Seil Chat

Sunday 10th February 2017

The shock results of a poll jointly commissioned by the Shetland Times and The Orcadian, released today show that 67 % of the northern islanders would vote for independence...................from Scotland. The results of the poll have left the Scottish Government in Edinburgh reeling at the prospect of the islands separating from the mainland and re-newing their historical links with the Nordic countries they were once part of before being ceded to Scotland.

Gordon McPhail of the breakaway Island Freedom Party proclaimed in Lerwick the time had come for the islanders to have their own say in how to deal with the issues that are relevant to their lives. Too long, he states, they have had to suffer at the hands of incompetent, power mad politicians down in Edinburgh dictating policy that is not relevant to the unique way of life in the northern islands. 82% of Scotland's revenue from oil, gas, wind and tidal energy systems, fishing and agriculture come from the territories belonging to the islands, but the Scottish government sat so far down south only commits 8% of that revenue on sustaining the islands. Mr McPhail condemns the Scottish Government for squandering billions of Scottish Pounds on wasteful government buildings, MP's expenses and statues, and on costly full scale re-enactments of the Battle of Bannockburn on 24th June every year.

Mr McPhail is appealing to Alex Salmond for a referendum amongst the islanders in 2018 on the 1200th anniversary of the Battle of Dumbarton Rock when the Vikings defeated the Picts. Mr McPhail has promised that if there is a 'Yes' vote on Day one every 'Yes' voter will be made a multi-millionaire as the island government will generously share out the oil and gas revenues which will rightly be earned, solely by the islanders. Those who vote 'No' will be shown where the land of Promise is, in a southerly direction.

A shocked Scottish Government in Edinburgh was understood to be in crisis as the poll results were leaked to them ahead of the headlines hitting the press. Could the islanders be allowed to claim self-determination and claim all that lies within their territory? Could the revenue conveyor that the recently separated Scotland had counted on for its very survival be switched off? Is there anything that mainland Scotland could do given it's own recent history?

What Scot who voted for independence from the rest of the UK could deny the right of the islanders to have the right to separate if a majority should wish it. As Mr McPhail quipped, "We're only following the same process that the SNP followed. It is our right to self determination under the Scottish Constitution. No one can deny that to us."

That is a matter for the islanders. However, it is a red herring at the moment, as there is currently no possible path or mechanism for the Northern Isles - or any other part of Scotland - to secede from either Scotland or the UK, so they do not actually have that choice

If the people of those islands decided to separate from Scotland and take all those oil, gas, wind and tidal energy resources, fishing and agriculture off Scotland, would you support them? Would you think they were selfish? Would you demand some say in the matter, so that you might be able to say, '"No" to their demands?

Pentlandpirate wrote:What was the democratic process that has enabled us to get to the stage where only the Scottish electorate get to vote on splitting up the UK?

Pentlandpirate wrote:At least it would be democratic. You still don't seem to appreciate MY country is the United Kingdom. You live in a country called the United Kingdom. There are about 60 odd million people out there in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, for whom Scotland is just part of their home country. Where was their vote to grant Scotland referendum? Was that democratic?

Pentlandpirate wrote:Of course it is democratic if the majority of the electorate in the United Kingdom vote for it!

oldgit wrote:Not a pretty discussion is it? I have a feeling that nationalism never is. It has often been a case of identifying some group that you can blame for your problems. The argument then ceases to matter.

Pentlandpirate wrote:It is ridiculous to suggest that Scotland would be 'expelled' from the UK if the majority of the electorate in the UK voted for it. That's such negative way to put it. It would be the wishes of the majority. That would be democratic. That would be fair. Democracy isn't about pandering to all the minorities. Look at the state we've got ourselves into through doing that.

Pentlandpirate wrote:Life on the edge....BNP Nick was the ONLY one, including Attenborough, who came out of Question Time, with any credibility. The rest were a disgrace.

And as for Adolf he had some good ideas. He just took them too far, like most dictators.