第一篇:苏格兰公投失败分析
苏格兰,留了下来!或许是英国首相卡梅伦的泣泪挽留起了作用,一夜计票之后,这一次声势浩大的“分手公投”,苏格兰还是留在了联合王国。
公投前夕,民调显示统独两派民意十分接近,这令英国政府出了一身冷汗。“尽管同意公投,但其实无论是英国政府还是苏格兰人,都没有对最终分手做好准备。”社科院欧洲研究所研究院、社会文化研究室主任田德文说道。
在此前的多次民调之中,反对苏格兰独立的人群比例都占优。田德文指出,此次英国保守党和自民党联合政府准予苏格兰地区进行独立公投,其实本就是想在民意占优的情况下,给苏格兰不断提高自治程度的趋势做一个“了断”,终止国家不断走向松散的势头。
然而,英国政府没有料到的是,在同意公投之后,支持苏格兰独立的比例不断上升。
这和独立一派近两年来的大力宣传有关,但也有另一个原因,即当民众看到支持独立的人逐渐增多、独立有可能成真时,就会更加倾向于投票支持独立。政治学中“沉默的螺旋效应”认为,人们与生俱来的有一种怕被主流群体孤立的恐惧,但是如果一个人感到自己的立场正在为公众所接受,他就会变得更加勇于表达自己。
因此,即使不做分析只报道民调,媒体的意见也会对投票者产生影响。正是出于这一考虑,在公投前夕,英国各大媒体已经不再做民调报道。
尽管此前揪人心弦,但对于这次的公投结果,田德文并不感到意外。
【分析】
为何留下来?“不想折腾”
公投前统独两派的势均力敌令英国政府倍感焦虑。
英国首相卡梅伦坦言对苏格兰独立公投的前景感到“紧张”,乃至在讲演过程中数次哽咽。就连一直说独立与否是“苏格兰人民自己的事”的伊丽莎白二世女王,也在公投前希望苏格兰人“好好考虑一下”。
人们选择留下来,最决定性的原因是“不想折腾”,田德文认为,成立一个新国家未来将面临太多的不确定性,而在不确定的情况下,选择维持现状就是一个更加稳妥的选择。
还有一个原因是,此次公投的主体是苏格兰居民,但并非全是苏格兰人,里面还有不少英格兰人以及来自英国其他地方的人,此外还有欧盟国家的居民。
根据公投约定,居住在苏格兰,年龄在16岁之上的英国公民和欧盟公民都有资格投票。苏格兰圣安德鲁斯大学的波兰学者托马什·卡姆塞拉就是投票者之一。他对新京报记者表示,“每一项大的政治变革,都会带有巨大的不确定性,也不可避免地带来一段时期的不稳定,尤其是这么一个500万人口的地区要独立,很多事情可能会向完全错误的方向发展。”因此,经历过东欧剧变的他,投了反对票。
公投之后,分离主义会偃旗息鼓吗?
根据此前英国政府和苏格兰达成的协议,公投结果如果是选择留下来,那么至少在相当长的一段时期内,苏格兰独立问题将不会再被提上日程。
“留下来对英国政治的影响不大”,“但是对分离主义是一个重创”,田德文指出。“当然苏格兰分离主义不会绝迹,仍然会继续存在和发展,但苏格兰短期内不会再面临分出去的问题了。接下来的问题是英国政府和苏格兰就如何自治、自治到什么程度的讨论。”
此外,苏格兰还面临着分离派和统一派和解的问题,但是“这个问题并不是很严重。”田德文说到,在英国的语境下,分离与否对普通百姓的生活影响,比我们想象的要小。
公投对英国政府有何影响?
如果苏格兰通过公投独立出去了,田德文认为,卡梅伦的政治生涯,甚至整个保守党在英国政坛,都将面临毁灭性打击。留下来,对于英国政府的影响将会小很多。
但即便如此,《卫报》指出,公投已经改变了一些事情。卡梅伦所在的保守党,“面临非常严重的麻烦。”《卫报》评述到,保守党面临的问题不仅仅在苏格兰,如果他们不作出重大改变,那么想赢得下一届的大选,堪忧。
英国政府会如何安抚苏格兰?
