Scotland has long striven for its right to choose its own destiny. The Scots have won and lost various wars defending this right against the English. Soon after Robert the Bruce defeated English invaders, Scotland reaffirmed its independence in the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
Three hundred years later, in 1603, James VI of Scotland succeeded also to the throne of England after the death of Elizabeth I (of England), becoming known as ‘James VI and I’. During the English Civil War, the Scots surrendered his son and successor, Charles I, to English anti-monarchists on the promise his life would be spared. However, the English Parliament soon tried and executed him.
In 1660 the Stuart monarchy was restored and in 1688 James VII of Scotland (II of England) produced a Catholic heir to his thrones. The English government, intolerant of Catholics, invited William of Orange (James’ son-in-law) to invade, effectively exiling James, and declared William and Mary monarchs.
The Scots Parliament also chose William and Mary as sovereigns in a 1689 Convention. But it reiterated the Scots’ right to choose their own sovereign. However, in direct contravention to this right, the English Parliament later rewrote succession rules for both England and Scotland with the Act of Settlement in 1701. England handed both thrones to the House of Hanover — who were by no means the closest claimants to the Scots throne.
While this simply appears to be a power struggle between nobles, the 1688 Revolution allowed the establishment of a capitalist economy in Britain. This undermining of the clan-based social system and subsequent creation of a landless labour force had serious effects on the lives of Highlanders. This is typified by the granting of jointly owned clan land to a chief so it could be sold from under the feet of the people who owned and relied on it for their lives. This was especially devastating for people who had traditionally seen their chief as their protector.
England soon ensured — by threat of military force and economic sanctions, not to mention outright bribes from England’s treasury — the Parliaments of both countries were also merged in 1707. The Treaty of Union legislation was passed on a simply majority in the Scots Parliament, without reaching the required two-third majority for constutional change. The Jacobites (Stuart supporters) quickly recognised union with England as a threat to their cause and voted against it, along with the Country Party (perhaps ironically strong supporters of the 1688 Revolution).
Union with England effectively allows England to control Scotland and its resources, especially in terms of overseas trade. This ‘agreement’ has been frequently broken by Westminster, even into our own time — the imposition of poll-tax in 1989 illegally breached the Union.
Ireland, too, has a long history of struggle against domination by invaders — from the original Celts in prehistoric times to the Vikings in 838–1014; but it has been the English invaders who have proved the most difficult to repel — although most of the Irish have not stopped trying.
Much of England’s earlier involvement (from the brutal invasions of Henry II in 1171 onward) has been connected with England’s internal and external policy — religion has been involved only since the time of Henry VIII when Ireland and Scotland were able to call upon the help of Catholic countries who had become enemies of England, such as Spain (16th century) and France (18th century).
As with England’s colonisation of any country, the indigenous people were dispossessed of their land. There has been constant indigenous resistance to English domination — the king who signed a treaty with Henry II was deposed, there were three major rebellions during Elizabeth I’s reign in Enland, the exiled James VII was invited to help fight William of Orange at the Battle of the Boyne, Wolf Tone (inspired by the French Revolution) gave impetus to the United Irishmen in the late 18th century, the Easter Rising of 1916...
By the end of the 19th century, political solutions were being sought. Daniel O’Connell was the first Irish person to enter Parliament. Charles Parnell, a Protestant (as were many Irish Republicans), sought land reforms through his parliamentary position. Constance Markiewicz became the first woman MP in the British Parliament, although she refused to take her seat.
Partition of Ireland into an autonomous Republic and a ‘province’ in union with England has underlaid 20th century resistance movements — most notably the Irish Republican Army. The IRA had all but dissolved by the early 1950s, but was reformed by members of the Irish civil rights movement after passive resistance met with violent opposition from the British government. At present, resistance groups are again seeking political solutions to ameliorate the worst effects of the occupation of their country.
After the Second World War the United Nations was created with the principle of self-determination of peoples as a central aim. “The Purposes of the United Nations are ... To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace...” UN Charter, 1945.
Self-determination is the right of people to choose how they live. It relates to all aspects of life — political, economic, social, and cultural. “All peoples have the right to self-determination; by virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development.” UN Resolution, 1960.
These issues are as relevant today as they were when they were written, as this basic right of self-determination is still not enjoyed by many of the world’s peoples; Scotland and occupied Ireland included. “Universal realisation of the right of peoples to self-determination,” in which the General Assembly reaffirms “the importance, for the effective guarantee and observance of human rights, of the universal realisation of the right of peoples to self-determination” and welcomes “the progressive exercise of the right to self-determination by peoples under colonial, foreign or alien occupation and their emergence into sovereign statehood and independence.” UN Resolution, 1995.
Recent reforms have seen some powers devolved to Scottish and ‘Northern’ Irish Assemblies, but Scotland and occupied Ireland remain unequal partners at Westminster. Gaelic people continue to be ruled by people who do not have their best interests at heart.
We are not proposing the UN invade the UK, set up Scotland as an independent democracy, and return occupied Ireland to the Republic (well, not yet anyway). But the UN was founded so people would have the right to be governed by the government they choose: UN should be bringing pressure on England to ensure this right is fully enjoyed by Scots and Irish peoples. We support the goals of the Scottish National Party and Sinn Féin.
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