Still Better Together

Nicola Sturgeon wrote a reply to the leading article in today's 'Times', making some of the same points as you do, ahinton.



The Times - Intransigent May is nudging us to a second referendum

Nicola Sturgeon concludes that if an independence referendum does arise, it will not be down to bad faith on behalf of the Scottish government, but to sheer intransigence on the part of the UK government. It is not too late for the UK government to change course, but time is running out.

It will be interesting to see whether Scotland remains part of the United Kingdom, or even the European Union!

The role of supranational organisations, such as the United Nations and the European Union, is relevant to Sydney's stated goal: the abolition of all nations. The United Nations implicitly accepts the existence of member states. So does the European Union, although the goal of an ever closer union of the peoples of Europe arguably subverts the primacy of the nation-state. The single currency has arguably been a disaster for Greece, and I suspect that the only way the Eurozone can survive is through far closer political union. Frau Merkel, for example, could be directly elected as the President of the Eurozone?

Of course, Sydney also advocates the abolition of money, so such a discussion is probably irrelevant from his point of view. Do not trust the horse, Sydney! Whatever it is, I fear the Danaans, even when bringing gifts.

Wikipedia - Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes

I don't think that it will but it certainly could; it if did and if NI became part of the Republic, UK will begin to break up as a direct consequence of one part of it having departed and so that part will be able to remain within EU as a majority of its populace voted to do. Scotland cannot secede so easily and certainly not by such means. I doubt that there will be a second Scottish independence referendum and, even if there is, there can be no guarantee as to what might be its outcome.

Everyone whom I know who resides in NI considers him/herself to be Irish.

In my experience the whole idea of Irish independence - the Free State and all that - is bogus anyway - a myth. At Dublin the first thing they do is consult Gatwick.

I suppose that the British Empire really dismantled itself, generally in a benign and enlightened way, over the course of the twentieth century. Australia became independent from 1901, Sydney? As part of the (British) Isles, Ireland's struggle for independence has been more troubled, although independence often allows for some degree of interdependence. As the British Empire declined, the European Union (EU) enlarged considerably from the Treaty of Rome some sixty years ago, and today faces many issues, not least Brexit. The London 'Times' leads today with some editorial comment that Europe speeds up.



The leading article concludes that Brexit should be about opening to the world and indeed working together with European neighbours to our mutual benefit. 'The Times' thunders that a nervous EU may allow states to develop at their own pace. One size, for example, the euro, does not fit all, ahinton?