Posted: Mar 29, 2017 11:02 pm
fisherman wrote:I agree that now decided, a referendum will be held, but I was driving at how May might or might not be compelled to come round to Sturgeon's time table for a referendum, speculation suggests "now is not the time" could mean a long delay.
With popular sovereignty versus Parliamentary sovereignty; is it enough for it to be a political concept or does it also requires that the people of Scotland believe in it and understand the distinction as well? If the people or not versed in the nuance of it, does it pose a risk for Sturgeon to claim it and expect to carry support?
Daft question poorly phrased I suspect?
Not at all, gets to the heart of it. Like I said upthread with the obligatory Game of Thrones ref., power resides where men believe it resides. People are truly sovereign only when they believe they've the final say, and successfully act on that belief.
To date, Scottish popular sovereignty's existed more in theory than practice, asserted often, enforced rarely (closest is, to the fury of Whitehall, the Constitutional Convention using public funds). Every step of devolution's been with Westminster's consent, and the very concept acknowledges parliamentary supremacy (as that old ghoul Enoch Powell said, power devolved is power retained).
For popular sovereignty to become actual, it must be asserted. Winning independence over the opposition of Westminster is a potent way to do that. In trying to bully Scotland, May's handed her a gift.