目前,苏格兰已经拥有了较英格兰等地更大的自治权。此前,英国主要政党都表示,即使留下来,也不赞成再给苏格兰更多的自治权。然而在公投前夕,统独双方民意的接近,令英国政府恐慌。为了拉拢民意,英国政府临时推出一系列“投票红包”:9月7日,英国财政大臣奥斯本表示,英国议会三大主要正政党一致同意:如果苏格兰留在英国,将会获得更大自主权,包括税收、开支和社会福利。
但田德文认为,这种策略并不能称之为高明。“这就变成了会哭的孩子有奶吃。”田德文说到,做出这种表态,会让同样追求更多自治权的威尔士和北爱尔兰感到不满。长远看来,即便英国侥幸逃过此次公投这一劫,英国各地的“独立派”也势必得寸进尺。
“如果这次通过公投,苏格兰真的独立了,对于欧洲和全世界的分离主义都是一种鼓励。”田德文说到,目前世界上完全没有分离主义问题的国家并不是很多,尤其是大国,国内几乎都有不同程度的这种困扰。而这一次的结果,对于分离主义则是一个重创。
第二篇:浅谈苏格兰公投
浅谈 “苏格兰公投”和英国人的“妥协”精神
北京时间2014年9月19日,“苏格兰独立公投”结果出炉,55%选民投下反对票,对独立说―不‖。反独立阵营获胜,苏格兰将继续作为大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国的一部分,维持英国统一现状。
首先分析一下为什么苏格兰独立运动会发展到今天这种地步?从历史上看,苏格兰和英格兰这两个王国在历史上就一直争斗不断。十七世纪末,英格兰控制世界海上霸权,经济发展独步全球。与之形成鲜明对比是,由于森严的贸易壁垒和海上战争的失利,苏格兰的经济发展之路变得举步维艰,国内矛盾尖锐。为了摆脱这一困境,享受英格兰经济发展红利,1707年5月1日,《英格兰及苏格兰王国合并条约》正式生效,苏格兰正式“嫁给”英格兰。上世纪70年代,苏格兰北部发现了北海油田,为争取更大的利益,“苏独”运动重新抬头并日益高涨。英国政府迫于苏格兰民意的压力,先是恢复取消了近三百年的苏格兰议会,接着2012年卡梅伦政府同苏格兰首席部长萨尔蒙德签署公投协议,规定于2014年9月18日就“苏格兰是否应该成为一个独立国家”举行公投,并且英国政府将承认公投的结果。毫无疑问,9月18的公投是一场真正的大决战!
其次为什么英国政府会同意苏格兰的公投?这一点中国人可能很难理解,要是香港举行独立公投,中国政府断然不会答应!同意公投源于英国人固有的“妥协”精神,这种精神最早源于英国资产阶级革命。1688年,光荣革命确立了英国资产阶级的统治地位,但同时一定程度地保留了封建统治。光荣革命以不流血的方式完成,保持了政局和社会稳定,为工业革命铺平了道路。这种“妥协”精神,还表现为非暴力不合作运动,对世界反殖民运动的反应以及香港问题的解决。二战以后,主要欧洲殖民国家力量大幅削弱,世界殖民体系土崩瓦解,英国人并不全力以赴地镇压反抗运动,而是审时度势,见好就收,与绝大多数独立运动领导人达成妥协性协议,最大限度地保留英国的影响力。1984年,英国首相撒切尔与邓小平签署《中英联合声明》,虽然交出了主权,但是其经济、法律制度等影响力仍然将在香港继续保留50年不变。1947年,抛出“蒙巴顿方案‖,承认印度和巴基斯坦的独立,但是两国独立后仍为英联邦成员,且独立后的两国斗争不断,印度数十年的世界大国梦仍然只是纸上谈兵。傲慢,保守,自由,实际主义者,是英国人的标签,”妥协“并不懦弱是这些性格的行为表现。
这场看似冒险的政治赌博,以苏格兰继续留在联合王国结束,彻底粉碎苏格兰民族独立运动愈演愈烈的势头,苏格兰民主党领袖萨尔蒙德黯然下台。其实投票的结果早在预料之中,精明的英国政治家断然不会愚蠢到去冒险分裂300年的联合王国。未来的不确定性和独立后的诸多不利,300年联合王国的辉煌历史让很大一部分人仍然无法割舍热爱的英国。卡梅伦政府寻思,与其让独立运动愈发不可收拾,不如以退为进,用一次公投一劳永逸的解决未来可能面临的更严重的国家分裂问题。正像卡梅伦在公投之前的演讲中讲到:“We could have blocked that, we could have put it off but just as with other big issues, it was right to takethe big decision。”—— “我们本可以阻止公投,也可以将其推迟——但这就像其他问题一样,接受重大的决定才是正确的,而不是进行躲避。”结果公布之后卡梅伦在唐宁街10号首相官邸门前发表公开讲话:“The people of Scotland have spoken.It is a clear result.They have kept our country of four nations together.Like millions of other people, I am delighted。——苏格兰人民做出了选择。这是一个清晰的结果。他们选择继续一起组成我们的国家。和数百万人民一样,我非常高兴。” “So there can be no disputes, no re-runs – we have heard the settled will of the Scottish people。”——“因此结论无可争议,也不会重来,我们已经听到了苏格兰人民的坚定愿望。”
如果仔细分析一下,不难发现苏格兰独立运动其实很难获得很难成功。第一,英国的主体英格兰控制着英国的政治、经济和话语权,苏格兰的政治、经济、金融和军事大权被中央政府所掌控,独立影后要重建这些系统的难度不小。BBC、伦敦金融时报、每日邮报等主流媒体均被中央政府控制,苏格兰人的话语权十分有限。第二,公投之前的民调显示大部分的时间反独阵营是占优势的,这还是在反独阵营未使出全力大力宣传的情况下的结果,直到公投前夕,民调首次出现微弱逆转,卡梅伦政府才十万火急的煽情演讲,卖力宣传,各大媒体也是助力反独阵营,在胡萝卜加大棒的组合拳下,独立派孤掌难鸣,败下阵来。第二,苏格兰王国虽然占英国国土的近1/3,但是其人口和经济却不到英国总量的1/10,英国政府给予苏格兰的补助比其税收还多得多,这也是很多人不支持独立的原因之一。另外一个很重要的原因是英国人的傲慢,这种傲慢来自于哪里?来源于“我是英国人‖的自我认同,来源于近代史中三百年的辉煌史,来源于英国文化在世界上的影响力,这其实包含着很重要的爱国思想。
这场公投的本质是一场实力不对称的竞选——独立派必败无疑的竞选。
第三篇:苏格兰独立公投的启示
苏格兰独立公投的启示
9月18日的苏格兰公投引起全球关注,因是“统独公投”,涉及苏格兰是继续留在英国,还是成为一个独立国家。
英国作为“大不列颠联合王国”,主要由四个区组成∶英格兰,苏格兰,威尔斯,北爱尔兰。
原属英国的爱尔兰1922年脱离而成为独立国家;后来北爱尔兰也闹独立,但其“共和国军”使用恐怖袭击、杀害平民方式,很不得人心,所以“北爱”的独立后来没了声息。
但近年苏格兰也闹独立。苏格兰民族党(SNP)在2011年赢得当地议会多数(129席中占69席,之前左翼工党是多数党),重组政府,通过议案,要统独公投。
苏格兰跟英格兰的关系历史悠久,300多年前(1707年)两国就正式合并为“大不列颠王国”。苏格兰土地占全英33%,人口占9%。如独立出去,对英国的整体国力和世界地位等都是一个重大打击。但面对苏格兰要统独公投,英国朝野的反应对世人(尤其台海两岸政府和人民)具有重要启示∶
第一,英国朝野没有喊杀喊打、武力威胁。
对苏格兰的独立公投,英国首相卡梅伦只是温情喊话,希望苏格兰留下,“如独立出去,英国将有深远损失”。很多英国人都是这样态度。这很像1995年魁北克那次独立公投,当时多伦多有几万人聚会,高喊的是“我们爱你!”恳求魁北克留在加拿大。公投结果,赞成独立49.4%,反对50.6%,只差五万票独立议案没有通过。
(此后魁北克独立运动就走下坡路,今年4月的当地议会选举,因为经济政策上左倾和无能——提不出振兴经济的具体办法,只会喊一些抽象的独立口号,主张独立的魁人党在省议会125席中输到只剩30席,选民支持率跌至25%。)
第二,英国政府对公投结果予以尊重。
英国三大政党(保守党、工党、自由民主党)都反对苏格兰独立,但都支持公投。英国首相卡梅伦还跟苏格兰民族党签了协议,表示尊重公投结果。这意味著,如果公投结果是苏格兰独立,英政府也将予承认。
