We want clarity
13 January 2012
It is time for Alex Salmond to come clean on what he means by Independence for Scotland.
By concentrating on process, Alex Salmond’s brand of grudge and grievance politics has obscured what his vision for Scotland is. It is questionable whether his vision squares with most patriotic Scots.
He wants to join the euro, and his current attitude to retain the pound is simply expediency and pragmatism. We will have no more control of the pound than of the euro, putting us into a worse position than at present.
He wants to be a member of the EU - so Independence from Scotland means he wants to exchange union with England for union with Europe. Why is one any more patriotic than the other? The problems of the EU are well known.
His vision has been proven faulty on a number of points, so why should his vision for Scotland not prove to be a nightmare?
His economic vision of small, tiger, independent nations made use of Ireland and Iceland as models - until the wheels fell off their wagons and we don’t hear this any more.
Something similar happened when he pointed to the Royal Bank of Scotland and Bank of Scotland as model businesses for Scotland’s economic future.
His economic forward planning depends on an oil price that is questionable.
His plan for Scotland’s energy to be supplied 100% by renewables by 2020 is pie in the sky. He hopes to sell energy to England although the transmission line between Scotland and England is already full and there is no more capacity to export electricity. Further, if England builds more nuclear power stations, it won’t need Scotland’s electricity.
His plans for Scotland’s defence are unreal: he is against nuclear power and nuclear submarines, and what will be the effect upon our armed forces and various bases?
Most patriotic Scots do not want to be hidebound to Europe, and if Alex Salmond and the SNP offer us only this form of nationalism, the Scottish Christian Party will have none of it.
Alex Salmond proudly tells us Scotland can stand on its own two feet. We believe that. So why is he substituting Europe for England? This does not sound like a man who is confident that Scotland can stand on its own two feet.
It is not enough to say that Scots can decide these matters after Independence. The point is whether Alex Salmond can give us a clear view of his own vision, or does he not have one?
