Calum MacLeod - has made a long and interesting comment on why Scotland should lead the UK's fisheries negotiation in Brussels, in response to Gavin Yates's post on the SNP strategy. Calum says that independence is seen by its supporters not a cutting-off but a re-joining. Its worth reading the quote in full, as well as the whole comment (Moderator):
"The co-operative approach is what a government under the SNP and independence should and will really mean.... governing for the SNP is not a cutting-off, but a re-joining. The SNP see Scotland as independent only in the sense that it can decide with whom to co-operate and on what issues. Independence for Scotland and for the SNP is about freedom to make such choices that we seek, for in this new century there is no such thing as an independent nation. Indeed many have yet to grasp that the SNP has no intention of shutting down co-operation and independence would still be a case of inter-dependence".
There is a striking difference in tone and judgement in Calum's language heard south of the border on these issues, where talk of independence from the EU seems off the planet while talk of inter-dependence is laced with fatalism and nostalgia (for greatness past) rather than a positive energy of living and negotiating with others.
