• SbisasCostlyTurnover@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      I don’t think the nationalist would actually win a vote right now (I don’t think they’d have won even if they held a vote 2 years ago either), but it’s been almost a decade since the last referendum. If people have a right to self determination, how often do you let them exercise that right. Once in a lifetime seems horrible undemocratic.

      • mackwinston@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        For certain things though it is impractical to have votes every few years, especially a vote that works as a “ratchet” - remainers would have to keep winning all the time if you have constant referendums to retain the status quo, but leavers would only need to win once since like Brexit, Scottish independence would be essentially forever.

        You’re not going to have a vote on the union every 4 years as you would with a general election, it would be impractical to have Scotland constantly leaving and rejoining the UK every few years as if it were an election, just as it would be impractical for the UK (or any other country) to be leaving and rejoining the EU every few years.

        You also have to consider how far self-determination goes. Scotland got their vote which was never sold as anything less than a once in a generation vote, so the very earliest this should be considered again should be 2039.

        How far does the right to self-determination go? Should Manchester get a vote to leave the UK? What about Haslemere? What about 23 Acacia Avenue, Upper Warlingham?

      • Bernie Ecclestoned@sh.itjust.works
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        1 year ago

        Once in a lifetime was what they campaigned on though…

        In Alex Salmond’s foreword to Scotland’s Future, the white paper on independence ahead of the 2014 referendum, the then first minister said the vote would be a “rare and precious moment in the history of Scotland - a once in a generation opportunity to chart a better way”.

        The document itself went on to state there was “no arrangement in place for another referendum on independence”, and that “only a majority vote for Yes would give certainty that Scotland will be independent”.

        Mr Salmond and his team used the phrase several times in interviews, including one with Andrew Marr where he said that “in my view this is a once in a generation, perhaps even a once in a lifetime opportunity”.

        His deputy Ms Sturgeon, used that “lifetime” phrase during the final Holyrood debate before the referendum - as did three other SNP MSPs, before passing a motion which also called the ballot the “opportunity of a lifetime”.

        https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51120175

        • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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          1 year ago

          Why should we let the opinions of people who aren’t even in power anymore determine what we should do in the future?

          If a magic money tree was discovered, would you refuse to use it because Theresa May once said it didn’t exist?

            • Blake [he/him]@feddit.uk
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              1 year ago

              Would you kindly share the Hansard reference or Act of Parliament which establishes that another referendum shouldn’t be held until a lifetime has passed?

            • Hossenfeffer@feddit.uk
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              1 year ago

              That’s exactly what we do each general election. We haven’t kept the Whigs in power because they won the general election in 1708.