英国政府尊重投票结果,就是尊重人民意愿,尊重选择权利,这才体现民主的真谛。其实也是赢得苏格兰(留在英国)的真正方法。这让人想到婚姻,如果一旦结婚就永不可离婚,那恐怕没人敢结婚了。有可以离婚的权利,对方却不走,这个家庭才会有真正的和睦(美满)。
第三,苏格兰自己公投,而非全体英国人投票。
无论是当年的魁北克,还是今天的苏格兰,都是当地人民自己投票(选择统独),而不是全加拿大,全英国投票。道理很简单,如果是全加拿大公投,魁北克的人数当然是绝对少数,就等于被变相剥夺发言权。苏格兰同样,人口才530万,而全英是6300万。如果全体英国人投票,那“苏格兰人民有选择权”就是假的。
如果公投结果是独立,那不等于苏格兰可单方面选择“分离”吗?当然。我们再以婚姻为例,在美国(可能其他西方国家也如此),单方提出离婚,分居一定时间后(美国各州不同),不必双方同意,就可离婚。而结婚当然必须两方都同意。这种做法,体现著尊重自由选择、自由意志的原则精神。是自由优先,个人权利至上。
这次公投,即使你祖祖辈辈都是苏格兰人,如果你今天没有居住在苏格兰,你照样没有投票权。
第四,统独辩论在苏格兰内部进行。
就统独问题,在投票前,双方就此进行了两场电视辩论。但这个辩论,不是英格兰Vs.苏格兰,更不是英国政府对苏格兰议会,而是在苏格兰内部的统、独两派领导人之间进行的。我在美国C-Span电视上全程收看了第二场辩论。“独立方代表”是独立派领袖、苏格兰首席部长萨尔蒙,“统一方代表”是前工党财政大臣、英国跨党派团体“在一起更好”(Better Together)主席达林。辩论会由BBC记者主持,会场有几百观众。
双方强调的重点非常清晰—— 统一方强调,如苏格兰独立,经济将重创∶一是因不许使用英镑,苏格兰金融将混乱失调;二是苏格兰独立后不参加北约,那麽英国在苏格兰的核武装置(核潜艇基地)等要迁走,苏格兰会失去很多工作机会;三是苏格兰会丧失原来英国政府的福利、教育经费等。这些都会对苏格兰经济(就业)等造成重大影响。那意思,独立,是苏格兰的不可承受之重。
独立方强调,这些经济问题我们自己有能力解决。不能因这些技术性问题而剥夺苏格兰人民的自由选择权。苏格兰独立后,作为一个国家,会得到国际上的投资而融入世界,苏格兰人民会发奋图强,创造属于自己的未来。
统一方的工党领袖发誓,如果他们的党在明年的选举中获胜(击败现在的卡梅伦保守党),工党政府将下方更多权力(包括税收、开支、福利等方面),给予苏格兰更多自治地位(现任的卡梅伦保守党政府也如此承诺)。独立方的代表说,这更证明,苏格兰人民有能力自我管理。你刚才说离开了英国,我们这也不行,那也要担忧,可你们又说如果苏格兰不独立出去,你们就更多放权,这更证明我们具有自我管理能力。这是获得全场最强烈掌声的论述。
从整场辩论来看,独立方占上风,获得掌声较强烈。因为统一方强调的多是技术问题,用一句话概括就是∶离开英国你们怎麽活。而独立方强调的是我们有权利作出选择。如果再用婚姻比喻,丈夫强调你离开我,经济来源少了,一个人带著孩子怎麽活?而妻子则强调我怎麽活是自己的事,我有能力自己管。现在就是跟你过够了,就是要离婚、单过。过去两年来的民调,都是统一派占多数,先是三比二,后来独派增加,变成六比四。近日的民调,统独双方旗鼓相当,甚至有一次独派达51%,统派49%。但从整体来看,如果不出意外,公投结果,仍会是主张留在英国者占多数,虽然双方比分可能拉近。毕竟苏格兰在英国之内已有超过300年的历史,英国既没有对苏格兰殖民统治,更无种族压迫。苏格兰独派提出的自治(英国政府放权)等,英国三大政党全都同意。而且面对独立公投,不仅毫无军事恐吓,还事先同意签协议,尊重(承认)公投结果。这些类似魁北克独立公投前加拿大政府和人民的“我们爱你”的态度,可能会感动很多苏格兰人,选择留在英国。
在统独问题上,最关键的概念是尊重人民的选择权利。结婚好?离婚好?单身好?哪个都不是终极价值。只要在没有外来威胁和压力下,人民自由选择的结果,就是最好!尊重人民的选择权才是根本。
所以不管苏格兰人民做出怎样的选择,都是民主的胜利,民意的体现。公投结果如果是苏格兰留在英国,好处是∶英国是自由世界的重要力量,也是人类工业文明和宪政民主之源。一个不分裂的、强大的民主英国的存在,对世界和平是个福音。
众所周知,资本主义和宪政民主,是西方文明的两大重要组成部分。而英国是第一个工业国家,当年蒸汽机等工业革命,开了今天科技文明的先河。今天人类的一切物质成就,都跟英国的这场工业革命有关。另外更重要的是,西方的人权宪政思想,主要起源于英国。早在13世纪英国就制定《大宪章》,规定非经司法审理,任何人不可被囚禁杀害,限制国王权力等,包括人民可拥有枪支(权利)等。
英国思想家洛克的人民权利论,是美国独立革命(建国)的理论支柱。杰弗逊起草的美国《独立宣言》,主要强调人的三大权利(生命、自由、追求幸福的权利),几乎是照搬洛克的三大权利说。我曾在“撒切尔夫人给男人做榜样”一文中说过,“美国的伟大,是因为其站在了英国思想巨人的肩膀上。从这个意义上说,英国是美国的思想老师。”英国是人权之根,在美国开出灿烂的宪政花朵。
英国虽然只有24万平方公里,六千多万人口,却是全球七强之一,军费开支排全球第四(美国、中国、俄国、英国),海军(军舰吨位等综合实力)全球第二(仅次于美国),并有核武打击能力。经济上,英国人均收入3万9千美元(2013),位居世界前列。
正由于英国有这种历史和地位,人们往往用“英美”代表西方,而且把英国排在前面,可见“伟大英国”(真是Great Britain)的分量。
所以,一个不被分裂、拥有强大国力的伟大英国的存在,对人类反专制的民主事业,对反恐战争的胜利,对整个世界的和平稳定,都具有重大意义。
苏格兰公投结果如果是选择独立出去,那麽从政党竞争的角度,对英国保守派有力。因为苏格兰非常左倾,该区选票的百分之七、八十都是给了左翼工党。苏格兰内部的统独之争是在左翼的工党(统派)和极左的苏格兰民族党(独派)之间。也就是说,在英国全国大选中,苏格兰是左翼工党的重要票仓,所以这次英国工党大批人马跑到苏格兰为“统一”宣传、助阵。苏格兰如脱离英国,对整体英国的国力会有所降低,但保守派会长期执政,有利于英国本岛的经济发展。
对于独派来说,即使苏格兰公投结果是“留在英国”,也是双赢∶英国保持了完整;苏格兰则通过独立公投,赢得更多的自治权利,得到更多的尊重,跟英格兰的关系更走向平等、对等。婚姻中的一方得到另一方更多的尊重与爱,就不会有离婚。但尊重选择权,可以离婚,才是保证婚姻美满的先决条件之一。
第四篇:苏格兰2014年9月公投原因
苏格兰2014年9月公投原因
历史上,有着“日不落帝国”之称的大不列颠及北爱尔兰联合王国曾横扫全球,女王君临天下。连远在南亚的印度,都成为其“王冠上的珍珠”。然而,近年来,大不列颠岛上的苏格兰却总要给英国政府“添点堵”。9月18日,面对苏格兰独立公投,英国人情绪复杂。
苏格兰地处不列颠岛的北部,面积占英国总面积的近三分之一。公元1295年,苏格兰独立战争爆发,通过这场对英格兰的战争,苏格兰确立了民族独立的地位。1603年英格兰女王伊丽莎白逝后无嗣,表侄孙苏格兰国王继承了英格兰的王位,新建立的斯图亚特王朝统一了整个不列颠岛。即使实现了“共主联盟”。
上世纪中期,在苏格兰沿海发现并开采石油,为独立诉求提供了物质上的支撑。英国两大政党不仅没有采取有效措施遏制民族势力的发展,反而为了短期的选举利益实行妥协性的权力下放。
1997年,苏格兰议会建立后,修正后的联盟并没有如工党所愿能够抑制民族势力的发展,相反,苏格兰国民党通过地方议会的平台获得了新的发展机会。在1999年和2003年的两次苏格兰议会选举中,国民党成为议会中的最大反对党。从2007年开始,国民党成为苏格兰的执政党,并在2011年的议会选举中以多数票获得连任。主张独立的国民党在苏格兰的成功执政,推动了独立公投的举行。
2012年10月,英国首相卡梅伦与苏格兰政府首席大臣萨蒙德签署了苏格兰独立公投协议。经国家议会授权,苏格兰议会有权组织2014年独立公投。当时,英国中央政府和苏格兰政府都表示将尊重公投结果。
然而,当苏格兰公投真的即将来临时,英国政府又如坐针毡。首相卡梅伦不仅亲自来到苏格兰东北部城市阿伯丁,情绪激动地发表“离婚说”演讲,以挽留苏格兰民众。更表示,如果不喜欢英国政府,他和本届领导班子也可以“走”。
支持独立的阵营认定,苏格兰脱离英国将过得更好。不过,卡梅伦承诺,如果苏格兰选民在独立公投中说“不”,英国将会赋予苏格兰更多自主权。英国三大政党领袖15日签署了一项保证协议,承诺在苏格兰不独立的前提下,向苏格兰下放更多的权力。
