Not a foreign country (Bill Adams)

I see that once again a member of the “no” campaign is coming out with the assertion that if we dare to vote yes on 18th September “We will be a foreign country”.

Can I point out that the Republic of Ireland is an independent country but is not a foreign country. This is not just my opinion, it is in fact the legal position as set out in British constitutional law.

The Ireland Act, 1949 states unequivocally: “It is hereby declared that, notwithstanding that the Republic of Ireland is not part of His Majesty’s dominions, the Republic of Ireland is not a foreign country for the purposes of any law in force in any part of the United Kingdom …”

Given that an independent Scotland would be sharing the Queen as head of state with other Commonwealth countries, I should be most interested to hear Tavish Scott’s explanation as to why (in his opinion) Scotland and the other home nations in the British Isles would be foreign one to another when the Republic of Ireland, despite being outwith the Commonwealth, is not a foreign country.

Bill Adams
2 John Jamieson Closs,
Lerwick.

COMMENTS(20)

Add Your Comment
  • Ali Inkster

    • July 22nd, 2014 19:02

    The republic of ireland did not vote to leave the union.

    REPLY
  • Gordon Harmer

    • July 22nd, 2014 21:31

    Foreign country; noun, any state of which one is not a citizen; therefore to the rest of the UK we will be a foreign country.

    REPLY
    • Geordie Pottinger

      • July 22nd, 2014 23:38

      Gordon – What happened to my British citizenship? Are they taking away my British passport? Better tell the national media. It will be big news for British citizens in Scotland and great news for Better Together?-No Thanks!

      REPLY
      • Gordon Harmer

        • July 25th, 2014 14:18

        Well Geordie, off track again I see; just where did I say they would take away your British citizenship?
        If you want to know about British citizenship and how it affects people who live in foreign countries, why not research it and become better advised instead of asserting and sounding ill advised.

  • Chris Pearson

    • July 23rd, 2014 7:50

    Yes the English will be the foreigners surely.

    REPLY
  • John Oakes. Manchester, England.

    • July 23rd, 2014 9:37

    What is foreign? Considering the fact English language is spoken across the territories of UK and commonwealth. With the majority of the world using English as a means of international communication. Then the term foreign to true English men become redundant. When nations retain their own language, culture and people can they proudly declare being foreign without ever been influence by true English men.
    I would like to see in my lifetime Scots become independent ASAP for selfish reason. This would make the Westminster bubble set concentrate running the Shires and cities. Naturally a increase in border controls will be needed between our great nations. While financial services will also change to cope with the pain for a few years.
    On another similar note would Shetland people want to go independent or share a identity like Isle of Man Jersey Guernsey?

    REPLY
  • stephen shirmer

    • July 23rd, 2014 10:49

    I listen and read all this banter about the YES vote ,the NO vote, better together-etc etc

    what about those who just don’t care vote, it would surprise a few of the Scottish nationalists that a majority of the English don’t give a hoot about Scottish independence,
    yes – it will take revenue away from the horrid lot in Westminster ,and for a few months the people of Scotland will feel very Scottish , but at the end of the day we will all be speaking English with our regional accents and life will go on as usual, personally I am British. So let the good people of Scotland have there day-
    and there moment in history, and let history judge what the outcome will be.

    REPLY
  • Douglas Young

    • July 26th, 2014 20:48

    If you trust Westminster to look after Scotland’s interests more than Scots just vote No.

    Otherwise join the 80% who are Yes voters.

    Even the pro-unionist Daily Record couldn’t get their own No readers to vote!

    http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/independence-poll-100-days-go-3664811#.U5WqkfdAd08.facebook

    REPLY
    • Gordon Harmer

      • July 28th, 2014 6:17

      Maybe you should recalculate your 80% Douglas as a new poll has No Thanks lead growing by 4 points. Significantly the results are from the Yes camp and the SNP’s favourite pollsters Panelbase. As ever, no room for complacency but it confirms what our activists are finding on the doorstep, many undecided voters who are deciding to vote No.

