The Spanish reaction to the 'Catalan Crisis' is one that should give all Scots pause for thought.
Not because the UK government would resort to violence and direct rule in the Spanish style. No, but because it indicates that Spain will not countenance any EU rule changes that encourages separatists in Spain, or indeed elsewhere.
For example the idea that a separatist state can remain inside the EU after a split. This is just not going to happen, and in point of fact, rejoining the EU within a year or two is very unlikely either. This is because Spain will want it made very clear to everyone, that separatist states have to labour for a good period of time outside the bosom of EU, before they can join.
It's likely that the terms of admission will be tough as well:
All this is of course in direct contradiction of the SNP narrative in Scotland, which is that either Scotland would remain inside the EU (keeping the pound sterling and with open UK borders), or worst case, have to wait 2-3 years before being allowed in again, and straight back on to the subsidy teat.
Nicola Sturgeon will of course say that Scotland is a different case (somehow). But that will miss the point that the Spanish government won't care. They will want to ensure that the Catalans get the message and will therefore ensure that no one gets easy access to the EU via this method.
So when next the Scottish nation votes on independence, they will also be voting on their own version of Brexit (Scotskit?), whether they like it or not. I suspect that like those who keep attempting suicide but backing out of it, the Scots will eventually find the nerve and do it.
Whether they will regret it is something that we will actually probably get to find out.
 |
| Catalan Crisis .... Rocking Not Just Spain. |
Not because the UK government would resort to violence and direct rule in the Spanish style. No, but because it indicates that Spain will not countenance any EU rule changes that encourages separatists in Spain, or indeed elsewhere.
For example the idea that a separatist state can remain inside the EU after a split. This is just not going to happen, and in point of fact, rejoining the EU within a year or two is very unlikely either. This is because Spain will want it made very clear to everyone, that separatist states have to labour for a good period of time outside the bosom of EU, before they can join.
It's likely that the terms of admission will be tough as well:
- Accepting the Euro as the national currency - this will be a big thing in Scotland (or perhaps I should christen the new state Caledonia in honour of the occasion which put Scotland onto the taxpayers payroll).
- Being a Net Contributor into the EU budget for a period of time - a difficult provision for a state that has lived on central government fund dispersals for centuries. The argument about "Scottish" oil I will put to one side, but it's a fact that Scotland joined the Union because it was bankrupt (Darien colony failure).
- Border controls including passports - the UK government will not allow Scotland to become a back-door conduit to immigration, from either the EU, or Asylum seekers. No Northern Irish sweet heart border arrangements this time.
All this is of course in direct contradiction of the SNP narrative in Scotland, which is that either Scotland would remain inside the EU (keeping the pound sterling and with open UK borders), or worst case, have to wait 2-3 years before being allowed in again, and straight back on to the subsidy teat.
Nicola Sturgeon will of course say that Scotland is a different case (somehow). But that will miss the point that the Spanish government won't care. They will want to ensure that the Catalans get the message and will therefore ensure that no one gets easy access to the EU via this method.
So when next the Scottish nation votes on independence, they will also be voting on their own version of Brexit (Scotskit?), whether they like it or not. I suspect that like those who keep attempting suicide but backing out of it, the Scots will eventually find the nerve and do it.
Whether they will regret it is something that we will actually probably get to find out.
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments are welcomed, or even just thanks if you enjoyed the post. But please make any comment relevant to the post it appears under. Off topic comments will be blocked or removed.
Moderation is on for older posts to stop spamming and comments that are off topic or inappropriate from being posted .... comments are reviewed within 48 hours. I don't block normal comments that are on topic and not inappropriate. Vexatious comments that may cause upset to other commentators, or that are attempting to espouse a particular wider political view, are reviewed before acceptance. But a certain amount of debate around a post topic is accepted, as long as it remains generally on topic and is not an attempt to become sounding board for some other cause.
Final decision on all comments is held by the blog author and is final.
Comments are always monitored for bad or abusive language, and or illegal statements i.e. overtly racist or sexist content. Spam is not tolerated and is removed.
Commentaires ne sont surveillés que pour le mauvais ou abusif langue ou déclarations illégales ie contenu ouvertement raciste ou sexiste. Spam ne est pas toléré et est éliminé.