NOW that Labour has lost another English Red Wall constituency – Darlington – to the Conservatives, it seems clear that the right wing is firmly embedded at Westminster. After so many Brexit lies to the EU and Northern Ireland, the illegal prorogation of Parliament and associated lies to the Queen, the normalisation and acceptance of sleaze within Westminster is surely by now a truth universally acknowledged , from Brussels to Washington DC and back again to Buckingham Palace. It is also blatant; there is no shame. Recently, David Edgerton, Professor of History at King s College, London, argued that Scotland s independence would help England liberate itself from the Anglo-UK state and move on to a new democratic settlement .
I HAVE no wish whatsoever for Scotland to become independent, however I have no doubt in my mind that a fair proportion of the Scottish population wishes it to be so. The last referendum was held using poorly-defined wording on the actual vote, and no clear timetable as to the lifetime on the decision of that vote; one generation is far too loose a definition. All sides in Scotland must sit down and agree on the voting procedures, in particular deciding the percentage of the vote, not just a straight first-past-the-post vote, required to decide the final outcome, and how long should pass before another referendum on independence is to be held.
Malcolm Campbell, resident, Coldstream, Scottish Borders
Malcolm Campbell is a lifelong Scottish independence supporter and professional fisherman in Coldstream, Scottish Borders area. Credit:
Andrew Connelly/The World
“The word ‘nationalist’ almost makes you sound like a terrorist.” Campbell said. “People often kept quiet about it. The SNP used to be classed as a fringe lunatic party but look at them now.”
In a 2014 referendum on the matter of Scottish independence, 55% of voters decided to stay part of the United Kingdom. In the days leading up to the referendum, the English press reflected panic at the growing “Yes” poll lead.
But since Brexit and the election of Boris Johnson who most Scots don’t like and didn’t vote for support for independence has climbed. Some polls suggest that pro-independence parties could gain a narrow majority in the Scottish parliament on Thursday, keeping the issue of a second referendum on the agenda.
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