This is the last Sunday (14/09) of the referendum campaign for the Scottish independence and the polls still indicate an unpredictable result. Three polls were released in the last 24 hours, where they vary from 8-pt YES lead to 8-pt NO lead, dividing the preference of voters.
The Observerpoll shows 53% reporting an intention to vote NO while 47% say YES (of those certain to vote), almost the same result of the Better Together campaign poll (54 % x 46%). But the Sunday Telegraph discloses 54% in favor of independence and 46% against.
These undefined results began to emerge only a few weeks ago when the “nationalists” showed an overwhelming advance, annulling the advantage that the “unionists” had assured from the beginning of the campaign.
But it was enough for big business and their representatives to start a wave of attacks and threats against a possible Scottish independence.
The parties of order react
The first to make threats were the Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader David Cameron and Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour Party.
Cameron said that he wouldn’t allow the use of the Sterling as currency and that Scottish independence is “irreversible.” He also said he would increase the autonomy of Scotland [what is called max devo] if it remained in the Union, as greater powers to determine taxes and social benefits.
Miliband, in his turn, posing as a future prime minister (the general election will be in May 2015) said that “if you do not want borders, vote to stay in the UK”, adding that he would settle border guards and passport control.
Even Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right party UKIP, tried to use the Queen herself as a form of threat. He called on the Queen to speak out against Scottish independence, saying it “might be handy” if she defended the union.This shows the reactionary character – not just him – of his proposal to maintain the Union: maintaining the monarchy and, with it, all the existing lack of formal democracy in Britain, where people is unable to vote for the leader of the nation, and forced to bear an upper chamber composed of “lords” nominated by major parties under the blessing of the Queen.
The threat of the big business
The main representative of the finance capital, the IMF, also joined the menace campaign. Its spokesperson, William Murray, said the victory of independence could provoke turmoil in financial markets and bring uncertainty regarding the “new and different monetary, financial and fiscal framework in an independent Scotland”, referring mainly to the change of currency.
The threats of capital flight and escalating inflationary prices were also present. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and the Lloyds Banking Group have threatened to move their headquarters to another country if the YES vote wins. They were bailed out by the British government and owe much to the “City of London”. The Tesco bank, TSB and the Australian Clydesdale backed them.
These banks employ 35,000 people in Scotland, leading the union to fear a wave of layoffs.
The big supermarket chains – many of them attached to banks – also joined the chorus of NO saying that they would be forced to increase the prices of products in their shops because, as the executive chief of Asda, the second largest supermarket, said, “If we were no longer to operate in one state with one market and, broadly, one set of rules… We would have to reflect our cost to operate here,” backed by the DIY, Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and other chains.
No to threats, for the right to free choice
Although the polls indicates, in general, a small effect on voters who have already made their choice, the target of threats are the 10% undecided voters, whose position will be decisive for the outcome of the referendum, because 98% of voters have registered to vote.
The ISL, IWL’s section in England, denounces this wave of attacks and threats on the part of the big business and their representatives and states the full right to self-determination of the Scottish people, though not agreeing with the terms of this pseudo-independence promoted by the Scottish National Party. It only seeks a bigger share of the profits for the sector of the Scottish bourgeoisie represented by it, which would be achieved with the full control of the new state. But, at the same time it wants to get rid of the clutches of the English finance capital, it will ask for membership of the European Union and will deliver the independent Scotland to the bigger claws of the German/French finance capital, captained by the American imperialism.
Moreover, Salmond promises to continue under the “sacred mantle” of the British monarchy.
For a free British Union of Socialist Republics
For us, self-determination should be exercised to increase the unity of the working classes of Scotland, Wales and England so that they can fight harder against their oppressors and exploiters, the capitalists and imperialism, be it English, German or American.
This can only be achieved if, along with the demand of the right to self-determination, a program of class independence which breaks with the EU and the German/American imperialism is placed; founds a republic with the right to vote at all levels; nationalize large companies and banks – beginning with those that threaten the right to free choice of the Scottish people -; renacionalize all public and state services – like the Post Office, mines and railways – which have been privatized since the Thatcher government and put an end all anti-union legislation passed by both Conservatives or Labour governments, ensuring the full and free right to organize and strike for workers.
This is the way for the formation of a Federation of Socialist Republics British, the only way to unite in their diversity, the working classes of England, Wales and Scotland to tackle the European Union’s capital, towards a Europe of workers and peoples.Read also: Independence referendum: the Scottish people will decide.
