Common Folk Using Common Sense

Trackbacked at Sister Toldjah, Perri Nelson’s Website:

From The Sun Online:

The break-up of the United Kingdom became a stark possibility last night as thousands of English and Scottish voters demanded home rule.

Most people on both sides of the border want their countries to “divorce” after almost 300 years together, according to a poll.

It showed that more than half of Scots and three out of five English folk want the two countries to go it alone. And thousands more want breakaway governments for Wales and Northern Ireland, too.

The survey revealed that backing for Scottish home rule has hit 52 per cent among Scots and 59 per cent south of the border.

Two-thirds — 68 per cent — of English people quizzed want their own parliament, an idea supported by 58 per cent of Scots.

And almost half of English voters — 48 per cent — want complete independence.

Only two weeks ago a Scottish poll found 51 per cent of Scots want to break away from the UK.

All three main political parties want the union to stay strong but have begun internal debates on its future. If public hunger for a parting of the ways grows they will be under pressure to act.

Experts warned last night that a four-way split would be the costliest and most traumatic divorce in world history.

The re-birth of four smaller nations would throw the Queen’s role as head of state into turmoil.

The Union Flag would be consigned to the history books as each country reverted to its own national standard.

Historic institutions like the armed forces would be carved up.

Independence would also turn the Westminster parliament into a seat of power for England only.

Scots MPs — like Chancellor Mr Brown and leadership hopeful John Reid — would be banned from sitting in a London parliament. The fact that Scots MPs can decide English laws is already contentious.

The Kingdom of Scotland was an independent state until May 1, 1707, when the Acts of Union resulted in a political union with the Kingdom of England to create the Kingdom of Great Britain. However, Scotland is no longer a sovereign state and does not enjoy direct membership of either the United Nations or the European Union.

Edward I, King of England, was asked to adjudicate between rival claimants to the vacant Scottish throne after the death of the Margaret, Maid of Norway in 1290. She was the last direct heir of Alexander III of Scotland. Edward I used the political divisions in Scotland to his own benefit. The Scots resisted the English under the leadership of Sir William Wallace and Andrew de Moray. In March 25, 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned, King Robert I. He won a decisive victory over the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. However, warfare flared up again after Robert I’s death. Today, as one of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom, the head of state in Scotland is the British monarch. The Scottish Parliament is not sovereign. Debate continues over whether the Scottish Parliament should accrue additional powers, or seek to obtain full independence with full sovereign powers. It remains to be seen whether the current devolution system satisfies Scottish demands for self-government or will strengthen demands for full-blown independence. Give the good people of Scotland their independence. Make the dreams of Robert the Bruce and Sir William Wallace come to life. Scotland was a sovereign nation that was invaded by the English and forced to accept and adopt English rule - and now the time has come to give them back their lives.

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