Scotland's possible independence

If Scotland were to gain independence, the Twin Acts of Union would be
dissolved and the Hanovers would have very little of a claim to the

chornedsnorkack...

In England, the English Act of Settlement is independent of the Act of
Union.

Don Aitken...

No, because the Act of Settlement dealt with the succession to the
Crown of England, and the Crown of England no longer exists. The
succession to the Crown of Great Britain is governed only by the Act
of Union, which happens to say that the provisions of the Act of
Settlement shall apply to the new Crown as they applied to the Crown
of England.

The Scottish Act of Union is what extends the English Act of Settlement
to Scotland. Thus, repeal of the Scottish Act of Union would operate to
repeal Act of Settlement in Scotland. Ans since the Scottish Act of
Union also repealed the Scottish Act of Security, repeal of Scottish
Act of Union might restore the Act of Security.

Don Aitken...

That isn't the way repeals work. If Act A is repealed by Act B, and
Act B is subsequently repealed by Act C, that does not put Act A back
into force unless specifically so stated. A Scottish Independence Act

Stan Brown...

IIRC, there's a UK law governing the interpretation of statutory
language. Is that one of its provisions?

But whether or no, I doubt very much that Scottish independence would
be achieved by repealing the Act of Union. There would have to be a
huge mass of legislation to disentangle the two countries' legal and
political systems. A symbolic repeal of the A of U might be included

marc58964...

The Scottish and English legal systems have always been separate.

Charles Ellson...

There's your first mistake. The legal systems have always remained
independent. As for all-UK statutes these would remain in force until
repeal was necessary, as IMU is the case with a number of
Westminster-originated statutes in Ireland which are still in force
there despite being repealed in the UK. As for the "political systems"
(whatever they are) the Scottish Parliament deals with all matters
which are not specifically reserved already, dumping the reserved list
would automatically transfer remaining Parliamentary powers to
Edinburgh.

as part of that, but it would hardly be sufficient on its own.

would have to make new provision for who was to be Scotland's Head of
State.

Were the Act of Security restored, under the terms of those the
Scottish Parliament has to elect a sovereign among the Protestant
descendants of old Scottish kings excluding the English successor.

Can anyone list the eligible candidates under Act of Security as of
1704, 1707, 1714 and 2006?

English throne. The way I see it, three things could happen if Scotland
gains independence:

1) The English monarchy could be abolished.
2) The Hanovers/Windsors could rule Scotland and perhaps other parts of
the commonwealth, but not England or Northern Ireland or Wales and
there would be a new dynasty (possibly the heirs of Catherine Grey).
3) The Hanovers/Windsors could remain on the throne of England and
Scotland would become entirely independent and a republic or democracy.

Is this even correct and does someone have something to add?

the_verminator...

The odds of Scotland gaining independence are best expressed (imho) as
one to infinity squared. The entire system of governments and economies
are so entwined that neither country nor its major political parties
have a real interest , much less the political will, in taking on the
problems such a severing would entail.

Graham Truesdale...

Was there much work in untwining e.g Czech Republic & Slovakia?

Though I get the impression that Labour are rather worried about the
forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections, due for 3rd May 2007. Which is
quite close to Tony's likely retirement date. Could we see a bad result in these
giving him the final push? Or might he go just before that date in order to drop
this in PM Brown's lap?

I know that the Windsors are keen on keeping the Kingdom United. However,
*if* there was going to be an independent Scotland, and the only issue was
whether it would be a republic or a separate monarchy, could one imagine the
next Monarch of Scots having the same Christian name as the last one?

Deloria...

Even so, hypothetically speaking, does anyone here know what would
happen should Scotland's independence occur?

Hovite...

No, they don't.

Scotland isn't going to become independent; it is an integral part of
Europe.

Its sovereignty has been lost forever.

Why not fantasize about something else?

What about: What would happen if Brittany became interdependent?

Or: What would happen if Mecklenburg became independent?

CJ Buyers...

Indeed, this whole discussion has been silly right through. The search
for an alternative amongst foreign Catholic Jacobites for a protestant
Scots kingdom.

For what purpose? Why, to replace a lady whose mother was Scots and
sister born in Scotland!

Rico...

Or because she herself is a claims the English portion of the British throne
through her Scotish royal ancestors.