Letters / Not set in stone
Gordon Harmer, in his letter (An abundance of wool; SN 12/09/14), suggests I am trying to deceive people in order to influence how they vote in the forthcoming referendum.
Given that I haven’t decided how I will vote yet, that is an absurd charge.
Gordon asks: “If during the negotiations Salmond uses Faslane as a bargaining chip and gains a currency union by allowing the nuclear base to stay in Scotland and the UK government gain 50 per cent of all oil revenues through an international court, just how will we be able to change this and other negotiated agreements through the democratic process?”
It is inconceivable the team representing Scotland would agree to nuclear arms remaining permanently at Faslane in order to secure a currency union. If it did the Scottish Government would lose all credibility as it has stated its intention to remove them in the Scotland’s Future White Paper.
If, hypothetically, such a deal were to be reached, it would be a key issue at the first Scottish Parliament general election.
Many candidates would likely pledge to renegotiate such a deal. If a majority of them were elected that is what the first independent Scottish Government would seek to do.
The negotiating teams can’t sign an agreement tying Scotland to maintaining a nuclear base for all eternity.
I accept the people of Scotland will be able to do little about some of what is negotiated (such as asset and debt division). Other parts of what is agreed during negotiations will not be set in stone.
Kennedy Stewart
Framgord
Scalloway
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