QUICKFIRE EPISODE 1: UNPACKING INDEPENDENCE FROM PRO-EU RHETORIC

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launches 'Renewing Democracy through Independence' (Photo by Andrew Milligan - Pool/Getty Images)

The Scottish Government has began publishing periodically a new series of pro-independence papers on the ScotGov website. It aims to outline the need for Scottish independence, and makes a number of claims which require a detailed and forensic scrutiny. My Quickfire series will aim to examine these documents, with reference to historically verifiable facts with full receipts provided for each episode.

This one focuses on two aspects of the July 14th publication entitled ‘Renewing Scotland’s democracy’.

• What is the concept of sovereignty the Scottish National Party is outlining?

• How does it fit with a pro-European concept of national sovereignty?

• Is the SNP’s rhetorical commitment to the European Union merely skin deep?

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Source material referenced in the episode:

1. Letter from Viviane Reding Vice President of the European Commission (dated March 20 2014)

   http://archive2021.parliament.scot/S4_EuropeanandExternalRelationsCommittee/Inquiries/Letter_from_Viviane_Reding_Vice_President_of_the_European_Commission_dated_20_March_2014__pdf.pdf

2. Scottish independence: Would Scotland be in the EU after a Yes vote? Outlining the then-SNP claims about Article 48 allowing iScot to retain EU membership in event of a vote for independence

   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-26173004

3. Barroso casts doubt on independent Scotland's EU membership rights

   https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/sep/12/barroso-doubt-scotland-eu-membership

4. Sturgeon says 'determined' to defend Scotland's place in EU (2016, AFP News Agency)

5. Renewing Scotland’s democracy: Building a New Scotland

   https://www.gov.scot/news/renewing-scotlands-democracy/