Gary Paterson believes there might be a way for Scotland to remain part of the UK and retain membership of the European Union
POLITICIANS of all stripes have been scratching their heads since the Brexit vote, nobody really knows what’s next and even Brexit politicians seem unwilling to handle the poisoned chalice of governing post-Brexit Britain.
The future of the UK now looks perilously on the edge as it struggles to square the needs of the UK-wide electorate with the needs of Scotland and Northern Ireland which voted against the tide to stay in the EU. Battle lines are being drawn in some quarters and uncertainty reigns supreme in others.
While the UK seems one more referendum away from fading, Brussels may yet hold the key to unite the nations walking in different directions on these islands.
While the UK seems one more referendum away from fading, Brussels may yet hold the key to unite the nations walking in different directions on these islands.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s professional handling of Brexit discussions exposed a UK Government in chaos, unprepared for a Leave vote, never mind the implications for the fragile constitutional union of the UK.
There is a sombre silence when one considers the Northern Ireland issue as communities are left without answers or leadership from the new Brexit administration to grapple with the prospect of a return to a broken border.
As the country searches for answers, some are advocating Scottish independence – and re-unification in Ireland – as the answer, while others are quickly fighting to secure the narrative that this was a UK-wide vote with no consideration for regional opinions.
The future of the UK remains uncertain, with leading unionists including former Scottish first minister Henry McLeish and health minister Malcolm Chisholm signalling their disappointment with the referendum result and its impact on Scotland.
There is, however, a third choice that involves both independence as well as remaining in a union with the rest of the UK, and, ironically, perhaps the answer lies in Brussels with the administrative home of the Benelux Union; the political, social, and economic union of Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands.
There is a third choice that involves both independence as well as remaining in a union with the rest of the UK, and, ironically, perhaps the answer lies in Brussels with the administrative home of the Benelux Union.
With its own parliament, flag, and even judiciary, the Benelux option provides a potential answer to challenges facing the UK before and after Brexit.
The leaders of both sides of the Yes and No campaigns during the Scottish independence referendum advocated close relationship with the rest of the UK; for example, Gordon Brown’s famous 11th hour pledge for 'near federalism', and Alex Salmond’s promise of maintaining the 'social union' across the British Isles.
An international union for the British Isles may be the most likely achievement of both aims. A union of independent countries across the UK could contain as much or as little as we want – defence, economy, freedom of movement within the British Isles – but crucially it would allow the independent countries of these isles to be in the driving seat of their own issues – be that issues of war and peace or membership of the EU – and address the democratic deficit of the UK.
The Benelux model has until now received very little discussion or consideration and yet it might be the very outcome that this country needs to square the different directions we are going in.
Creating a union of independent nations formalising cooperation on these isles while allowing nations to seek their own choices may satisfy the needs of those who want both independence and a form of union beyond our countries, and, crucially, it would allow each part of the UK to choose its own relationship with the European Union.
Picture courtesy of Mark Ferbert
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