Scot Separatists Publish Plans for Independence

In challenge to Brown, seek army, taxation, control of oil reserves
By Heather McPherson,  Newser User
Posted Aug 15, 2007 6:56 AM CDT
Scot Separatists Publish Plans for Independence
British Chancellor Gordon Brown during the Labour hustings in the City Halls, Glasgow, Scotland Saturday June 2, 2007. Brown has already been confirmed as the only candidate to succeed Tony Blair as Labour leader and British Prime Minister, while the six candidates for Labour's deputy leadership make...   (Associated Press)

The August lull in British politics has given way to a national debate on an unexpected topic: Scottish independence. The separatist leader of Scotland's regional parliament has published a white paper outlining plans for a referendum and suggesting features of an independent Scotland: its own army, its own EU membership, and especially its own governance of huge North Sea oil reserves.

A referendum remains unlikely, but the Edinburgh parliament hopes to pressure London to grant it more powers, particularly for taxation. The white paper is a challenge for Gordon Brown, the UK's first Scottish prime minister in decades, whom Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond continues to needle: earlier this year he fought and won an election in a constituency pointedly named Gordon. (More Scotland stories.)

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