Every colony which left the English Empire was told they were “not ready,” “not viable,” or would become unstable after independence, except Scotland where no reason can be offered

From STV today:

John Swinney is to press the Prime Minister for a second independence referendum after MSPs backed his call for Westminster to grant Holyrood the powers for such a vote to take place.

The Scottish First Minister, who is due to meet Sir Keir Starmer for talks in June, said those talks would be “an opportunity for me to progress the will of Parliament”.

He spoke out after MSPs backed, by 72 votes to 55, a motion demanding Westminster deliver a Section 30 order to transfer powers to Scotland that would allow a second referendum.

However, Downing Street immediately rejected that call, with a spokesperson making clear that “the UK Government does not support independence or another referendum”.

https://news.stv.tv/politics/msps-back-john-swinneys-independence-motion-but-westminster-rejects-referendum?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Over many decades, British governments, colonial governors, military officers, and politicians repeatedly argued that many colonies were “not ready,” “not viable,” or would become unstable after independence.

The territories most commonly described that way at some point included:

Americas & Caribbean

  • United States
  • Ireland
  • Jamaica
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Barbados
  • Bahamas
  • Guyana
  • Belize
  • Grenada
  • Saint Lucia
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Dominica
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis

Africa

  • Ghana
  • Nigeria
  • Kenya
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe
  • Malawi
  • Botswana
  • Sierra Leone
  • The Gambia
  • Somalia
  • Sudan

Asia & Middle East

  • India
  • Pakistan
  • Bangladesh
  • Myanmar
  • Malaysia
  • Singapore
  • Sri Lanka
  • Cyprus
  • Iraq
  • Jordan

Pacific

  • Fiji
  • Samoa
  • Tonga
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Solomon Islands
  • Vanuatu

British officials often argued these places:

  • lacked economic self-sufficiency,
  • had ethnic or religious divisions,
  • depended on British military protection,
  • or lacked administrative experience.

In practice, Britain used versions of this argument in almost every major independence movement during the decline of the British Empire. All of the above are now independent.

Is there any good reason why Scotland should be denied the same independence as the above 42 countries?

No.

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5 thoughts on “Every colony which left the English Empire was told they were “not ready,” “not viable,” or would become unstable after independence, except Scotland where no reason can be offered”

  2. Scotland used to be told the same until Scots woke up to the truth that we are a very wealthy country because of our natural assets and high education. English Empire now reduced to just saying no.

    Sent from Outlook for Androidhttps://aka.ms/AAb9ysg ________________________________

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  3. Although he was writing about the US-Philippines War, Rudyard Kipling was reflecting the attitude of white superiority, particularly of the English speaking peoples. Those who subscribed to that mindset and there are still many today, viewed and colonisation as a humane act to bring protection and guidance to lesser creatures. It was, and is, a blatant lie, but many, self-deludingly do not admit it to themselves. It is about the stripping of resources from the colonised country, using the people as cheap labour, but denying them the right to full citizenship on the spurious grounds that ‘they are just children, and incapable of managing their own affairs’.

    The colonisers always used a small selected group of local people to assist in the subjugation of their fellow countrymen. This divide-and-rule tactic is often very effective. Many Scots adopted this role in relation to Scotland and many still do – a large number of them work in the media.

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  4. India is of course the classic example, probably the richest country in the world prior to conquest, reduced to abject poverty over a couple of hundred yrs, her population systematically reduced by starvation, 5 million during Liz the lasts dad’s reign and 15 million during her grandads. The level of theft of resources and induced famine is almost unparalleled in history, yet see her today. Needless to say the English government made sure they left the country internally divided and no threat to those who perpetrated the theft and genocide.

    Swinney and the Scottish Parliament have, despite the online agro from those who have zero responsibility for delivering independence, done the right thing. Brought a motion before Holyrood, publicly debated and called a vote. That vote asked for a Section 30 agreement which would allow for referendum on Scotland leaving the union, a construct created by Treaty( not Acts of Parliament).

    What is important to remember here, despite the claims that the UK government were forced to devolve power by the EU, Holyrood was created by a referendum, therefore a vote by the Scottish people. Be under no illusions had the Scottish people voted against devolution, Holyrood would not exist.

    The refusal to allow a referendum was delivered by a lackey, not a government member, that is at this time significnt, even if it was delivered with the usual disrespect and arrogance we have come to associate and despise with English rule.

    Stuart McNicoll.

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  5. THE ENGLISH PARLIAMENT ARE GUILTY

    THEY HAVE SAT BACK and witnessed

    THE CRIMINAL ACTS ! AND DID NOTHING WHAT SO EVER

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