| by Victor
Cherubim
( October 19,
2012, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) A referendum of Scotland’s future was
signed and sealed by Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister
Alex Salmond of Scotland at Edinburgh on 15 October 2012.
The 305 year
link with England since the Act of Union 1707 will be broken, if at the end
of a two year campaign (2014), the Scots
decide in this referendum to vote to leave the United Kingdom.
For the first
time since universal suffrage, 16 and 17 year olds in Scotland will have a vote
in the referendum. However, the UK Coalition Government having taken the very
bold step of agreeing to this referendum has insisted on a single Yes/No
question on independence for Scotland.
This is one of
the most pressing issues looming in British politics. “The big question is how
much this secessionist policy will dismantle a functioning country and how much
is the central government eager to buy off the regions, without ending up
making matters worse.”
The future of
the vote turns on economics. Scotland had originally wanted to join the Euro
but now favour sticking with the Pound and be better off with its distribution
of North Sea oil revenues.
The argument for
independence also hinges on whether the people want to advance social values
that set them apart from the other regions of England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Alex Salmond maintains, “Scottish people can best fulfil their
potential and redirect their aspirations”.
When I recently
visited the Scottish Highlands on holiday, I noticed that the Scots have free
education through to University, which Britons don’t have. I found travel is
not free for British pensioners in Scotland. The Scottish Pound is in
circulation, though the British Pound is accepted. The governing law is the law
of Scotland, different from the laws of England. Yet Scotland is part of
England, its M.P’s now sit and vote in the House of Commons on English issues.
In almost every respect today, Scotland is free.
Why then the
Referendum?
The whole
exercise is a battle of wits, not only for Cameron, but also for Salmond.
Alex Salmond has
chosen the year marking the 700th anniversary of the English defeat by the
Scots at the Battle of Bannockburn.
David Cameron
has taken up the gauntlet as he feels confident of victory with his record on
single question mandates.
While UK is in a
financial crisis leading to significant cuts in public expenditure, the Scots
have enough funds through frugal management to do almost everything within
reason they want.
The Evolution of
British History
A new chapter in
the evolution of Britain is dawning. Scotland like many of the new Commonwealth
nations of the 20th century is eagerly looking forward to some identity in the
world. Churchill’s Britain was reluctant to give independence status to India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but Clement Atlee had a different mindset after WWII.
England is
trying to show its reluctance to let go of Scotland, but it wants to show the
world it has the triumph card in this so called poker game of politics. Who
said,” time and tide wait for no man.” As many political observers feel David
Cameron is quite astute. He will have to call a General Election early in 2015.
He has Boris Johnson at his court tails challenging him all the time.
Boris at the
recent Conservative Party Conference told David in no uncertain terms:
“If
you think I am a mop, you are a broom.”
Both are playing
their cards close to their chests.
The Gentlemen
and Players
David Cameron’s
shrewd strategy is that he is leaving his political opponents, the Labour Party
to do his campaigning for the Union of the British Isles. Whichever way the
“cookie crumbles” Cameron is the ultimate winner. But Cameron will not take
victory for granted.
Alex Salmond,
the SNP leader has the underdog position and thrives on it. He won the Scottish
Parliamentary elections in 2011.He won the concessions from Westminster on the
16/17 year olds eligibility to vote as well as being given his preferred date,
two years ahead.
What are the
stakes?
A “yes” vote
would raise legal questions – EU membership, participation in NATO, Border
Checks and Control, Defence, Energy and questions on NHS. None of this is
insurmountable.
What are the
lessons for us in Sri Lanka?
Well, we are not
Scotland. We have yet to find oil, we have not prepared ourselves for
separation, and we cannot go on a limb. Unlike Scotland, we will hardly be able
to compete in the cut and thrust of geo-politics, economic crisis and
recognition in the foreseeable future. So why call ourselves independent just
for us to “do a hokey-cokey?” Let’s learn from the baila: “Bewa neytha wada
kahaa sudiya?”
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