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Simple
rights of sovereignty Scotland can't enjoy Scotland
is one of the oldest nations in Europe, and yet, at the present time, it
is considered no more than a 'region'. Its sovereignty was washed away
in 1707 with the Act of Union, as well as that of England, and until the
Scottish people decide they want to be a normal, sovereign nation again,
elements of the country will continue to slowly erode away. Below is a
list of benefits other nations of the world enjoy. Will Scotland enjoy
them again one day? No
membership in the European Union: The British Government and
it's Foreign and Commonwealth Office believe the United Kingdom is a
nation: "The Government is quite clear that it is in our national
interest to remain as a leading member of the European Union.
Membership provides an opportunity to pursue Britain’s interests in
Europe constructively, without threat to our national identity."
It is impossible to have nations within nations, and yet the British
Government think it to be perfectly normal, as is evident from their
quotes (see bolded words). The front page of their website declares it
boldly: "The Mission of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office is to
promote the national interests of the United Kingdom". The
British Government hold the United Kingdom (the name given to the area
of the countries of Scotland, England, and Wales) to be a country, so in
January of 1973, they entered into membership with the E.U. as a nation
called "United Kingdom". This denies the right of the nations
of Scotland, England, and Wales to file for membership within the
European Union.
No membership in the United Nations:
The same situation occurs as is detailed above. The British Government
want the world to believe that the "United Kingdom" is a
nation. So they have filed for membership to the United Nations as
"United Kingdom". This denies the right of Scotland, England,
and Wales to file for membership to the U.N. as nations. Being a member
of the E.U. and the U.N. comes with certain undeniable privileges -
benefits Scotland is missing out on every year it is still part of the
"United Kingdom". In addition, Scotland cannot currently be a
member of the G7/G8, the OSCE, NATO, and the Council of Europe.
No national passport, ambassadors, or embassies:
Because of the British Government's insistence on believing the
"United Kingdom" to be a nation, all institutions within the
government's power will be forced to hold to it as well, including the
Home Office, responsible for Immigration in the "United
Kingdom". The Home Office officially recognizes the terms
"British citizen", "British national" and
"citizen of the United Kingdom". In doing this, they are
denying the rights of Scotland, England, and Wales to perform and
produce general immigration procedures. The British Nationality Act of
1981 was made into law by the British Government, claiming to
"replace all previous nationality laws". In other words, this
new law was trying to take the place of individual nationality laws in
Scotland, England, and Wales. This law provided for British passports,
embassies, and ambassadors and blocked the right for Scotland, England,
and Wales to have individual national passports, embassies, and
ambassadors.
No control over major decisions:
When the British Labour Government headed by Tony Blair came into power,
they thought to quelch calls for Scottish withdrawl from the U.K. by
providing for a Scottish parliament to be returned to Scotland - one
that had limited powers. Tony Blair himself would refer to this Scottish
Parliament as nothing more than an "English parish council".
The Scottish Parliament makes decisions about the small matters of the
country of Scotland. When it comes to major decisions and matters of
policy, however, the British Government takes over. The major decisions
Scotland cannot currently control for herself include the following:
The Constitution, Foreign affairs, Defence, the Civil Service, Financial
and economic matters, National security, Immigration and nationality,
Misuse of drugs, Trade & industry (competition, consumer protection,
etc.), Electricity; coal, oil & gas, nuclear energy, Many aspects of
transport (e.g. railways), Social security, Employment, Abortion,
genetics, surrogacy, medicines, Broadcasting, and Equal opportunities.
In addition to this, the British Parliament have further hampered powers
of the Scottish Parliament by stating in the 1998 Scotland Act that
"The Westminster Parliament continues to be the sovereign
parliament of the United Kingdom and retains the power to legislate
about any matter, including devolved matters, in Scotland."
Without the power to control the above issues in Scotland, the Scottish
Parliament is crippled. Scotland's major decisions are made in a foreign
country - England, and by mostly foreign politicians and legislators.
No control over immigration and national
borders: Currently, the British Government and British
Parliament is in control over who may enter and exit the country of
Scotland. Between the nations of Scotland and England is a simple sign
by the side of the road - no checkpoints, immigration stations, patrols,
or other such services - simply a sign. The graveness of this matter was
illustrated in the summer 2000 entry of American boxer Mike Tyson into
the country of Scotland for a fight in Glasgow. Despite the Scottish
Parliament's wishes not to allow Mike Tyson in (he is a convicted
rapist), Scotland had absolutely no say in the matter. The man who
decided the matter was Jack Straw, an Englishman working in England.
No control over national media: As
shown above, broadcasting is one of the powers the Scottish Parliament
has been refused by the British Government. The domineering media force
in Scotland (as well as England and Wales) is the BBC, the British
Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC have refused Scotland a national
nightly newscast, forcing Scottish citizens to instead be subjected to a
generic "U.K.-wide" newscast of predominately English affairs.
The BBC ignores Scotland's media needs in other ways too. English-based
and English-oriented television programs abound on the BBC, making the
majority of BBC television watched in Scotland English-centered.
Examples include BBC programs giving away as prizes England Football
Team shirts and outfits, as well as trips to England and to English
sport facilities. The Scottish people (and the Welsh people) are
expected by the BBC to be as interested in these things as English
citizens. While the BBC dominates the radio and television fields in
Scotland, Scottish media needs will continue not to be met, and Scottish
broadcast talent and resources will continue to go untapped.
No International Voice: The world
can only go by what it sees, and what it currently sees is a British
Government and Parliament forcing the idea that the "United
Kingdom" is a nation. And so the world will accept this point of
view. For proof of this, just go to any website on the internet that has
a listing of countries to choose from. You will see "United
Kingdom", and you will not see Scotland, England, or Wales.
Scotland's international voice is stiffled. Scotland cannot compete in
the Olympics under it's own flag and under the name of Scotland. It is
forced to compete under a "British flag" and under the name
"Britain". Scotland cannot come to the table with other
countries. It must "eat" at the little table. Scotland is in a
humiliating position, and the world sees this on a constant basis.
No freedom to fly national flag: The
national flag of Scotland, the St. Andrew's Cross (also known as the
Saltire) is the oldest flag in Europe. Despite this, it suffers some of
the worst offenses. Actual British Government legislation exists that
denies Scotland's people and institutions the right to fly the Scottish
national flag from schools and public buildings, except on St. Andrew's
Day. The flag heralded as official for "Britain" is the Union
Flag, also known as the Union Jack. This flag compromises the flags of
Scotland and England, relegates the Scottish flag to a mere background
for the English flag, and does not even incorporate the national flag of
Wales. The British Government does not even recognize Wales as a
separate entity, saying on one official site that Wales is "no
longer [recognized as] a separate principality."
According to the British Government's Department for Culture, Media, and
Sport, "Where a building has two or more flagstaffs, the
appropriate National flag may be flown in addition to the Union flag but
not in a superior position." The Department further relegates the
national flags by stating that "on government buildings that only
have one flag pole, the Union flag should take precedence." Next:
The Solutions - what you can do.
Want
to help change this? Take the first step. Contact
SimplyScottish.com now.
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