Re: Scotland's Opportunity Is Ireland's Opportunity

[L.O. Dublin S.C.]

Given that most Unionist's are of Scottish descent. Would Scottish independence mean a greater movement towards Irish Reunification?

Any posts would be helpful.

[dissident]

Not at all, unionists see themselves as Northern Irish and use Ulster-scot in a historical social context.

[DAOINE]

Do Unionists really see themselves as Northern Irish? Most think of themselves as British of mostly Scottish descent. I have been asked more than once by Protestants when I lived in Belfast if I was from Ireland. Many Protestants see NI as Ulster and not the one with nine counties either. If Scotland really had the bravery to secede (which I doubt ) then yes it would be an opportunity for Ireland to re-unite. Remember though that the Conservatives maybe in power in the UK in 18 months and many of them still think they have an empire. They might not want to lose NI so quickly even if Scotland gained a majority of SNP MP.s.

[PAUL MEYER]

Do Unionists really see themselves as Northern Irish? Most think of themselves as British of mostly Scottish descent. I have been asked more than once by Protestants when I lived in Belfast if I was from Ireland. Many Protestants see NI as Ulster and not the one with nine counties either. If Scotland really had the bravery to secede (which I doubt ) then yes it would be an opportunity for Ireland to re-unite. Remember though that the Conservatives maybe in power in the UK in 18 months and many of them still think they have an empire. They might not want to lose NI so quickly even if Scotland gained a majority of SNP MP.s.

Any chance of you naming and shaming a few of them then, or is this just a lazy assumption on your part?

[QuizMaster]

I would be surprised if any Conservative MP was unaware of the Statute Of Westminster (1931) which formalised the following:
"Britain and its dominions agreed they were equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations."

If you have any information to the contrary, please give us details.

[st333ve]

Realistically unionists want their link with England not Scotland.

[QuizMaster]

If Scotland does opt out (which I can't see happening, but let's just say), the whole thing could start to unravel. The union would start making less sense.

Though what that does for real life (the price of turnips, or the state of roads hospitals and schools) I don't understand.

[Barbarian]

Remember though that the Conservatives maybe in power in the UK in 18 months and many of them still think they have an empire. They might not want to lose NI so quickly even if Scotland gained a majority of SNP MP.s.

Well it was a conservative government who said that they had no strategic self interest in NI (or words to that effect)
A conservative government in the UK could easily have an accelerating effect on the dissolution of the union, a bit like the West Lothian Question in reverse. A Westminster government with few if any Scottish MP’s would make the vote for Scottish independence all the more saleable. In the context of a hung parliament an unholy alliance between the conservatives and the SNP could easily be on the cards.

[L.O. Dublin S.C.]

If Scotland does opt out (which I can't see happening, but let's just say), the whole thing could start to unravel. The union would start making less sense.

Though what that does for real life (the price of turnips, or the state of roads hospitals and schools) I don't understand.

The Union making less sense was part of the way I was thinking.

The very belief that Scottish people can govern themselves is what it does for real life. The SNP feel, like I do really, that only Scottish people can solve issues like Scottish soildiers in Iraq, the poverty of Glasgow's East End, how to spend the revenue from the oil resources, etc..

[ArtyQueing]

Remember though that the Conservatives maybe in power in the UK in 18 months and many of them still think they have an empire. They might not want to lose NI so quickly even if Scotland gained a majority of SNP MP.s.

Well it was a conservative government who said that they had no strategic self interest in NI (or words to that effect)
A conservative government in the UK could easily have an accelerating effect on the dissolution of the union, a bit like the West Lothian Question in reverse. A Westminster government with few if any Scottish MP’s would make the vote for Scottish independence all the more saleable. In the context of a hung parliament an unholy alliance between the conservatives and the SNP could easily be on the cards.

It has been rumoured that Salmond and Cameroon were talking about the relationship around the time of the Glasgow East bye-election