Friday 29 November 2013

Will what's left after Scottish Independence also have to rejoin the EU?

With the Scottish referendum on Independence coming in 2016 the argument of Scotland place in the European Union continues.

The Labour Unionist Blog continues to muddy the water by referring to the "expertese " not of the European Commission but to the right wing Prime Minister of Spain

Taking a quote from the Guardian  they refer Mariano Rajoy  as saying said his government believed an independent Scotland could only apply to join the EU from outside the organisation as a new state, as he warned against regions of Europe embarking on "solo adventures in an uncertain future".


“It’s very clear to me, as it is for everybody else in the world, that a country that would obtain independence from the EU would remain out of the EU, and that is good for Scottish citizens to know and for all EU citizens to know.”
Though even Ed Jacobs who gleaned this  from a article in the Guardian  points out that Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who himself faces a separatist movement in the region of Catalonia.

So it probable that Rajoy was aiming this remarks for the people of Catalonia and that he aims to derail the movement there by potentially vetoing Scottish Independence.

However lets face it it may be that Scotland will have to negotiate some new entry but it will have until March 26 and the rest of the UK may have voted to leave the European Union before then.

Indeed the EU will probably look on a Independent Scotland more kindly.

What Rajoy, LFF  and inded the European Commission have not addressed is what will be the position nof the rump after independence

No one doubts the name of the new Independent State will be Scotland but what of the rest ?


Since the term United Kingdom was created  in the  1707 Acts of Union which  declared that the Kingdoms of England and Scotland were "United into One Kingdom by the Name of Great Britain and then United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.in 1801 it has already change twice.


The curent  name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" was adopted in 1927 by the Royal and Parliamentary Titles Act. It reflected the independence of the Irish Free State, and the partition of Ireland, in 1922, which left Northern Ireland as the only part of the island of Ireland within the UK.

So the new rump state would need to be remained as it no longer all of Great Britain (i;e the Island)

So will it  be the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland or even Britain?

Since the term United Kingdom was created to give the pretence that it was an equal Union Of England and Scotland there will be no need  to carry on with it . 

The position of this rump state .which unlike Scotland could need a new flag is unclear.

Will it automatically remain in the EU even if Scotland has to reapply? Or will the countries in the EU realise that they have the opportunity to get rid of a country that does nothing but complain since it joined ?

If Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond  has to find out the true position of an Independent Scotland in the EU then should't Prime Minister david Cameron make sure where what remains position is  also.








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