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I believe you are mistaken on every single objection to an independent Scotland in this piece, @NigelBiggar. I would argue that you have nothing to fear, and everything to celebrate, in the dismantling of the United Kingdom. >>> https://standpointmag.co.uk/is-scottish-independence-now-inevitable/
It is likely there will be a fractious divorce, but only because of the intransigant resistance of English imperialism; but it doesn't need to lead to ongoing fricton. Rather, Scotland can act as a friendly bridge between England and Europe, which England will need. >>>
There's no benefit to Scotland in having a failed state fighting its uncivil wars across our southern border; rather, Scotland's diplomatic interest will always be to protect England's stability and prosperity. >>>
This is independent from the reunification of Ireland. That's already inevitable, whatever happens in Scotland, and will almost certainly happen before the independence of Scotland. >>>
There's really very little risk of violence from it, either. The young people of the Protestant tradition in Northern Ireland can clearly see that their future is brighter in a prosperous Europe. A minority of the old may resist, but the old don't fight. >>>
England is no longer 'one of the West's leading powers', and has no prospect whatever of becoming so again. It lacks the economic, military, diplomatic, and, most importantly, intellectual muscle to be a significant player on the world stage. >>>
Europe, by contrast, lacks none of those things. Where 'western solidarity' is concerned, England is a broken reed – largely because it has chosen to become so. Scotland can contribute more to international solidarity as a member of Europe than as England's whipping boy. >>>
The price of oil is, and has been for a decade, an irrelevance. The planet cannot afford for that oil to be pumped; a responsible government of Scotland must keep it in the ground. And we don't need it. We're a strong, exporting nation, with many other resources. >>>
We are currently over-reliant on trade routes through England, which would become vulnerable if England continues its slide into failed state status. We need to address that, and we know we do. But Scotland's market has always been Europe and the world. It is still. >>>
Your comparison with late nineteenth century Ireland is ludicrous, and deeply insulting to both Scotland and Ireland. Scotland has never been an ethno-state; we're explicitly, and joyfully, mongrels. Our national heroes are a Welshman, a Frenchmnan and a Fleming. >>>
I'd agree that we are (young and old) repelled by 'decadent, materialist, militarist British civilisation', but we're not 'revolting against' it; we already recognise ourselves as separate from it. We're building an open, inclusive, welcoming, democratic nation. >>>
I agree with you that Sturgeon's Covid performance has been more presentation than substance (and that this is true of her goveernment in other areas), but Sturgeon is First Minister only so long as we continue to elect her. >>>
But surely the self harm of remaining in a UK committing economic hara kiri on an altar built of xenophobia and hubris greatly outweighs that of rejoining, as an equal, the community of prosperous democratic nations which spans the continent of which we are part? >>>
England's government has no 'ambitious Green policies'. Fuelling arms races in the Middle East and elsewhere is not being 'serious about' tackling insecurity. And a Britain which has chosen to turn its back on its allies and the world is not 'Global'. >>>
England must, gradually, slowly, over the coming years, recover chastened from its current psychosis of xenophobia, hubris, corruption and greed. Having a friendly, stable neighbour on its northern border can only help with this.
You should welcome it.
You should welcome it.
