Alex Salmond: Scotland SHOULD be independent - 5/6 | Oxford Union

Oxford Union on Twitter: @OxfordUnion

Let auld acquaintance be forgot? Since 1707, Scotland and England have been united under one crown, a relationship that has survived domestic and global crises. However, relations have frayed in recent years and support for Scottish Independence has grown significantly, culminating in the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum. Following dramatic changes in the landscape of British and global politics, a resurgent bid for Scottish Independence has gained support. Should Westminster allow for a second referendum? Is independence a prospect worth supporting?

ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY: The Oxford Union is the world's most prestigious debating society, with an unparalleled reputation for bringing international guests and speakers to Oxford. Since 1823, the Union has been promoting debate and discussion not just in Oxford University, but across the globe.

[Jwhams]

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿this brought a tear to my eye I can not believe he never got to see us an independent nation. I hope to see it in my life time.

[thomasnixon]

A great orator and outstanding politician who convinced me (an English man) completely that Scotland should be able to have independence from the UK if that is their choice. Alex Salmond will be greatly missed.

[lorrainekerr]

The dream will never die.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[LornaNicholson-uvjs]

We are missing you every day Alex when we seed the quality of politicians today.

[ClaimOfRightMuso]

Brilliant orator, respected politician, Salmond's eloquence is a joy to behold.
You might not like the dude - but you're here, listening, commenting, threatening and moaning - he clearly has your attention. Oh, btw, Oxford Union seem to concur with my statement.

[alisterbell]

RIP Alex! You were the greatest political leader or our generation! Rest now Alex you have written yourself into Scottish history!

[Dishfire]

What a great speech from Alex he should have been the Prime Minister for the whole of the UK🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧

[ludmilawheeler]

I love Scotland.. though I am a foreigner ..something mysteriously beautiful about that land.

[Dishfire]

He does not read from a prepared script or from an Auto Q he knows his stuff Mr Salmond.

[catrionaskivingtonskivingt]

Really hope I live to see an independent Scotland.

[huanlecongquoc]

I love these civil and respectful debates 💙💙💙

[thordrewsean]

Sitting in his home village watching this with pride, super proud of Scotland's true leader.

[ggagg]

Well said Alex. My question to uk nationalists are why is every neighbouring small indy nation (Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Denmark) wealthier, happier and live longer than non-indy Scotland & Wales in Uk? I never get a straight answer. Truth is Uk makes Scotland poorer.

[AliG-fdho]

A brilliant debater...we'll miss you Alex

[globaltraveller]

Alex Salmond is just great, a formidable debater. I’m Scottish and agnostic on independence and agnostic on the union. The Scots, whether they support independence or not, have demonstrated that they can be a strong nation without a state. The British on the other hand seem to derive their nation solely from having a state exercising its power over individual free will. The latter is exceptionally unhealthy ideology. But it also shows the utterly weak foundations of Britishness that it couldn’t survive the end of the United Kingdom and needs a state to reinforce it.

[thomasmccafferty]

The behaviour and faces being pulled by the young man sitting at the table shows the arrogance Oxford breeds into wee blawbags.

[robertbaltha]

Scottish independence could save my country. Germany. Right now, our green party secretary of economy and energy Habeck, has to beg dictatorships around the world for gas and oil. If the Scots could decide it, we would happily buy everything they can produce the next hundred years. Right next door from lovely people who value mostly the same things we do. Champagne parties in Berlin would be the consequence. Scottish economic development would be guaranteed 👌

[andyrees]

Alex for leader, i vote for him again
and Scotland

[jamescarroll]

Always a privilege to hear Alex advocate for Scotland.

[alastair]

Interesting debate in the heartland of colonialism. There is no democracy in UK, Ok. The Union is coercive exploitative and not wanted.