LEAVE US ALONE

Have you noticed how the arguments against Scottish independence have been turned on their head when it comes to the UK leaving the EU? The sheer hypocrisy is breath-taking. For example, a majority voted to remain in the then EEC in 1975 but the Brexiteers argue that Europe has changed since then, hence the need for another referendum. The same argument must surely apply to the 2014 referendum; after all, the UK has now changed drastically. And yet we’re supposed to ignore this point.

Then there are the arguments about democracy. Apparently, the bigger a political union is the less democratic and representative it is. When it comes to Scotland, however, it seems bigger is better and we’d be heading for a one-party state. Speaking of democracy, it’s worth pointing out that not everyone living and working in the UK was allowed to vote in the EU referendum, while folk living abroad were permitted to take part. The exact opposite was true of the referendum on Scottish independence. I know which one I think was more democratic.

There was the narrative too of it being a big, bad world out there and an independent Scotland wouldn’t have a chance. It needed the ‘broad shoulders’ of the UK to stop Scotland disappearing down the plug-hole, since the bigger the political and economic union, the better the chance it has in the world. This argument, however, doesn’t apply when it comes to the EU; apparently that ‘big, bad world’ has suddenly become a huge area of opportunity. And, of course, the current financial crisis is only a ‘temporary blip’, whereas an independent Scotland would face economic Armageddon.

And then there’s the fundamental issue of the Union itself. The Brexiteers go on about ‘sovereignty’ and the rights of a nation. They joined the European Union and argue that it was under the strict understanding that they could leave that union any time they so desired. What they don’t seem to accept is that the United Kingdom is exactly the same. Scotland didn’t join to become a region of England; it is a nation, which joined the United Kingdom under the same understanding that it could leave any time it wanted. It’s not up to Westminster to decide whether or not Scotland decides to become independent, any more than it’s up to Brussels if the UK secedes from the EU.

Finally, there’s the David Dimbleby argument; the one that says that Scotland voted NO in 2014 knowing there was the possibility of a referendum coming to determine the UK remaining in Europe or not. Equally, however, the SNP stood for election in 2015 on a manifesto that included the pledge that if Scotland voted to remain in Europe, while the rest of the UK voted to leave, then another independence referendum was possible, if not probable. The people of England and Wales voted LEAVE knowing that Scotland leaving the UK was a possibility. They can’t have it both ways.

Meanwhile, the fawning praise of Neo-Gers continues apace. The latest news is that Warbs might be signing Oguchi Onyewu, a former U.S. international. The key word there is ‘former’; the guy hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for over a year. Apparently, Onyewu’s CV ‘includes stints at AC Milan and Sporting Lisbon’. In the real world, Onyewu’s career has been plagued with injury; he hardly played for Sporting and never featured in any Milan league matches. Still, he was signed by Milan, just like I was accepted to do a PhD course at Stirling. Like most folk accepted for PhD studies, I couldn’t get funding so never actually got to do the course. But then, like Onyewu, I was signed up, so maybe I should include it on my CV. Then again, folk would just laugh.

Another problem faced by Onyewu in Europe was racism; he actually threatened to sue another player for racially abusing him at one point. I wonder how he’d take to Scotland, where, just like elsewhere in the UK, the Brexit vote has made all manner of racist and right-wing scum come crawling out. National Action Group, an extremist Neo-Nazi group, has been targeting Glasgow city centre with stickers and posters. In Scotland, such a group would only appeal to one group of people and that’s The Peeppul. If I were Mr. Onyewu, I’d stay where I was.

In case you didn’t notice on Twitter, that’s Volume 3 of the Neo-Gers saga now on sale. As usual, it’s available in both paperback and Kindle from Amazon.

 

Paperback available here.

Kindle version available here.

 

Meanwhile, in Charleston, SC…