Power struggle

As a Better Together campaigner, I often find myself engaging with supporters of independence. Increasingly, as more and more evidence comes to light about the disadvantages of separation, they and their leaders are emphasising one issue and that is “we will always get the government we vote for”.

My analysis of emerging opinion amongst many of those likely to vote for separation is: “Yes, we know deep down that there are huge uncertainties over the currency, EU membership, pensions, jobs, broadcasting, welfare provision, defence and a host of other things but we’ll always get the government we vote for and that’s what matters; independence is a risk worth taking for that reason alone.”

I find this attitude of “self-determination at any cost” very strange.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

As a supporter of the Union and the safety net and assurances provided by being part of something bigger, I would much rather avoid all the risks, uncertainties and potential
divisions and put up with the fact that from time to time the government at Westminster will not reflect how Scots, or
indeed those in some other parts of the UK, voted.

I am reminded of the fact that a majority of people in Scotland didn’t vote for the SNP at the last two Holyrood elections but they got an SNP government nevertheless.

In spite of our fairer voting system, we did not end up with a government that reflected how people voted.

With more powers coming to Holyrood after a No vote, who’s in charge at Westminster will become less of an issue, and who knows, after the 2015 general election we could well have a government back in Westminster that a majority of Scots
really did vote for.

Barry Turner

Better Together

Musselburgh

Related topics: