Originally Posted by
Union Jack
If, and I repeat if, Scotland does eventually achieve independence, presumably the Scottish National Party would have to become simply the National Party and then, in view of their clearly socialist leanings, they could become the National Socialist Party..... Oh, "hang on" (to borrow Fiona Bruce's currently oft repeated expression) - that's been done before, and look what happened!
It's also curious to reflect that the Nationalists used to be known as the "Tartan Tories", which reflects quite a remarkable swing from right to left, which prompts the further thought that any new, improved National Party could well end up with a wide selection of left and right wingers.
On a lighter note, when I was a Sub Lieutenant I was involved in the legal investigation into an board case of sabotage and, when the perpetrator was eventually caught and duly arraigned at the Captain's Table, his defence was that he was only obeying orders. When asked on whose orders, he turned and pointed to me and said that it was on my orders in my capacity as a Vice Admiral in the Scottish Republican Navy! Not bad going for a 20 year old really, and although it only took a day for me to escape the clutches of the Directorate of Naval Security who were called in, but I'm sure it took the sailor concerned a lot longer to escape from the clutches of the psychiatrists.
On a minor informative note, further to HAS59's "Everything currently 'National' will have to be started up, from scratch from NHS, RNLI to National Tyres (well, you catch my drift).", the RNLI has been operating most impressively in the Republic of Ireland for nearly 100 years.
Belated apologies for joining the drift to thread drift.
Jack
What many people fail to realise is that, upon Scotland becoming independent, there would be AN ELECTION to see who would govern the newly independent country. In that election it would be incumbent on ALL parties who wished to govern the country to put their case to the electorate. It's not inconceivable that the SNP, having achieved their aim, would wither away a la UKIP following the Brexit referendum. It's likely a new Scottish independent parliament would be modelled on a proportionate system, as it is now, with opportunities for parties of all persuasions to put their case. Bear in mind, at the moment the SNP are technically a minority government, but govern with the help of six Green Party MSPs. That's democracy.