Talia Tybutz
Deputy Head of Press, Easter 2014
Enquiries:
Press Release – 16.05.2014
‘This House Believes Scotland Should be an Independent Country’
On Thursday, 15th May, the Union hosted a debate on the topical motion of ‘This House Believes Scotland should be an Independent Country’. The debate was characterized by extraordinary passion, and excitement at having a chance at trying to come to a conclusion on this controversial motion.
Michael Gray, staff researcher for Business for Scotland, a pro-independence business and economic policy think tank, spoke eloquently on the referendum as “the greatest opportunity to improve our democracy for a generation.” He went on to argue that far from wanting separation, independence would be a vote for a “new and better and equal relationship”, in which Scotland could decide its own affairs and its own future. When challenged by an audience member on the fact that the last 20 out of 21 years of Scottish government had been run on a deficit, Gray was quick to remind the audience that so had most Western countries. Distancing himself from the more nationalist view of independence, Grayconcluded his campaign “doesn’t want to change the flag, we want to change the country.”
Next, Lord Wallace of Tankerness, former Deputy First Minister of Scotland and twice acting First Minister, leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords, and Lord Advocate General for Scotland, spoke for the opposition. Referencing Monty Python, a continuing trope throughout the rest of the evening, he asked, “What have the Romans ever done for us?” The answer, when applied to Scotland, came in the form of a long list including the Bank of England, the BBC, and the National Health Service, amongst others. Moreover, Lord Wallace insisted, the weight of this case could be found on the side of the proposition itself, whose plans for an independent Scotland would attempt to keep all these beneficial elements of a United Kingdom.
The round of floor speeches saw lively interventions on both sides, with audience members responding most positively to a passionate extension lamenting the fact that most citizens in the room, owing to their residence in England, would not have a voice on the upcoming referendum. President of the Union, Michael Dunn Geokjian, however, reminded the chamber that world events do in fact often hang on the outcomes of Union debates.
The debate was set back into its original motion by Peter Wishart MP, former SNO Chief Whip and current Westminster Spokesperson for the Constitution, Home Affairs, Culture, Media and Sport and International Development, who talked of “something special happening in Scotland”. According to Wishart, this was taking the form of a “nation beginning to find itself” and he stressed the truly grass roots nature of the movement for Scottish independence. The opposition, however, quickly intervened to remind the chamber that the greatest proportion of the ‘yes’ campaigns funds came from a single donor. Wishart remained un-phased, bringing up the soon to be central argument about the democratic benefits of an independent Scotland; as currently Scotland is under a Tory coalition even though there are more great pandas than Tories in the Scottish parliament.
Anne McGuire, MP for Stirling and Shadow Minister for Disabled People, then picked up the mantle for the opposition in opposing Wishart’s views and setting out what she deemed to be the “positive case” for remaining in the UK. Focusing on the great integration between these two nations, for example the many Scottish born people living in England and English living in Scotland, McGuire argued this was a policy that would divide friends, colleagues and families.
Summing up for the proposition, CalumWorseley,a University debater andwinner of multiple schools competitions in Scotland,concluded by admitting that for many Scots it felt like they were going into this decision blind. He maintained, however, that this was a jump worth taking, as it would bring forth a genuinely more autonomous and democratic Scotland.
Finally, the opposition closed its case with Ben Adams,Cambridge debater and a Grand Finalist of the World University Debating Championship, who argued passionately for a continued Union on political and economic grounds, and also due to the falsity in nationalism. He went on to dismiss what he deemed the ‘myth’ of nationalism, arguing that some of the rhetoric of independence almost made him feel as if he had “stumbled into a Republican primary race.”
Overall, it was a heated and lively evening on an increasingly topical issue. Both sides were clearly convinced in their opinions and truly showed the importance of the issues they discussed for the future both of Scotland, and the United Kingdom.
Debate Result
Ayes: 27
Noes: 110
Abstentions: 36
The motion failed to carry.
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By Talia Zybutz
Deputy Head of Press, Easter 2014
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