Yes it’s extremely odd.
Scotland entered into the Union with England willingly (in fact, some versions of the events at that time suggest they were positively begging to be conjoined). I know things change, especially over 300 years. However, what the SNP now seems keen on is to be free of its ties with the rest of the UK to join an organisation which is undemocratic and moribund and where they will have absolutely no influence whatsoever (the UK has very little; a country with about 8% of the UK’s population will have considerably less).
Their main complaint seems to be that, being ruled from Westminster, Scottish interests are seldom considered when decisions about the UK as a whole are taken. But currently they have the best of both worlds. They have a devolved administration with powers over matters which English areas with a similar GDP and population could only dream of. They have influence in Westminster (including voting rights over matters which do not concern them) with all bar five of their MPs from a party concerned solely with Scottish matters. They benefit from far more public spending per head than their counterparts in England. But they seem willing to relinquish all that to become (in their dreams) an independent sovereign nation with full membership of the EU.
Of course there is always the money. If admitted to the EU they would almost certainly be net beneficiaries of the EU’s munificence (with other people’s money, natch). But their chances of admission to the EU are about as close to zero as can be imagined. I just don’t understand it. But I wish they’d hold their second referendum instead of talking about it. If they succeed, goodbye and good luck to them (so long as the “transitional funding” which will inevitably follow their departure does not cost too much). If they fail to gain enough support (as I suspect they will) that would hopefully put the matter to bed for a generation or more.
One thing is for sure – the 1.6m votes cast in Scotland to Remain in the EU cannot and will not trump the 17.1m votes to leave which were cast from across the UK. Scotland is part of the UK (it had its chance to leave in 2014 and declined). The UK is leaving – fully leaving according to Mrs May – the EU and that means Scotland with it.
“That aside, I think Scotland must look after its own interests - fishing, farming etc. and need to be in Europe to get the best deals it can.”
Ask the fishermen of Hull and Grimsby what sort of hand the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy has dealt them, maggie. If Scotland needs to look after its own interests, the very last place it needs to be is in the EU.
“…just get irked by their chippy attitude to everybody else in the world.”
Explain a little more please, douglas.