SNP and the act of union

[holy vehm]

Following the Scottish national parties storming result in the recent elections, it has been revealed that the snp hope to hold a referendum on independence in 2013. Should the people of scotland vote in favour of independence this will result in scotland no longer being a member of the United Kingdom.

What are the concequences of this to the act of union, would independence render it obsolete or would its contents still be relevant.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/may/06/snp-election-victory-scottish-independence (link provided by spudy)

[Freeman Stephen]

they still surrender sovreignty to the purgocracy and the eu. i mean what is the point of a choice of ministers to implement the same hereditory dictatorship.

[huntingross]

If they were successful, the Act would disolve.

But as is my won't....to drone on about this at work....independence that is....no referendum is required.

The principle for this is no different to any other ministerial decisions where the elected members represent the will of the people that elected them....and if that will was to elect a pro independence government then it follows that independence is what should be imposed upon the minority that didn't want it.

As we know, minority in this context can mean the majority of people were divided amongst other choices....why else would you have choice.

Self determination is a right for all people, not a right granted but an inalienable one, a natural one.

But this isn't what the SNP stand for....the Scots would just get more of the 'same ole' only closer to home....

The sheep still sleep.

[huntingross]

Having read the article now, secession raises an interesting problem for UK political parties that trade in Scotland with "Scottish" stuck infront.

It is against international law to interfere in the internal and external affairs of a foreign state....how would the Scottish Conservatives and Labour stand in future if independence were to happen....My guess is they could not.

If they touted UK policies with tartan draped over them it would be clear violation.

[holy vehm]

As the act of union also covers the whole of the uk and the commonwealth are those countries still not party to it, even if scotland decides not.
And, as you have said hr, if a minority vote in favour of independence, can the majority say they do not recognise that independence, that scotland is still covered under the act of union. They could argue as we do, that it is still an active and valid act.
I living in england and having full access to the act of union, i would have my 'rights' infringed by a referendum taking place that i could not take part in. The vote in scotland would take away my rights under the act.

[Freeman Stephen]

theres actually two acts of union. one is the english act of union with scotland and the othe is the scottish act of union with england. its applicability after independence must surely depend on it being repealled as part of that process, otherwise just the newer statutes that deprecate the older statutes - it is considered primary legislation amongst the people who believe in all that crap.

[huntingross]

The so called minority could say that, but they would have to have the savvie to stand up and do it, to create a co-existent state still under the UK....and that would get very interesting.

The Act of Union ties England and Scotland together only....all the other stuff about dominions and plantations is extending pre-existing rights to the now larger State of the UK. It would be my opinion that the dissolution of the Union would return to the pre-existing state, namely England and its relations with the commonwealth.

I see it like a business partner joined and then leaves....the existing contracts are un-affected.