英国首相、保守党领袖卡梅伦,英国副首相、自民党领袖克莱格和工党领袖米利班德签署的这份文件主要包括三部分内容。一是承诺苏格兰议会将获得更广泛的权力;二是保证英国各个部分公平分享资源;三是国家医疗体系的资金支出由苏格兰政府决定,并维持“巴奈特方案”的分配方式。“巴奈特方案”是1979年以来英国财政部计算分配给苏格兰、威尔士和北爱尔兰的公共开支的方式,确保这三个地区可以与英格兰建立相当的公共功能。目前,苏格兰每人获得的预算高于英国其他地区的平均值。
尽管英国三大政党平时争执不断,但在苏格兰公投前的关键时刻却空前团结。上周,三大政党领袖在同一天齐赴苏格兰,劝说选民在公投中反对苏格兰独立。他们在一份声明中说:“尽管我们之间有许多分歧,但是有一件事情我们一致同意,那就是联合王国在一起会更好。”
事实上,苏格兰一旦独立,确实将会面临一系列变化。目前的稳定局面,可能会发生动荡。英国《每日邮报》消息,军事分析家称,如果苏格兰从英国独立出去,可能将失去全天候空军防御。全球智库简氏信息集团(IHSJane's)国防顾问爱德华•亨特(EdwardHunt)说,苏格兰如果独立,其空军很可能采取与瑞士或奥地利相似的防御方式。由于预算有限、飞行员以及地勤人员短缺,瑞士空军只在每周工作日的办公时间待命,无法全天候防御。而奥地利只有12架现代台风战斗机,只能在早上8点到下午4点之间执行任务。苏格兰如果从英国独立,也只能获得12架战斗机。
英国政府还拥有武力之外的经济手段,比如是否能加入欧盟——任何一国都可以一票否决。现在苏格兰五大银行已经发表声明,如果独立将把总部迁到英格兰,震慑作用不容小觑。并且,苏格兰独立后也将丧失过去和英国共享的联合国常任理事国这一崇高的国际地位。
同过去武力镇压爱尔兰独立运动及为了马岛主权与阿根廷争得“头破血流”不同,此次英国选择了和平的公投方式。有分析认为,一方面,英国承受不起这场战争的代价。统一的三百年间,整个不列颠岛早已你中有我,我中有你。仅2011年,就有43700英格兰人移居苏格兰,苏格兰本地人所占比例不过84%。今天在英格兰生活的苏格兰人也高达75万。另一方面,冷战后,西方出于地缘政治的需要,热衷于支持前苏东国家的独立运动。而且对于试图武力统一的南斯拉夫进行军事打击。假如英国效仿南斯拉夫,不但达不到目的,更将在全球失去道义,甚至会动摇到西方主导的全球体系。
根据TNS最新民调显示,当前,苏格兰独立反对票占63%,赞成票占18%。民调机构Opinium周二也公布了为《每日电讯报》(DailyTelegraph)所做的网络调查统计。结果显示,1156名受访者中有47%支持留在英国,43%支持独立,其余的没有决定或者不打算投票。就目前局面来看,卡梅伦政府或许暂时可以先不用太过慌张,但是“如坐针毡”的局面仍将维持至公投结果出来。
第五篇:卡梅伦就苏格兰公投演讲分析
背景:苏格兰将在今年9月18日举行全民公投,以投票结果决定苏格兰是否脱离英国而独立。最新的民调结果显示,仅29%的苏格兰人计划在今年的苏格兰全民公投时投票支持苏格兰独立,42%的民众打算投反对票。
David Cameron‟s Speech on Scottish Independence Lee Valley Velopark, London, England Feb.7, 2014
I want to thank Glasgow Caledonian for co-hosting this event.This is a fantastic, forward-looking university – and we are very grateful for your support today as we are to the Lee Valley VeloPark, for hosting us in this magnificent space.Less than 2 years ago, this Velodrome was a cauldron of excitement.Chris Hoy was ripping around at 40 miles per hour I was up there, I had a whole seat but believe me, I only used the edge.3 more golds – an incredible night.But for me, the best thing about the Olympics wasn‟t the winning.It was the red, the white, the blue.It was the summer that patriotism came out of the shadows and into the sun.Everyone cheering as one for Team GB.And it‟s Team GB I want to talk about today.Our United Kingdom.Last year, the date for the Scottish referendum was fixed.The countdown was set.And today, we have just over 7 months until that vote.Centuries of history hang in the balance a question mark hangs over the future of our United Kingdom.If people vote yes in September, then Scotland will become an independent country.There will be no going back.As I have made clear, this is a decision that is squarely and solely for those in Scotland to make.I passionately believe it is in their interests to stay in the UK.That way Scotland has the space to take decisions, while still having the security that comes with being part of something bigger.From Holyrood they can decide what happens in every hospital, school and police station in Scotland and in the UK, Scotland is part of a major global player.These are the arguments we will keep on putting till September 18th.It is their choice, their vote.from www.xiexiebang.com
