| September 20 |  |
Editor says, what if the al-Megrahi Affair decisively turned the debate on Scottish Independence? Please note that the opinions expressed in this post do not necessarily reflect the views of the author(s).
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In 2010, on this day First Minister Alex Salmond declared the result of the Referendum on Scottish Independence, attributing the unexpectedly strong "yes" vote to the explosive consequences of the al-Megrahi Affair.
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Scotland the BraveOnly eighteen months before, the Scottish National Party (SNP) had announced the referendum with little fanfare and absolutely no prospect of success whatsoever. Quite simply, the overwhelming majority of Scottish people were not yet convinced that the nation's unique identity demanded a further step from the devolved powers granted in 1999. That argument would not be won by the SNP or even its iconic leader Alex Salmond. Rather a demonstration of an obscure detail of Scottish Law would turn the "West Lothian" question on its head.
Libyan intelligence officer Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi (pictured) had been convicted of bombing a U.S.-bound Pan Am flight over Lockerbie in 1988. Terminally ill, Scottish legal practice makes explicit provision for the early release of prisoners on compassionate grounds. Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill duly announced that al-Megrahi faced "justice from a higher power" and released him.
"Scots love nothing better than an underdog,"That nations could or might earn authority by demonstrating humility was not in the minds of other Western States. Nor was it purely a matter for Scottish concern. Because of the total of 270 fatalities, 190 were American citizens (including the Four Tops1). A transatlantic firestorm of criticism ensued, with US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton condemning the move - challenging the British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Nothing could have swung the independence debate more forcefully than the shocking development of Brown, himself a Scottish "Son of the Manse" criticising the decision under pressure from the White House. Or perhaps the cynicism of Barack Obama speaking emotionally of the Four Tops. And worse, it was revealed that favourable trade arrangements had encouraged the British Government to exclude itself from the controversy.
Newsweek Magazine reported that ~ Although 69 percent of Scots acknowledge that the move has damaged their country's international reputation, the latest polls suggest that 43 percent of the population nonetheless approves of the decision. Two thirds of Scotland's lawyers believe the justice minister acted correctly in freeing Megrahi, and church leaders, both - Roman Catholic and Protestant, have endorsed the decision. "Scots love nothing better than an underdog," says political commentator Lesley Riddoch. "And so far the government has managed to look like the plucky little Braveheart of the piece" by standing up to U.S. Criticism.
After twenty long years, the sky over Lockerbie was blue. Dark blue.
Entry posted by Todayinah Editor
© Underhill, William. "Scotland Stands Up To Goliath", Newsweek Magazine. Story Tags
Permalinks: Post, Day. Browse Thread: Beasts Source: Newsweek Magazine Labels: Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, Lockerbie, Libya, America, Scotland. Editor says, please note that large amounts of content have been repurposed from the article in the Newsweek Magazine. The Four Tops were booked on the flight but did not embark.
~ Interesting FH piece...
~ I think that if Scotland found out that independence = no more subsidies from the Sassenach, the SNP would have the wind out of its sails in a hurry.
~ A good point well made sir. I read an article in the late 90s about an Independent Ireland with Gerry Adams as the President c2010 after which Prime Minister Brown cuts the subsidies to Northern Ireland. So I'm wondering if the Credit Crunch forces Westminister to drastically cut the subsidies to the Scottish Parliament to such an extent this becomes a non-issue, or at least, less of a decisive one.
~ Biggest trigger is more likely to be a Tory government in London with no Scotish seats and no interest in keeping Scotland in the UK.
~ If the Scots found out that without London, the welfare state might start not being able to keep going, I think the SNP would experience a sharp drop in popularity.
~ Scots Nats have their own economic theories whereby Scotland can have its cake and eat it too. This is much easier to sell to Scotish voters with a Tory government in London than a Labor one. As of now the Tory party is near dead in Scotland. So the Scotish electorate sees Tories as Englishmen. Labor is seen as a Scotish Party. PM is Scot etc.
~ Eric, they only find that out a year or two AFTER independence. How many people have a clue in political budget debates including the talking heads? US in 1994 had deficits as far as they eye could see. By 2000 we were proclaiming surpluses as far as the eye can see but no one had a coherent theory as to why. By 2003 we were back to deficits as far as the eye could see and no one had a coherent theory of where the surpluses went to. The defictis then started to implode 2004-6 and exploded from 2007 onwards. The predicitve equations have ceased to predict even to those that follow them. So the Scots Nats will deny that independence means relative poverty and the voters will be inclined to believe them because they don't trust English Tories.
© Today in Alternate History, 2013-. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
