Will The SNP Have Some Unexpected Campaign Support?

For those who don't know, the SNP (Scottish National Party) are the current elected party in Scotland in a shared power scheme. They won by one single seat which is not enough to take control by themselves. The way Scotland's parliament has been made up all but ensures some co-operation between the parties so it's televised chamber debates seem more civilized than the equivalent in Westminster which feels like spoiled old rich men acting like spoiled rich kids.

The devolution arrangement Scotland has, gives it some powers of it's own, while Westminster retains others. The balance of these powers is a constant debating point. I can't help feel that devolution was something Tony Blair used as currency to ensure a Labour victory in Westminster, nothing more than a bribe worded in such a way that every meaningful power an elected government has to make the lives of it's electorate better are still held away from them. By giving the Scots their own devolved government, Blair expected Labour to almost be enshrined in power in Scotland as a reward, who would then be an office of the UK Labour party.

Most of the parties in Scotland as more like departments of their UK cousins. The notable exception is the SNP. All the mainstream parties want Scotland to continue as part of the UK in some form, while the SNP want Scotland to be independent from the UK.

While public support of the SNP has grown enough to give them a chance in power, albeit with their hand seriously tied, support for Scotland's independence still sits around maybe 40%. In short, people voted the SNP in not because they voted for independence but because they wanted to see if the SNP could do better than the last Labour / Liberal Democrat government. This does not mean the people are against independence either, just that they need to be convinced.

So with all of the other mainstream (UK and Scottish) parties against independence, the public at around 40% support, you'd imagine the SNP's opponents would jump at the chance. The race is so heavily stacked in their favour and they still don't want to run it. Why? Do they really have that little faith that they can convince people? Or do they reluctantly see their credibility with the electorate is all but spent? One deception too many huh?

I watched the Liberal Democrats campaign and couldn't help but take away one message as they answered almost every question with it, whether it was even remotely relevant to the question or not. "We will not support a referendum for independence for Scotland". Which means "despite the race being so heavily stacked in our favour, we don't trust the people enough to even ask them what they want." Because of this the Liberal Democrats were an unellectable joke. Nothing positive, no ideas, nothing. As interesting as all this is, it's not the subject of this blog post.

It occurred to me when thinking about the views of Euro-sceptic people in England. They oppose English people being subject to laws created outside England. They believe that the English should create laws applicable to the English. So I'd imagine they'd support the SNP's policy of independence for Scotland. This amounts to the same principle ie the people of Scotland being subject to laws made outside Scotland; in this case the law maker is England. Assuming these people are not hypocrites, they should be supporting the SNP independence policies.

Of course it should only be Scots who have a vote in whether Scotland is independent or not but they can campaign and add their voices to the debate. If Scotland can vote to go independent why not Northern Ireland, Wales or England too? Each country has it's own needs, so perhaps independence works better for some but not others. This would be a case by case examination, not a precedent leading others to naturally follow.

This would make for some interesting debates, since the Conservative Party have been very pro-union, anti-SNP and anti-EU. They are often a loud voice calling for "English laws for England". The more right wing alternates to the Conservatives like the BNP and UKIP are also in that camp, in their own ways. It'll be odd to see them campaign alongside the SNP in support of independence for Scotland. Back in the real world, where hypocrites dwell in every MP's office the deciding factor will come down to "who makes the laws". In the EU's case, it's the EU which is bad. In the UK's case it's England which is good. If you're the one creating the laws you want them spread as far as possible, if you're not the one creating them you want them not to apply to you. If one group of people can be trusted to govern themselves, why not another?

This is not a post in support of (or in opposition to) independence for Scotland. I'd like to see a proper debate on the subject, where we the people can see an honest evaluation of what we'd lose, as well as what we'd gain if we did go independent before I make my mind up either way.