But my argument today is that while only 4 million people can vote in this referendum, all 63 million of us are profoundly affected.There are 63 million of us who could wake up on September 19th in a different country, with a different future ahead of it.That‟s why this speech is addressed not so much to the people of Scotland, but to the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.Within these countries there are a whole range of different views about this referendum.There are those I‟d call the „quiet patriots‟: people who love the UK, love our flag and our history – but think there‟s nothing much they can do to encourage Scotland to stay in the UK so they stay out of the debate.There are the „shoulder shruggers‟: people who are ambivalent about the outcome, who think this doesn‟t matter much to anyone South of the border.Their view is that if Scotland left the UK then yes, that would be sad, but we could just wave them a wistful goodbye and carry on as normal.And then there are those – a few – who think we‟d be better off if Scotland did leave the UK, that this marriage of nations has run its course and needs a divorce.Today I want to take on all these views: the idea we‟d be better off without Scotland, the idea that this makes no difference to the rest of the UK and the idea that however much we might care, we in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can have no voice in this debate because we don‟t have a vote.All the above are wrong.We would be deeply diminished without Scotland.This matters to all our futures.And everyone in the UK can have a voice in this debate.I want to make this case by putting forward what, to me, are the 4 compelling reasons why the United Kingdom is stronger with Scotland in it:
The first is our connections with each other.Over 3 centuries we‟ve lived together, worked together – and frankly we‟ve got together getting married, having children, moving back and forwards across borders.Such is the fusion of our bloodlines that my surname goes back to the West Highlands and by the way, I am as proud of my Scottish heritage as I am of my English heritage.The name Cameron might mean „crooked nose‟ but the clan motto is “Let us unite” – and that‟s exactly what we in these islands have done.Today 800,000 Scots live elsewhere in the UK and more than 400,000 people who were born in the rest of the UK now live in Scotland.And there are millions of people who do business over the border every single day, like the farmers in Lincolnshire who grow some of the barley that‟s used in Scotch whisky.The United Kingdom is an intricate tapestry, millions of relationships woven tight over more than 3 centuries.That‟s why, for millions of people, there is no contradiction in being proud of your Scottishness, Englishness, Britishness – sometimes all at once.Some say none of this would change with independence, that these connections would stay as strong as ever.But the fact is: all these connections – whether business or personal – are eased and strengthened by the institutional framework of the UK.When the Acts of Union were passed, the role of the state was limited to things like defence, taxes and property rights.Since then the state has transformed beyond recognition and our institutions have grown together like the roots of great trees, fusing together under the foundations of our daily lives.You don‟t need a customs check when you travel over the border, you don‟t have to get out your passport out at Carlisle, you don‟t have to deal with totally different tax systems and regulations when you trade and you don‟t have to trade in different currencies.Our human connections – our friendships, relationships, business partnerships – they are underpinned because we are all in the same United Kingdom and that is reason number 1 we are stronger together.The second is our prosperity.Some people look at the United Kingdom only in terms of debit and credit columns, tax and spend and how that gets split between our 4 nations.But that completely misses