SCOTLAND WITHIN THE SO-CALLED UNITED KINGDOM

 This article was recently published in the United States. It seeks to explain contemporary Scotland for Americans of Scottish descent. 

As citizens of the United States of America, how would you feel if the American Revolutionary War – the American War of Independence (1775-1783) – had not taken place, or had resulted in victory for British forces?

How would you feel if, right now, America was still governed directly from the English parliament in London, with a devolved American parliament only allowed to legislate in very limited areas of government? How would you feel if the English parliament in London retained powers over major areas of government, such as taxation, macro-economic policy, national defence and security, foreign affairs, and even what the American parliament was allowed to discuss or vote on? How would you feel if it was made clear to Americans that the English parliament was the sovereign, ultimate power, and could overturn any decision taken by the devolved American parliament?

Obviously, those questions are entirely hypothetical because the 18^th Century American revolutionaries were successful, securing victory and America's independence from England. So, why am I asking you those questions? I want to explain the political relationship Scotland currently has with England.

If you substitute Scotland and Scottish for America and American in the questions, you might begin to understand why some of us in Scotland continue to fight for our national independence. I say 'fight', but unlike the American revolutionaries or our Celtic cousins in Ireland, Scots have never actually taken-up arms to free our country from English control. We have pursued a democratic path - through the ballot box - and, to be honest, it hasn't got us all that far.

If you follow Scottish politics, you might question why I say we haven't got too far towards re-taking our independence. We do have a Scottish Parliament, established in 1999, but that parliament is as described in the questions posed at the start of this article: the limited powers it has are devolved from the English Parliament in London. Known as the UK Parliament, but effectively being the parliament of England, Westminster is the sovereign power.

Since 2007, we have had a pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) government in Scotland. In 2014, then First Minister Alex Salmond actually managed to deliver an Independence Referendum. Even then, though, this was only possible because the English government in London agreed to let Scotland hold a referendum. The English were positive they would win, which was why they agreed to the referendum. The result saw a 10% majority for Scotland remaining in the so-called UK. For London, the result was too close for comfort, and since then the English parliament has refused to allow Scotland another referendum, despite the SNP being re-elected in Scotland on a mandate to hold such a referendum in 2011, 2016 and 2021.

It's worth mentioning at this point the control exerted over Scotland through the English media. All-but one newspaper sold in Scotland opposes Scottish independence. So called 'national' news is broadcast from studios in London and reflects an English perspective on the stories of the day. Throughout the 2014 Independence Referendum campaign, newspapers and the broadcast media continued with wall-to-wall coverage opposing Scottish independence. Against that background, it is remarkable the referendum result was so close.

Every night in Scotland, television channels broadcast English programmes: news, entertainment shows, dramas, comedies – all featuring English people, speaking in English accents, set in English towns and cities, relating to English issues. Going back to the questions posed at the start of this piece, how would you feel, as Americans, if the only programmes you could watch on your televisions were broadcast for an English audience? Having said that, I should make clear that satellite and streaming-systems now mean Scots can enjoy some excellent American dramas. It would be nice to hear Scottish accents and watch Scottish dramas, though.

I should also clarify that there are two Scottish TV channels, which broadcast Scottish news-bulletins, but those are normally aired after the English news, telling Scots where we rank in the scheme of things.

Since the departure of Alex Salmond in 2014 following the referendum result, the SNP Scottish Government has, sadly, adopted a 'devolutionist' agenda, rather than taking us forward to independence. The current SNP is more focussed on managing devolution within the so-called United Kingdom, but there is hope of progress. Alex Salmond has now formed the Alba Party, which puts independence front-and-centre, and looks to challenge the SNP for the independence vote.

The last paragraph is my opinion: SNP supporters would dispute it, but the political reality of Scotland today would seem to back my position.

Today, Scotland remains a devolved 'region' of the so-called United Kingdom, with our parliament subservient to the 'sovereign' English parliament in London. However, under Scots law, the people of Scotland are the sovereign power, not any parliament or King.

Some of us are determined that, one day, Scotland will re-establish itself as a normal, independent nation, and we will take our place alongside our American friends as a country that has secured our independence from England.