An Ipsos Mori poll found 51% of people in the UK think Scots should have a referendum on whether to leave the UK. It’s understandable: we never stop bleating about it, we get tons of cash from the Saxon foe down south and moan about it, we proclaim “Once in a generation” referenda every nine years (is that when we want our daughters reproducing?). You can see why anyone would be sick of us.
But here’s a thing, what if we had a referendum and a 51% Leave result? Would Saint Nicola and a chorus of Nouveau Brexiteers in Blue be proclaiming about The Will of The People?
In 2016 51-and-a-bit percent of the UK electorate voted to leave the EU. Whether you think that was a triumph of idiocy, or that sovereignty is more important than an economic and geopolitical future, one thing’s for sure: it’s a hell of an impact for a decision only half the people wanted. Indeed, that equivocal decision was taken hold of by a bunch of tub-thumping bigots and career egos who turned it to its most extreme. If that hadn’t happened and the impact was none we’d still be feeling the results just of the division for a long time.
Perhaps great questions with long term implications should have have clear or absolute support behind them?
It’s a hundred years the week after next since the last bit of the UK seceded. They’d had a famine that killed a million people within living memory, a long history of subjugation, and brutal suppression of the attempt to leave. You can bet that a democratic poll at the time would have given better than half-and-half in favour. But it wasn’t universally popular, and we’re still living with the repercussions today.
Three days after that centenary we pick a Scottish government. The SNP will take a majority vote as the keys to the steamroller. Any majority. Maybe it’s best to let them know we’re not so sure just yet.