Can Scotland survive as an independent nation?
When the Scottish National Party took a minority government to the Scottish parliament many people were hailing a significant change in the political direction of Scotland with the party receiving record backing. However, slowly but surely we have seen Alex Salmond's government start to unravel and come under increasing pressure to deliver the goods rather than talk the talk. A number of pivotal policies are now under serious threat with the local income tax system one which appears to be falling by the wayside.
While the UK government has effectively ruled the local income tax proposal as "illegal" under current legislation more people are focusing upon the dwindling number of the Scottish population in favour of independence. The SNP had initially managed to secure substantial support for the move with a referendum planned for next year although recently, in light of the ongoing economic downturn, it would appear that many Scots would rather remain part of the UK and the massive income streams this brings.
Whether this move will seriously hamper the future prospects of the SNP remains to be seen but last weeks budget debacle, which saw the government budget voted down, only to be reinstated a week later, could prove to be a pivotal point in the current Scottish government's tenure.
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