Probably not a possible way forward for Scotland: Daily Bullshit, March 4, 2017

Scotland

In my last comment on another possible Scottish referendum on independence, I wrote

I’m unclear on the point. We already know that Scotland’s electorate opposed Brexit[1] and we have little reason to suspect that’s changed. But we also know that most Scots oppose another referendum on independence at this time,[2] which suggests rather strongly to me that one would not pass. And finally, we know that, as an entity, Scotland is effectively invisible to the European Union, that it is entirely subject to whatever Article 50 deal Britain negotiates with the Union.[3] So the only way that Scotland can negotiate access to the EU is to be independent, which its voters apparently do not want. I’m really not seeing the way forward here.[4]

Stewart Patrick answers that and more, arguing that Theresa May’s decision to pursue a “hard” Brexit may itself swing voters to support independence as negotiations proceed. He seems to think the real trick would be getting the U.K. parliament to approve the vote.[5] I am not saying he’s wrong. Let me repeat that: I am not saying he’s wrong. I don’t know that he’s right in his judgment of Scottish voters, but he makes an interesting argument.

I do think Patrick is right in his assessment that the U.K. Parliament would likely veto another referendum.[6] I’m just not seeing where British politicians have an interest in enabling Scottish independence. If Patrick has an answer to this, he isn’t saying.

Stewart M. Patrick, “The Scottish Play: Will Brexit Spell the End of a United Kingdom?” Council on Foreign Relations, March 2, 2017, http://blogs.cfr.org/patrick/2017/03/02/the-scottish-play-will-brexit-spell-the-end-of-a-united-kingdom/


Uber

Associated Press, “Uber deploys secret weapon against undercover regulators,” Minneapolis Star-Tribune, March 3, 2017, http://www.startribune.com/uber-deploys-secret-weapon-against-undercover-regulators/415356184/


Muslim Ban

Josh Gerstein, “Judge: Trump and government lawyers seem at odds over new travel ban,” Politico, March 3, 2017, http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2017/03/trump-lawyers-travel-ban-235675


  1. [1]Peter Geoghegan, “Scots against Brexit,” Deutschewelle, June 18, 2016, http://www.dw.com/en/scotland-plays-it-cool-over-brexit-debate/a-19326241; Peter Geoghegan, “Scotland eyes British exit,” Politico, October 12, 2016, http://www.politico.eu/article/all-eyes-on-scotland-scottish-national-party-conference-nicola-sturgeon/; Peter Geoghegan, “Scottish nationalists huddle to talk Brexit, independence,” Deutschewelle, October 12, 2016, http://www.dw.com/en/scottish-nationalists-huddle-to-talk-brexit-independence/a-36015386; Rowena Lindsay, “Scotland revives independence bid in wake of Brexit vote,” Christian Science Monitor, September 2, 2016, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2016/0902/Scotland-revives-independence-bid-in-wake-of-Brexit-vote; MercoPress, “Scotland ‘undoubtedly’ closer to an independence referendum,” January 18, 2017, http://en.mercopress.com/2017/01/18/scotland-undoubtedly-closer-to-an-independence-referendum; Nicholas Winning, “Scotland to Consider New Independence Referendum Bill,” Wall Street Journal, October 13, 2016, http://www.wsj.com/articles/scotland-to-consider-new-independence-referendum-bill-1476363221
  2. [2]Elisabeth O’Leary, “Scottish independence vote may be decided ‘within weeks’: Sturgeon ally,” Reuters, February 5, 2017, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-scotland-idUSKBN15K0UA
  3. [3]Gabriela Baczynska, “European Commission says after Brexit vote: Scotland part of UK,” Reuters, June 25, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-scotland-commission-idUSKCN0ZB0LQ; Telegraph, “Spain rejects Nicola Sturgeon Brexit plan for Scotland in seemingly fatal blow,” December 22, 2016, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/12/22/spain-rejects-nicola-sturgeon-brexit-plan-scotland-seemingly/
  4. [4]David Benfell, “Scottish parliament to vote on Brexit,” (Supposedly) Daily Bullshit, February 10, 2017, https://parts-unknown.org/reading/2017/02/10/scotland-parliament-to-vote-on-brexit-daily-bullshit-february-7-2017/
  5. [5]Stewart M. Patrick, “The Scottish Play: Will Brexit Spell the End of a United Kingdom?” Council on Foreign Relations, March 2, 2017, http://blogs.cfr.org/patrick/2017/03/02/the-scottish-play-will-brexit-spell-the-end-of-a-united-kingdom/
  6. [6]Stewart M. Patrick, “The Scottish Play: Will Brexit Spell the End of a United Kingdom?” Council on Foreign Relations, March 2, 2017, http://blogs.cfr.org/patrick/2017/03/02/the-scottish-play-will-brexit-spell-the-end-of-a-united-kingdom/

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.