This thread discusses the Content article: Non resident citizenship

The Scottish Diaspora is probably one of Scotland’s greatest strengths and it would be a monumental folly for Scotland to take any action that might weaken the bonds that bind us to our homeland. I see no reason why Scots cannot have dual citizenship should they so wish. This is not a revolutionary concept however; a non-resident citizen tax is a non-starter and would be counter productive.

Voting rights are another matter; the democratic principle of ‘no taxation without representation’ can also be restated as ‘no representation without taxation’. Therefore those Scots who are non-resident in Scotland but are resident for tax purposes elsewhere would no have a vote in Scottish elections. I accept that this simple proposal could raise a number of problems in practice, but the problems are themselves simply questions in search of an answer.

Alex McG wrote:
a non-resident citizen tax is a non-starter and would be counter productive.



We rejected the poll tax for good reason. I wouldn't want to see us impose it on our own - no matter where they live.

In reply to Graham's blog entry, as an expatriate Scot, I will not buy the citizenship that is my birthright. Like many other Scots, I reject the English occupation of our country, however benign, and I reserve the right to return, live and vote in Scotland at any time of my choosing.
No other civilised country sells citizenship to its own people. Just what kind of society are you proposing?
If you look around at the world, ALL of the democracies (yes, even the United Kingdom, as it is presently constituted) have some form of voting mechanism for expatriates. Would you want an independent Scotland to be so different?
It is naive and dangerous of you to try to strip me and many thousands of other Scots of our full citizenship rights. We will not tolerate that. These rights have been fought for by our ancestors for many hundreds of years, and we still claim them as equal Scotsmen and Scotswomen.
I am an economic refugee from the ravages of Thatcherism (remember the time when there were no Tory MPs in Scotland?). That was the time when Scottish industry was decimated by Westminster. And, there was the small matter of the poll tax "experiment". Would you seriously want to set up a voting mechanism which would encourage a return to those times?

What exactly is meant by 'citizenship' here?

In view of Wendy Alexander's recent difficulties, should it include the right by Scots in the 'diaspora' to donate to a Scottish political party of their choice?

If so, no doubt Sir Sean would be delighted, and Wendy would be completely exonerated at last.