An EU dichotomy

 

Europe……………..

I consider myself to be a “good European”.  I like the idea that we’re part of a huge marketplace of brothers and sisters of some 500 million people.  It feels right.

Unlike some, I see us working hand in glove in future with people all across Europe and don’t feel threatened one bit by the expansion of the European Union.  They haven’t hurt me or my people, however, people in the other union – the union represented by the United Kingdom have.

David Cameron, the Prime Minister has embarked on a “Negotiate then Vote” strategy.  He’s been met with smiling faces at every country he’s visited and then after he’s gone the newspaper reports in those countries add a footnote saying “He’s got another think coming, hasn’t he?”

I often travel through England professionally and see a large immigrant population, except it’s not so large and many of those people have lived here for generations.  Immigration didn’t just start in the 70’s.  It’s been happening for hundreds of years.  The people of England just perceive that when they see someone with darker skin or someone who speaks to another in a foreign language, they think they got off the boat or the plane last week.

I like the idea of free movement of people so long as it’s “controlled” and gives equal respect to those who already live here.   That’s not so difficult to do and can easily be sorted out through legislation to give “citizen” status to the incumbents in our society whilst leveraging help and support to new-comers where it’s needed.  It just needs to be fair to all.  As the new-comers settle in, they can seek “citizen” status and gain all the rights and privileges that we give ourselves.  After all, we in the UK have people going the other way too, perhaps Sons or Daughters or dear friends where we’d like to see them shown equal respect wherever they land.

People should be able to better themselves, no matter the background they come from or place they come from.  That is a basic human right and should be defended.

So we’re to have a vote on membership of the European Union.  It looks like it’ll take place later on in 2016.  It is entirely possible that the people of England will vote to take us out of the EU.  Going by the message that UKIP broadcast on many occasions which will have seeped into the English psyche, continued membership of the EU will exacerbate their perceived problems.

I on the other hand wish for another referendum regarding Scottish independence.  I see the bloc of MP’s that the SNP sent southward being insulted and sneered at and see those insults and sneers by association being directed at the people of Scotland.  In the past, it wasn’t nearly so much in your face, but it is now.  Our MP’s cannot even get answers to questions at “Scottish Questions” in Westminster and David Mundell who is now the Secretary of State for Scotland revels in the fact that he has so much power against us through the position he’s been given being the only Tory MP in Scotland.

Our situation is becoming unworkable and if the Scotland Bill is brought in as is, we’ll find that the SNP will find it harder and harder to balance the books and continue to provide free university tuition, free prescriptions and keep the NHS running as is.

This creates a dichotomy for me.  I support staying in the European Union but I want out of the United Kingdom as fast as possible.  Nicola Sturgeon said that getting pushed out of the EU was one of the game-changers which would definitely bring forward another independence referendum.

So, do I campaign for staying in?  Or do I stand back on this one in the hope that the result is that the UK is taken out which would trigger indyref2.  And hopefully Scotland would be free to continue within the EU if Scottish independence was regained by the people.  Even if the vote was to come out of the EU, there would be time to run an indyref2 and negotiate with the rUK and with Europe.  We would become in that instance the “Successor State” with all the goods and chattels still attached.

However if I don’t campaign and do my bit along with many others, then both Scotland and England both opt to leave the EU, that creates a huge problem which would work against the argument for an indyref2.

Do you see my problem? Or our problem?

We certainly live in interesting times, if we are pulled out of the EU, the dole queue’s will be enormous and thinner times, thinner than now will become the standard that we’ll have to get used to.

I believe that the Tories have a hidden agenda.  One that places everyone in jeopardy and gives them and their friends the bankers and the plutocracy a frightened and compliant population without any proper human rights laws with which  to enslave for generations to come.  We’re nearly there now.

Indyref2 is too important to Scotland and that must be our priority but we need to win the vote in Scotland for the EU.  A lot hangs on that vote.

Kindest regards,

David Milligan