British elections: Triumph for Scottish Nationalist Party; defeat for Liberal Democrats

[iandhr]

Source: LA TIMES


Reporting from London—
A party advocating independence for Scotland has won a surprising mandate in the regional assembly there, according to election returns Friday that also showed the junior partner in Britain's governing coalition, the Liberal Democrats, getting thrashed in local races across the country.

A referendum on changing the way voters choose members of Parliament was heading toward a resounding defeat as well, matching the fortunes of the "Lib Dems," the party that most ardently championed it.

Britain's ruling Conservatives, who had braced themselves for heavy losses because of their radical plan to cut public spending, held up surprisingly well in the local elections, one year after winning power on the national level. Both the Conservatives and, even more so, the opposition Labor Party made gains in city and town halls at the expense of the Liberal Democrats.

But the stunner of Thursday's elections was the success of the Scottish Nationalist Party, or SNP, which won a majority in the Scottish Parliament, the first time any grouping has done so since the assembly was established in Edinburgh in 1999.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-britain-election-20110507,0,3449400.story

[Prof Lester]

1. Never happen.

The Irish fought for their independence for 800 years and they still haven't finished yet. No way on God's green earth will the British allow the Scots to get away.

[iandhr]

2. you're right

but maybe the Socts can get can get more autonomy as a result of this.

[iandhr]

3. you're right

but maybe the Socts can get can get more autonomy as a result of this.

[T_i_B]

5. Scots will most likely get a refendum on independence.

Although it is worth remembering that there would still be a good chance that the Scots would vote No in such a referendum.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=191x33160

[Boudica the Lyoness]

6. The Scots are British.

[Agent William]

8. Scotland is a part of Britain...Both geographically and culturally

I don't think Scottish independence holds a plurality of support.

Please do not compare the Ireland to Scotland. This whole meme that the British (I assume you mean English) are holding Scotland hostage is completely bunk. They have it good and they are compensated rather well for North Sea oil renevue. Remember, the reason the Union Flag flies above both Scotland and Northern Ireland is due to the fact that the majority of the population wish it to be.

I'm not to sure what is meant by "still haven't finished yet" I here that a lot, but not sure why people say it.

[DavidDvorkin]

4. It could be a step toward a Europe of the Regions

If the EU strengthens and centralizes more, there'll be that much less need for the UK, France, Germany, and Italy as unified federations themselves.

[LeftishBrit]

7. All evidence is that the Scots won't vote for independence...

They often vote for the SNP locally for other reasons than actually wanting independence. But they'll probably get a referendum on it.

The Tories did not in fact do at all well; just not quite as badly as they feared. But in Scotland and Wales they were already at rock-bottom.

As for the LibDems, they demonstrated the truth of the old saying, 'if you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas'.

Pity about the defeat of voting reform; the present system is terrible.

[ikri]

9. There is no majority desire for independence

There hasn't been for a few hundred years or more. The SNP gained a massive amount of votes from former Lib Dem voters who switched to them instead of Labour. The Lib Dems were always the centre-left alternative to Labour but since they've abandoned most of their earlier principles those voters have moved to the next centre-left party - the SNP.

Independence in Scotland is like abortion in the US, it's a wedge issue to get the fanatics out to vote but the SNP won't put it to a referendum unless they absolutely have to since they already know that they'll lose.

[DavidDvorkin]

10. Many years ago, Sean Connery

gave a speech in Scotland calling for Scottish independence.

A newspaper report said that the audience were "shaken, but not stirred."