the bigger picture.This is a world that has been through massive economic storms where economic competition is heating up as never before, where we have to work harder than ever just to make a living.And in that world of uncertainty, we are quite simply stronger as a bigger entity – an open economy of 63 million people with the oldest and most successful single market in the world with one of the oldest and most successful currencies in the world.This stability is hugely attractive for investors.Last year we were the top destination for foreign direct investment in Europe.That is a stamp of approval on our stability – and I would not want to jeopardise that.But let me be clear: The central part of my economic argument for the UK is not about what we‟d lose if we pulled apart – but what we could gain in this world if we stay together.This government has set out a long-term economic plan for Britain: getting behind enterprise, dealing with our debts, a plan to give the people of this country peace of mind and security for the future.And this isn‟t just a plan, it‟s a vision.The UK as the big European success story of this century moving from an island sinking under too much debt, too much borrowing and too much taxation to a country that‟s dynamic, exporting, innovating, creating.Scotland is right at the heart of that vision.Why? I could give you a list of the Scottish strengths – their historic universities like Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow and St.Andrews;great industries: from food processing to financial services, from ship-building to science.But it‟s not about Scotland‟s strengths as some sort of bolt-on extra.It‟s about what we, the constituent parts of the UK, can achieve together.The power of collaboration.It‟s there in our past when the Scottish enlightenment met the industrial revolution: intellectual endeavour and commercial might combining to shape global economic ideas.And that power of collaboration is there today.Together we‟re stronger at getting out there and selling our products to the world.Like Scotch whisky.Whether I‟m in India or China, there‟s barely a meeting where I don‟t bang the drum for whisky abroad.Of course, the First Minister fights hard for those deals too but the clout we have as a United Kingdom gives us a much better chance of getting around the right tables, bashing down trade barriers, getting deals signed.The result – Scotch whisky adds £135 to the UK‟s balance of payments every single second.And together we‟re stronger to lead in the industries of the future.Like green energy.We have the wind and the waves of Scotland, decades of North Sea experience in Aberdeen and with the rest of the UK – a domestic energy market of tens of millions of people to drive and support these new industries.Two years ago we set up the Green Investment Bank.Based in Edinburgh, it‟s invested across the UK, helping a Scottish distillery to fit sustainable biomass boilers, financing a new energy centre at Addenbrooke‟s hospital in Cambridge.This is what happens when we collaborate.We‟ve come through the great recession together.Our deficit down by a third.Our economy growing.Our exports to China doubled.And I believe we stand a much, much better chance of building a more prosperous future together.The third reason we‟re stronger together is our place in the world.Together, we get a seat at the UN Security Council, real clout in NATO and Europe, the prestige to host events like the G8.Together we‟ve got the finest armed forces on the planet.I think of the