- The promise comes after an opinion poll showed that 51 percent people are pro-independence
- Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond rejects proposed devolution plans as “bribe” to Scots to giving up independence demand
The British government is scrambling to respond to a lurch in opinion polls towards a vote for Scottish independence this month by promising a range of powers for Scotland if it chooses to stay within United Kingdom.
British Finance Minister George Osborne said Sunday that a plan of action would be evolved to give Scotland more autonomy on tax, spending and welfare if Scots vote against independence in a historic referendum on September 18.
Ironically, UK Prime Minister David Cameron had vetoed a third ballot option for greater devolution, betting that the stark choice of yes or no to independence would deliver a clear victory for the status quo as cautious voters turned away from an uncertain future.
A YouGov poll for the Sunday Times showed supporters of independence had taken their first opinion poll lead since the referendum campaign began. The poll put the “yes” to independence campaign on 51 per cent, overturning a 22-point lead for the unionist position in just a month.
“You will see in the next few days a plan of action to give more powers to Scotland … Then Scotland… will both avoid the risks of separation but have more control over their own destiny, which is where I think many Scots want to be,” Osborne told BBC.
Osborne said the changes, being agreed by all three major parties in the British parliament, would be put into effect the moment there was a “no” vote in the referendum.
INDEPENDENCE BLITZKRIEG:
Scotland already enjoys massive devolution and has had its own parliament since 1999 with the power to legislate in policy areas of education, health, the environment, housing and justice.
Further devolution, often referred to as “devo max” could see all powers handed over to Scotland except defense and foreign affairs.
Polls have previously shown many Scots would favor this over outright independence, and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond had unsuccessfully pushed to have it as an option on the referendum ballot.
The Scottish independence movement must frighten the American government almost as much as it scares the English rulers of the United Kingdom.
With a crippled UK that will no longer be able to afford its huge military, the Americans will have lost a critical ally ready to militarily fight its imperial overseas battles, meaning American taxpayers may soon say "No" to such extremely expensive and reckless wars the USA will then have to fight on its own to feed the military-industrial complex that controls Congress.
Comments are closed.