Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

SNP leader says Scots are political prisoners

John Arlidge
Friday 27 January 1995 00:02 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Scots are political prisoners in Britain, Alex Salmond, the leader of the Scottish National Party, said yesterday, writes John Arlidge.

Mr Salmond condemned the union between Scotland and England in 1707 as an "old-fashioned, imperialist" political structure, which harmed the interests of modern Scotland. "The agenda of the 21st century is the sophisticated pooling of sovereignty in the new Europe, not submergence of Scotland within an early 18th-century political arrangement," he said. Scots were "effectively political prisoners within a totally incorporating union".

Addressing the Foreign Press Association in London in the latest stage of the campaign to win support for independence outside Scotland, Mr Salmond called for an independent state in a federal Europe.

Under Labour's proposed Scottish parliament, key areas such as nuclear arms and access to oil revenue would be the preserve of Westminster, he said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in