Radical Indy Conference 10: Genuine self-determination means acting like republicans now - Allan Armstrong - Posted on November 20, 2012 by Bellacaledonia

• Under the Crown Powers, even democratically elected governments can be toppled. […] However, these powers go even further. They even allow for the suspension of Parliament in ‘extreme situations’, with resort instead to direct rule by the Privy Council.  […] But surely such a constitutional coup is unlikely to ever happen? Yet, whenever national democratic challenges are made, the British ruling class quickly resorts to the Crown Powers. This should send out warning bells now that the prospect of greater Scottish self-determination has been raised. […] how will the British ruling class use those Crown Powers in the current referendum campaign? Well, they have already achieved their first objective. Alex Salmond, a Privy Councillor, sees his power coming from the devolved Holyrood office he already holds. He does not contemplate any ‘Yes’ majority, in 2014, leading to the setting up of a democratic Constituent Assembly answerable to the people of Scotland.

The Scottish government sees a ‘Yes’ vote as giving them a mandate to negotiate over how much more power can be devolved from Westminster. Their initial opening negotiating gambit of ‘Independence-Lite’, meekly accepts those profoundly anti-democratic powers and practices. They would become hardwired into any future ‘Scottish Free State’. And before this, you can be sure that the Unionists will force further retreats.  The Crown Powers would also lead to certain hidden agreements – and we know that Salmond has a strong penchant for secrecy!

Radical Indy Conference 10: Genuine self-determination means acting like republicans now - Allan Armstrong - Posted on November 20, 2012 by Bellacaledonia

http://bellacaledonia.org.uk/2012/11/20/radical-indy-conference-10-genuine-self-determination-means-acting-like-republicans-now/