Matt's Big Bad Green Blog: What's the story in Balamory?

Well now I'm into my series about the rapidly approaching Scottish independence referendum. A month to go! Potentially until the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ceases to exist as a united entity. Instead it could become two nations: Scotland and the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland. However the latter countries name is still up for debate. I quite like the sound of:

The United Kingdom of Southern Britain and Northern Ireland

Just say it how it is. Although, the name of the "rump" UK is still up in the air in quite a literal sense. It all depends on whether the Scottish people vote Yay or Nay next month.

So let's get down to the facts. What is exactly going on north of the border in the land of tartan, Scottie dogs and Balamory! As I don't want to bore you with the details and I want to keep this week's blog short and sweet.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26550736

Archie from the CBeebies Show, Balamory. Apologies to all Scottish reader here..

As I'm sure this BBC article will tell you and you can glean from the media buzz around the debate, this is kind of a big deal.

From my own personal perspective it has thrown up a lot of questions about identity and how I view myself. In the 2011 UK census, I would tick the little box that said "White British". As that’s how I viewed myself. Not as a Cestrefeldian (someone from Chesterfield), a Derbyshire lad, English whatever. I simply viewed myself as British. A simple label that has a lot of different meanings for a lot of different people.

From studying History at both GCSE, A-level and via YouTube, I would honestly admit that I have some patriotism in being British. However, I would also like to point out that I have also been ashamed of what was done in the name of Britain in the past.

Now the Scottish referendum has called all this into question for me. What does it mean to be British in 2014? In particular when a part of the "mother" country was No Thanks to the current Westminster system from London. I do sympathise with the long battle that has been fought by the Scots to get a greater say in their affairs. Especially after the horrors of the Thatcher years (1979-1990), and a Tory government who had a dwindling number of seats in Scotland was re-elected three times (1983, 1987, 1992). There are some links below to some very good documentaries which explains the history behind the referendum in far greater detail than I can:

Thatcher and the Scots (2009)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31FGZZ9Jb1E

Referendum Documentaries- Scotland's Smoking Gun (2014)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03sltv5/referendum-documentaries-2-scotlands-smoking-gun

Better Together Campaigners (Glasgow Tories) in Glasgow.

However, until recently I still felt that the UK was better as a whole, united nation. Rather than it being split into two. In fact I was and still am on the Better Together (Anti-Independence) campaign mailing list. I even rang them up and said that I was prepared to run an aggressive Twitter and Facebook campaign against the Yes campaign.

This presented me with a problem as it went against what both the Green Party of England and Wales and the Scottish Greens were saying. This was complete support for an independent Scotland. So what do I do?

Scottish Greens website (2014)

http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/independence/

Green Yes Manifesto- Scottish Greens (2014)

http://www.scottishgreens.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2013/11/Green-Yes-document.pdf

Patrick Harvie. A Green MSP and Male Co- Convener of the Scottish Greens.

Well I thought about actually asking the Scottish Greens, particularly the Scottish Young Greens what the deal was exactly. Seeing how I was an "English" Masters student sitting in Chesterfield and having never been to Scotland (Shock, horror!), coming out on a vehemently anti-Yes stance.

My main concerns were: the currency issue, the EU, and the political situation in the remaining parts of the UK. My personal opinion was complicated by Dad. The reasoning being that my Dad works for a company who has its headquarters in Newbridge, near Edinburgh. So occasionally he has to go up there on business trip etc. Every time has been up I have always asked him:

"What is the mood up in Scotland?"

"What's the feeling up there?"

"What does your boss in Edinburgh think of the referendum?"

Apart from being a little annoying on my Dad's part to be my personal opinion tester of the Scottish people, I have actually got some interesting responses. An answer to the latter question was:

"They are voting No, because they wonder who would there be to lead an independent Scotland other than Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon. Who would form the cabinet?"

I find this a very interesting reason for not voting Yes in the referendum, and could be indicative of a lack of knowledge or apathy. Likewise it could be argued that other than Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, who else is really well known in Scottish politics? I feel that would be rectified in an independent Scotland, as media attention north of the border would focus on Holyrood (Scottish Parliament) rather than Westminster. But still an interesting reason to support the Better Together/ No Thanks campaign.

Alex Salmond- Current Scottish First Minister

Getting back to the Scottish Greens and my concerns, I asked a Scottish Young Green my question and got some open and honest responses. None of the simple slogans that has been muttered by the Scottish National Party (SNP) and in my opinion has provided the No campaign with some easy political points.

The responses I got made me think that maybe I can support the Yes campaign after all. Maybe the sky won't fall in, if I supported Yes on September 18^th. Now this has to be credited to the Scottish Young Green who reply to my questions and took away some of my ignorance on the key issues.

Now I can see here, that some people might think I have been led astray here. However, I would have to disagree. With an issue that has such wide reaching and long term consequences for not just Scotland, but the whole UK.

Anyway I have blithered on for too long now and must stop before I get repitative stain injury to my wrists! However, as promised I will continue this series next week and will tackle some of the key issues of the debate. So keep those eyes peeled J

OPINION POLL- 4 WEEKS LEFT TO GO!

YES: 38%

NO: 51%

DON'T KNOW: 11%

Source: YouGov

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/events/scotland-decides/poll-tracker

Additional Reading/Viewing

Balamory Theme Tune

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWBAINpDuvk

Referendum Documentaries- Five Million Ways to be Scottish

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03tgtmt/referendum-documentaries-3-five-million-ways-to-be-scottish

Referendum Documentaries-Scotland's Top Ten Battlegrounds