Tavish Scott comes over to the Yes Campaign...

...just not the Yes Scotland one.

In the world according to Tavish (he's the Lib Dem MSP for Shetland and widely rejected ex-Libdem leader in Scotland,) in a speech he gave to the Libdem conference in Dundee, among other things, he said to Alex Salmond; 'its not your oil, its wirs'.

Although I can't be certain, I don't think Alex Salmond ever laid claim to Scottish Oil, Westminster certainly did, the SNP did run a campaign headed 'its Scotland's oil' because it was and is, and continues to be a true reflection of reality, although not according to Westminster where most things that don't belong to it, do - and at times; on a grand scale.

Tavish, while deriding the notion that Scotland would be able to benefit from its oil reserves if independent (we're the only country to have reserves but not be enriched by them,) has decided that Orkney and Shetland on the other hand; would.

Only it wouldn't, if Orkney and Shetland were to vote for independence or autonomy, something the Scottish government are looking to put into a Scottish constitution (more power for all local authorities) and Tavish is mentioning to stir things up, it would be an enclave within Scotland's Exclusive Economic Activity Zone with oil rights out only to 12 miles, in terms of oil wealth; it would have none. Orkney and Shetland would benefit from landing oil, but then, they already do. This is a straightforward case of international law laid down in something called UNCLOS, (The UN Convention on the law of the Sea... The things you learn...)

How many lies are people prepared to accept from unionist politician before they realise the paucity of positive arguments for the Union?

How craven do you have to be, that you'd recommend for one group of people the same thing you condemn for another in order to gain political capital. More over, Scotland and England are countries joined together in a Union, despite what Westminster's legal advice suggests, they are still distinct countries; Scotland prints its own money, has its own justice systems, health infrastructure and government entirely separate from England. Yet Tavish Scott, in order to save his beloved Union is suggesting partition of a nation state, an entirely different proposal from dissolving a Union of nations.

He'd suggest, in place of allowing a country its internationally recognised right to self determination, that it be broken up instead? 

What a horrible little opportunist.*

Sorry, I should have said, this was another political post, I know it bores a lot of people, only, it is important because, in wider terms; its your money and your kid's future (if you have any or if you don't yet) which is at stake and lets be honest, nobody likes being taken for a mug.

* I've heard this same charge being laid at the door of Alex Salmond in terms of Scottish Independence, it would be true if you ignored international law, increasingly illiberal and right wing governments Scotland doesn't vote for being returned to Westminster  and the fact Scotland has been an independent country existing outside of any union agreement with any other parliament or country for longer than it has been in this particular union with Westminster.