I NOTE that the SNP is arguing that citizens of other European Union member states resident in Scotland will or should be able to vote in the independence referendum ("Swinney backs vote for EU nationals", The Herald, February 6).
However, my understanding is that, as things stand, such EU citizens, currently on Scottish electoral registers, are only able to vote at European and local elections. Further, the SNP's determination to restrict voting in the referendum to Scottish residents – thus disenfranchising the thousands of Scots living and working (many in the service of the Crown and/or the Community of the Realm of Scotland) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – indicates a lack of awareness that the Scottish concept of a nation is not as a nation of a land but as a nation of a people. Thus, for example, we have Kings and Queens of Scots rather than Kings and Queens of Scotland.
A nation of people, not one of a land
I NOTE that the SNP is arguing that citizens of other European Union member states resident in Scotland will or should be able to vote in the independence referendum ("Swinney backs vote for EU nationals", The Herald, February 6).
However, my understanding is that, as things stand, such EU citizens, currently on Scottish electoral registers, are only able to vote at European and local elections. Further, the SNP's determination to restrict voting in the referendum to Scottish residents – thus disenfranchising the thousands of Scots living and working (many in the service of the Crown and/or the Community of the Realm of Scotland) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland – indicates a lack of awareness that the Scottish concept of a nation is not as a nation of a land but as a nation of a people. Thus, for example, we have Kings and Queens of Scots rather than Kings and Queens of Scotland.
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Don't show me this again.