      REPLY
    • Vernon Walker

      • August 25th, 2014 19:27

      I seem to recall that you have your own government in Scotland as well as a pretty good representation in Westminister. Westminister is not in a conspiracy against Scotland neighter . Westminister governs the whole of the UK, it dosen’t take national sides, except where necessary. Hence Scotland has the Barnett agreement, whereby the average government money spent per head of population is £1,400 per year higher than in, say England. That hard looks, to me, like a government that is conspiring against the Scot’s. But, then again, to the paronoid, everybody looks sinister

      REPLY
      • Johan Adamson

        • August 26th, 2014 9:02

        Oh yes, seems like we forgot to say thanks to England for giving us back some of our money, sorry about that.

  • Ali Inkster

    • July 27th, 2014 16:47

    If you trust any of the two of them either westminster or edinburgh to look after Shetlands interests, bigger fuil de is dae say. BETTER AFF CLEAR O DA LOT O DEM

    REPLY
  • Vernon Walker

    • August 25th, 2014 19:20

    Oh I should imagine that in the case of Ireland it was because of special circumstances. Probably something to do with being a split country North and South. A yes vote in Scotland would be likewise handled, but I very much doubt that the people of rUK would wear a similar wording to the divorce. This stems from the fact that to entice the people of Scotland to vote yes, it has become a largely anti England campaign run by the SNP. Such things do not go unnoticed in England, although we generally refrain from making anti Scot’s comments. I shoud imagine the attitude in rUK and especially England will be, if there is a yes vote. ‘ You have voted so because you do not like us , you have said so often enough’. That is a pretty poor start for Scotland to ask anything of England, and I imagine that the attitude of the English will be very hostile to any concessions to Scotland

    REPLY
    • Johan Adamson

      • August 26th, 2014 9:04

      Really?

      We, like Ireland are going to have the audacity to seek independence? How very dare us.

      REPLY
  • joe johnson

    • August 26th, 2014 8:53

    was watching the debate last night between darling and salmond. Switched the telly off after a while as it all got heated and childish with the name calling, etc. Im a no voter and I ve got to say that the debate was not helpful to all those who are undecided

    REPLY
  • Dave Cooper

    • August 26th, 2014 12:20

    As the Beloved Leader & others wish Scotland can turn it’s back & walk away from the other three partners. But is it going to be safe to continue with, in effect a shared bank account with the three who have been walked out on.

    REPLY
    • Malcolm Henry Johnson

      • August 26th, 2014 17:07

      Personally Dave, I have always thought it was a mistake to cling to the pound. However, your implication that a shared currency amounts to “in effect a shared bank account” is an exaggeration. Lord Alan Michael Sugar and I both have bank accounts in £ Sterling but that does not mean we have “in effect a shared bank account.” If you know differently, could you please have a word with the guys at the Clydesdale about my last statement?

      REPLY
      • Dave Cooper

        • August 28th, 2014 10:55

        I had seen ‘a shared bank account’ as an understatement.
        But when it comes down to it. Our own individual feelings don’t carry much weight. When it comes to the nitty gritty if Scotland wishes to joint the EU final arrangements over currency can’t be known until after possibly somewhat one sided negotiations with them.
        We can kid ourselves all we want but if Scotland wan’t to join Scotland will end up with more or less whatever the EU decrees.

  • Kathy Greaves

    • August 29th, 2014 18:31

    Doesn’t the Republic of Ireland use the Punt for its currency. You can’t use it in shops in the UK. So the argument doesn’t hold.

    Kathy Greaves

    REPLY
    • Dave Cooper

      • September 2nd, 2014 10:48

      The Republic of Ireland moved to the Euro at the turn of the 21st Century. The Irish & UK currencies had been decoupled in the late 1970s. During that twenty or so year period the exchange rate had stayed at more or less parity.
      Ireland is now Euro south of the border. Stirling north of the border.

      REPLY

Add Your Comment

Please note, it is the policy of The Shetland Times to publish comments and letters from named individuals only. Both forename and surname are required.

Comments are moderated. Contributors must observe normal standards of decency and tolerance for the opinions of others.

The views expressed are those of contributors and not of The Shetland Times.

The Shetland Times reserves the right to decline or remove any contribution without notice or stating reason.

Comments are limited to 200 words but please email longer articles or letters to [email protected] for consideration and include a daytime telephone number and your address. If emailing information in confidence please put "Not for publication" in both the subject line and at the top of the main message.

200 words left

logo

Get Latest News in Your Inbox

Join the The Shetland Times mailing list to get one daily email update at midday on what's happening in Shetland.