Scotland and England: the end of a great partnership?

Should Scotland be an independent country? That’s the question Alex Salmond, Leader of the Scottish National Party, will be asking his nation if he gets his way and a referendum on the issue is called.

The latest development in this on-going saga came this week when Salmond launched a referendum consultation document on the same day he met Prime Minister David Cameron (in Edinburgh) to discuss the issue.

“The next two and a half years promise to be the most exciting in Scotland’s modern history,” said Salmond, a reference to 2014, the date he wants for the referendum. “The people who live, work and bring up families in Scotland should make the decision on its future. Our success should be in our own hands.”

Salmond’s hand is strengthened due to the fact that in the last election the Conservatives won just 1 seat out of 59 Scottish seats and the Lib Dems 11 seats.

In response, David Cameron called on the people of Scotland to remain part of the UK saying that whilst he believed that Scotland could survive as an independent nation, remaining close to England was “so much better.”

Cameron wants a simple yes or no vote on the issue, sooner rather than later, whilst Salmond is pressing for 2014 and the option of a third question on whether people in Scotland want more powers.

Scotland has (enjoyed?) a significant amount of autonomy since the late nineties when its Parliament/Government was first established. At present, law makers in Scotland have control over education, health and justice.

However, should a referendum be won and total independence achieved, control over energy policy and taxes would also be gained, as well as complete authority regarding foreign affairs.

For now, a myriad of legal (not to say ethical) questions remain to be answered before Salmond can be sure of even holding a referendum, never mind winning one.