fighter pilots originally operating from RAF Lossiemouth who flew sorties over Libya, the legendary Scottish titles now part of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, like the Black Watch and the Highlanders.I think of the shipyards on the Forth and Clyde, where – alongside shipyards across the UK – they are building the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier launching this year to secure the seas and keep us safe.Now to some, all this might sound like national vanity.It‟s the view that if the UK split up and our role in the world shrank, it wouldn‟t matter so much.But this is a country that earns its living through international ties with millions of our citizens living abroad.When ships are ambushed on lawless seas – that hits our trade.When the middle class in China is set to grow by millions a year – that presents huge opportunities for jobs back home in the UK.This world shapes us – so our place in the world matters.And make no mistake: we matter more as a United Kingdom – politically, militarily, diplomatically – and culturally too.Our reach is about much more than military might – it‟s about our music, film, TV, fashion.The UK is the soft power super power.You get teenagers in Tokyo and Sydney listening to Emeli Sandé.People in Kazakhstan and Taiwan watching BBC exports like Sherlock written by a Scot a hundred years ago, played by an Englishman today – and created for TV by a Scotsman.The World Service – transmitting to hundreds of millions.Famously Aung San Suu Kyi has said it helped her through her long years of detention, saying: “Everywhere I have been, the BBC has been with me.” And the BBC itself – founded by a Scotsman.My wife is an ambassador for the British Fashion Council and she sees – and raves about – the international impact of our fashion, helped along massively by Scottish designers like Christopher Kane and Jonathan Saunders.Sometimes, we can forget just how big our reputation is that the world over the letters “UK” stand for unique, brilliant, creative, eccentric, ingenious.We come as a brand – a powerful brand.Separating Scotland out of that brand would be like separating the waters of the River Tweed and the North Sea.If we lost Scotland, if the UK changed, we would rip the rug from under our own reputation.The plain fact is we matter more in the world together.These are all compelling practical reasons for the UK to stick together.But – pounds and pence and institutional questions;that‟s not what it‟s really about, for me.It‟s about the slave who escaped his master after the American Revolution because he was offered liberty and land by the British crown.In gratitude, he re-named himself this: British Freedom.It‟s about Lord Lovat on the beach on D-Day, the bagpipes playing as his brigade landed ashore.It‟s about HMS Sheffield, HMS Glasgow, HMS Antrim, HMS Glamorgan grey ships ploughing through grey seas for 8,000 miles to the Falkland Islands – and for what?
For freedom.Because this is a country that has never been cowed by bullies and dictators.This is a country that stands for something.And this, really, is why I‟m standing here today: Our shared values.Freedom.Solidarity.Compassion.Not just overseas, but at home.In this country, we don‟t walk on by when people are sick when people lose work when people get old.When you talk about an Englishman, a Welshman, a Scotsman, a Northern Irishman it might sound like the beginning of a bad joke but here it‟s how we started our NHS, our welfare system, our state pension system.And these values