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The uncovering of 30 year old secret UK Government documents this month has led to a barrage of criticism from the Scottish Government about the lengths that the UK Government is prepared to go to keep hold of Scotland's oil reserves for its own use.
The documents, uncovered by the London based 'The Times' newspaper, shows how in the 1970's the UK Government had planned to redraw off shore boundaries to ensure that Scotland would have no claim to North Sea oil, should it become independent. Part of the plan, devised by Sir David Walker - who is now a UK Government adviser on the banking crisis - advised that the Scottish islands of Shetland and Orkney should be encouraged to pursue independence in the belief that they would favour England's claim to the oil fields over Scotland.
In the 1970's, there was serious concern in the UK Government that if Scotland held a referendum on independence, it would be likely to result in a positive vote, leading Sir David Walker to advise the UK Government that:
"progress toward devolution should be delayed for as long as possible consistently with honouring the government commitment to move down the devolution road and containing the SNP lobby in Parliament".
In addition, UK civil servants, advising the Environment Secretary, Anthony Crosland, argued that one way to ensure Scottish oil reserves came to England would be to realign the subsea border between Scotland and England, so that it ran northeast instead of east.
SNP Treasury Spokesman Stewart Hosie MP said:
"As recent figures have shown an independent Scotland with her oil and gas reserves would move from being Europe's 10th wealthiest nation to Europe's third wealthiest nation.
As Labour and Tory politicians knew at the time – Scots could have seen income 25-30% higher over the last 30 years."
"That's why the SNP Government will bring a referendum bill forward and the Scottish people must be given their opportunity to vote for independence in 2010."
At its most recent General Council meeting in January 2009, the Celtic League passed a resolution that expressed alarm at further reports that 160,000 square miles of waters off south east Scotland have been ring fenced by England. In the resolution the League argues that this could be remedied by moving the Scottish boarder back to the river Tweed, thereby restoring Berwick to its rightful place in Scottish territory and at the same time ensuring that English encroachment on Scottish coastal claims is repealed.
Even though the uncovered documents are almost 30 years old, it still seems that the UK Government is still up to their old tricks in the face of the possibility of Scottish independence in 2010.
The Celtic League has written a letter to the SNP Treasury Spokesperson highlighting their concern. The full text of the letter can be found below:
"Treasury spokesman Stewart Hosie
stewart [at] ...
19/02/09
Dear Stewart Hosie MP
Scottish Oil for Scotland
The Celtic League were not surprised to read reports recently about how the UK Government over successive years has attempted to manipulate Scotland's coastal boundaries in an attempt to claim Scotland's North Sea oil as its own, should Scotland win its in independence.
The Times article on February 14, 2009 titled, 'Secret plan to deprive independent Scotland of North Sea oil fields' and highlighted on the SNP website, shows the extraordinary lengths that the UK Government's administration is prepared to go to ensure that revenues from Scottish oil bypass Scotland and go straight to London. At our AGM in Dublin in August 2008, and at previous AGM's in the past, delegates have discussed these issues in depth. At our General Council meeting in January 2009, this very issue was brought up again and the following resolution was passed unanimously:
'The General Council of the League:
Condemns the theft by stealth of 160,000 square miles of waters off south east Scotland by England.
Sees this as a further attempt to steal Scottish oil, and notes that this would be remedied if Berwick returned to Scotland, and the Tweed was the official boundary again.'
The Celtic League has campaigned over the years for the return of Berwick-upon-Tweed to Scotland and was encouraged by the SNP MSP Christine Grahame motion last February calling for the restoration of Berwick to Scotland. The League believes that if the river Tweed became the official boundary again between Scotland and England, the "theft by stealth" of Scotland's coastal waters would therefore prove more difficult for the UK Government to do.
The League would therefore like to urge the SNP to push the campaign for the return of Berwick to Scotland further, not only so Berwick is restored to its rightful homeland, but also to help curtail the encroaching influence of England over Scottish oil. We think that this is especially important, given the estimates that Scottish oil reserves are expected to last decades.
Yours sincerely
Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League
cc. First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond"
More information on this story at the SNP website:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 20/02/09
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