As the Drama plays out in the Streets of Barcelona the SNP should be grateful that they have not faced the level of state repression that the Catalan Independence movement faced when the Scottish independence campaign was being campaigned on by the yes campaign. The difference between the actions and reactions of Madrid and London to have shown the UK’s democratic traditions of self determination and inclusive governing attitude shown through the devolution reforms of Tony Blair for a Welsh assembly and a Scottish parliament and the Northern Irish Assembly.
Yes, Catalonia was allowed an autonomous regional status but when the Region held an independence vote , its autonomy is under Threat following the independence Referendum, the Spanish State justifies this as in its view the Referendum itself was illegal. Its autonomous status faces a being undone by Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution which allows the Spanish State to effectively manage Catalonia through Madrid. The Spanish Interior ministry has signalled that the Interior Ministry will assume the role of providing security in Catalonia, this being the case if the Catalan administration does not accept the implications of Article 155. The Catalan’s have faced a legal minefield, as the referendum has triggered the process of Catalonia being placed under direct rule of Madrid. Just imagine the uproar if Scotland had its devolved status dissolved following its own Referendum. The then Prime minister David Cameron respected the case for a referendum to be held and for the vote to be respected and recognised.
The Catalonia holds the card which is its economic vibrancy, If the Spanish State tries to hobble Catalonia then the effect that investors will be scared out of the most Dynamic region in Spain which would have the effect of causing a paralysis as economic Growth will start to moderate, the Spanish authorities have curtailed their growth forecasts for the year from 2.6% to 2.3%, this will hurt Spain. Wiser heads could have Prevailed if the Spanish government had acted in the pragmatic way that the Cameron Government of 2014 had acted towards the desire for an Independence Referendum In Scotland. Scenes of State violence by the Spanish State police have not helped the cause of Madrid either.
The Reformist 