aren‟t trapped in the pages of a history book – they are alive.When the people of Benghazi were crying out for help when a girl in Pakistan was shot for wanting an education when children around the world are desperate for food we don‟t walk on by.And let‟s be clear.Our values are not just a source of pride for us, they are a source of hope for the world.In 1964, Nelson Mandela stood in the dock in the Pretoria Supreme Court.He was making the case for his life, against apartheid – and in that speech he invoked the example of Britain: He said: “I have great respect for British political institutions, and for the country‟s system of justice.I regard the British Parliament as the most democratic institution in the world…” Our Parliament, our laws, our way of life – so often, down the centuries, the UK has given people hope.We‟ve shown that democracy and prosperity can go hand in hand, that resolution is found not through the bullet, but the ballot box.Our values are of value to the world.In the darkest times in human history there has been, in the North Sea, a light that never goes out.And if this family of nations broke up, something very powerful and precious would go out forever.So there is a moral, economic, geopolitical, diplomatic and yes – let‟s say it proudly – an emotional case for keeping the United Kingdom together.But still, however strongly we feel – we are a reticent nation.It can seem vulgar to fly the flag.Some people have even advised me to stay out of this issue – and not to get too sentimental about the UK.But frankly, I care far too much to stay out of it.This is personal.I have an old copy of Our Island Story, my favourite book as a child and I want to give it to my 3 children, and I want to be able to teach my youngest when she‟s old enough to understand, that she is part of this great, world-beating story.And I passionately hope that my children will be able to teach their children the same that the stamp on their passport is a mark of pride that together, these islands really do stand for something more than the sum of our parts, they stand for bigger ideals, nobler causes, greater values.Our great United Kingdom: brave, brilliant, buccaneering, generous, tolerant, proud – this is our country.And we built it together.Brick by brick, Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland.Brick by brick.This is our home – and I could not bear to see that home torn apart.I love this country.I love the United Kingdom and all it stands for.And I will fight with all I have to keep us together.And so I want to be clear to everyone listening.There can be no complacency about the result of this referendum.The outcome is still up in the air and we have just 7 months to go.7 months to do all we can to keep our United Kingdom as one.7 months to save the most extraordinary country in history.And we must do whatever it takes.So to everyone in England, Wales and Northern Ireland everyone, like me, who cares about the United Kingdom I want to say this: you don‟t have a vote, but you do have a voice.Those voting are our friends, neighbours and family.You do have an influence.Get on the phone, get together, email, tweet, speak.Let the message ring out from Manchester to Motherwell, from Pembrokeshire to Perth, from Belfast to Bute, from us to the people of Scotland – let the message be this: We want you to stay.Think of what we‟ve done together – what we can do together – what we stand for together.Team GB.The winning team in world history.Let us stick together for a winning future too.