26 October 2011

A potential SNP/UKIP tie-up?

The United Kingdom Independence Party - if you're not aware - want the UK to leave the EU.

I seem to have stumbled upon a way to help them achieve it. Back in May an article was published in a Scottish legal magazine about the legal implications should Scotland declare independence from the rest of the UK.

The article quotes Lorand Bartels (a lecturer of International Economic Law at Edinburgh University, and Senior Lecturer in Law at Cambridge):
“Both as a matter of international law and as a matter of EU law, Scotland would have to negotiate its accession to the EU as a new member state” *
This suggests than upon a declaration of independence, Scotland would no longer be part of the EU, possibly automatically.

Scotland is currently run by the Scottish National Party. One of their plans is to hold a referendum on whether Scotland should remain part of the UK. **

Scottish independence was not mentioned in UKIP's manifesto for this year's Scottish elections (PDF) and it does not appear to be covered on their website. In fact, UKIP have spoken out against the SNP even though their plans would ensure UKIP's policies are implemented.

Therefore, I suggest that UKIP move all their supporters to Scotland and vote en masse for independence should there be a referendum. Basically, UKIP should follow the plan of the "Free State Project" - a US proposal for all libertarians to move to New Hampshire and make it a stronghold for them due to a bloc vote.

UPDATE: Coincidentally, Obiter J has done a post covering this issue too - from a more legal, non-piss-taking point of view.

* He carries on by showing that should Scotland wish to re-join the EU, it would have to go through the qualification criteria, like other prospective members


** They refer to Scotland being a "member of the EU...", but, of course, this would be incorrect should independence be declared.

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