The world's most-read Scottish politics website

Wings Over Scotland


Scotland is not Slovakia 21

Posted on November 29, 2012 by

It was reported in the Scotsman on Wednesday that the President of the Czech Republic Vaclav Klaus had raised doubts over whether an independent Scotland could successfully keep using Sterling, because when Czechoslovakia split into the Czech and Slovak Republics in 1993 it took only 38 days for the currency union to split.

His views led to a rush of comments from supporters of the UK union arguing that a currency union is only possible with political union. Then a spokesman from the Treasury asserted that protectionism grew between the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic after the split.

The evidence cited by the Treasury spokesman was the fall in Slovak exports to the Czech Republic from 42% of all exports to 13% between 1993 and 2003. Conversely, Czech Republic exports to the Slovak Republic fell from 22% of total exports to 8%. He noted ominously that currently 59% of Scottish exports are to the rest of the UK.

While the basic facts cited are correct, the interpretations put on them by Vaclav Klaus and the UK Treasury spokesman are, shall we say, at odds with the truth.

Read the rest of this entry →

Tags:
Category analysis, scottish politics, uk politics

  • About

    Wings Over Scotland is a (mainly) Scottish political media digest and monitor, which also offers its own commentary. (More)

    Stats: 6,725 Posts, 1,214,740 Comments

  • Recent Posts

  • Archives

  • Categories

  • Tags

    and finally and firstly arithmetic fail braveheart klaxon britnats captain darling cartoons Chris Cairns confused cringe crybabies dateline debates Devo Nano Douglas Daniel Federalists Unionists and Devolutionists flat-out lies foreigner watch from the archives fundraisers galleries Greg Moodie hamish hypocrisy liars light-hearted banter lizards memogate misinformation one nation perspectives poll project fear project feart qft Scott Minto smears snp accused soapbox the positive case for the union The Vow toldyouso too wee too poor too stupid unionist of the day vote no get nothing

  • Recent Comments

    • Liz on The Long Future: “Don’t know if you’ve noticed but there is an increase in the removal of Scottish voices from the media. Can’t…” Mar 28, 09:55
    • Ian on The Long Future: “The UN played a crucial role in ending apartheid by condemning the policy, establishing an arms embargo, and promoting international…” Mar 28, 09:48
    • Mia on The Long Future: “My apologies if I have misunderstood your comment, Rev, but I am not convinced it would be for Scotland itself…” Mar 28, 09:45
    • Rev. Stuart Campbell on The Long Future: ““The whole point of going to C24 and asking for Scotland to be declared a non self governing territory is…” Mar 28, 09:20
    • Mia on The Long Future: “@Lurker (Part II) The third point of the manifesto is “Assert the legislative competence of the Scottish Parliament in matters…” Mar 28, 09:19
    • Iain McGlade on The Long Future: “Who exactly said that Unionists wouldn’t be allowed to participate? That’s just ludicrous and it’s most certainly not something you’ll…” Mar 28, 09:16
    • MaryB on The Long Future: “There’s a big education job to be done about the Salvo stuff. I’m not Scottish, though I’ve lived here for…” Mar 28, 09:04
    • diabloandco on The Long Future: “//youtu.be/RB5RUV8by00 Watch and weep.” Mar 28, 08:54
    • Mia on The Long Future: “@aLurker Thank you very much for your comment, for the clarifications and the links to the manifesto for independence. I…” Mar 28, 08:50
    • Geri on The Long Future: “Billy I’ve heard various commentators say it’s the banking wankers. They seem to have a gambling addiction & every time…” Mar 28, 08:39
    • Aidan on The Long Future: “@Xaracen – no it absolutely is a strict , foundational requirement. It is probably the single most important defining feature…” Mar 28, 08:31
    • Hatey McHateface on The Long Future: ““the U constitution actually states it’ll remain a neutral country & actually forbids foreign aggressors & hostile nations from any…” Mar 28, 08:27
    • Hatey McHateface on The Long Future: ““Scotland will be a republic” Awww, Geri, and there was me wanting you to be my queen. Sure you won’t…” Mar 28, 08:17
    • Hatey McHateface on The Long Future: “Good points Cynicus. The key takeaways remain that the hereditary principle was paramount. Where the heritage was more diluted (through…” Mar 28, 08:06
    • Xaracen on The Long Future: “@Aidan; You said; “a key defining feature of a NSGT is that there must be ‘salt water’ between the territory…” Mar 28, 08:04
    • Hatey McHateface on The Long Future: “Awww. Marie’s family members volunteered, signed up and swore oaths to do a job of work. And now she’s puling…” Mar 28, 07:50
    • Hatey McHateface on The Long Future: “Fit “current genocide” is that then? Surely not the one that could be stopped this weekend, just as it could…” Mar 28, 07:44
    • Aidan on The Long Future: “Indeed and whilst I don’t doubt many of the usual suspects are sincere about their desire for Scottish independence, they…” Mar 28, 06:55
    • Marie on The Long Future: “As someone who had family members sent to Iraq – I absolutely agree. If you can’t prevent your young men…” Mar 28, 06:47
    • Aidan on The Long Future: “@Xaracen – a key defining feature of a NSGT is that there must be ‘salt water’ between the territory and…” Mar 28, 06:37
    • Aidan on The Long Future: “@Geri – as per usual you are completely wrong, the UN does not uphold the rights that peoples are granted…” Mar 28, 06:16
    • Donald on The Long Future: “I got sick at the realisation you don’t oppose the current genocide and didn’t read further (a first for me)…” Mar 28, 05:28
    • twathater on The Long Future: “Thanks for that Ziggy” Mar 28, 04:03
    • Cynicus on The Long Future: ““The Gaels constitutional tradition was for each clan to have a hereditary chief. Probably always male, too” ========== Within living…” Mar 28, 01:08
    • Geri on The Long Future: “The monarch was on notice. He could be removed. The Scots were sovereign, not him. He was elected to do…” Mar 28, 00:29
    • Fearghas MacFhionnlaigh on The Long Future: “I think SALVO’s research into the historical Scottish constitution is of fundamental consequence and offers us indispensable political and intellectual…” Mar 28, 00:14
    • Billy Carlin on The Long Future: “Geri 27 March 2025 at 10:09 pm The UN just like The UK, US, EU and every country on this…” Mar 28, 00:12
    • Kcor on The Long Future: “To be very honest, nothing is ever going to work, because Scots lost their backbones a long time ago. When…” Mar 28, 00:05
    • Geri on The Long Future: “& finally, Shitface – as for this gem regards international law & constitutions…. “They’ll not find a single thing that…” Mar 27, 23:56
    • aLurker on The Long Future: “One of the clear points that Sara Salyers makes is that by empowering a constitutional convention with the votes of…” Mar 27, 23:48

  • A tall tale



↑ Top