of State - Queen of Great Britain. Also it was suggested to create their own armed forces, with the removal of the nuclear weapons from Scotland, raising the minimum wage, tax collection without raising rates regardless London.  4

"Should Scotland be an independent country?"

4.13 million people had the right to participate in the referendum (citizens over 16 years old). If the majority of voters had said « yes» Scotland could have been declared independent country on the 24-th of March,2016. On the 5-th of September 2014 Preliminary surveys of the population observed that more than half of the respondents were in favor of independence. The turnout was 84.5%. According to the final results, about 44.7% of the voters(1,617,989 people) voted for the independence of Scotland, 55.3% (2,001,926 people)- against. In this way, Scotland remained a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

What are the results of the referendum?

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What are the main positions? Debate are always held before the referendum.On the 6-th of August debate were held in Glasgow between the representatives of supporters and opponents of the referendum on Scotland’s independence.Discussion in Glasgow was hot. The First Minister of the Scottish Government, Alex Salmond advocated for separation from Britain.

According to Alex Salmond, Scotland will be a strong prosperous country. There are a lot of opportunities in Scotland to become a prosperous country - oil and gas production, a powerful tourism industry, the world-famous Scottish universities. In the field of biology, medicine and high-tech computer industry Scotland competes with the leading countries of the world.

"12 of the 28 country-members of the European Union are the similar size as Scotland, if not less. Scotland is a rich nation with "abundant national and natural resources. So the question is not whether Scotland "could" be independent but "should" be. No one will ever manage Scotland better than people who lives and works in Scotland. "

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The former finance minister of Great Britain, Alistair Darling, had diametrically opposite views on the future of Scotland.

"I want to use the power of the United Kingdom to build a stronger Scotland. We can have the best of both worlds with a strong Scottish Parliament, endowed with wider powers guaranteed in the sphere of education, health and in other spheres. "

There are will be negative aspects of Scottish independence:

Scotland must re-enter into the European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Scotland will be able to enjoy the results of the independence just after the issues are resolved, associated with the creation of the state.

Depletion of deposits of natural resources and volatile prices for oil resources.

The standard of living and wages will reduce.Most of Scotland's banks will close without

the support of the British Government.After the declaration of independence

Scotland will have the part of duty of Great Britain, and Britain will lose its former prestige in the European Union.

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Why the Scotland’s independence was not accepted? A lot of public polls about the independence of Scotland were held.It appeared a saying, that became very famous at that time:

Information has been prepared on the basis of the posts about referendum in Scotland, made by users Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LiveJournal and other social networks from 9 to 16 of September, 2014. 

Diagram of poll results

«The Scots are for independence. Scotland–against»

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The paradox and tragedy of the referendum existed in fact that at least eight hundred thousand visitors had the right to vote, at the same time the Establishment took away this right from the eight hundred thousand citizens of Scotland. It’s possible to accept the results of any referendum, including the Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk and if it adequately reflects the will of those who primarily has the right to take such a decision. In the case of the referendum in Scotland, it was not happened. Scots voted for independence, and Establishment, with hundreds of thousands of migrants and foreigners - against.

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