European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - April 5, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Scottish separatism latest surge fuelled by economics by Marcus Eliason associated press scottish separatism a stirring again eight years Aller the last failed push for self government. But unlike the previous Campaign s flavor of kill and bagpipe nationalism the present surge of separatist feeling is fuelled almost entirety by economics. Many scots Aren t looking for separate statehood bul for devolution the authority from Britain to do their own housekeeping through an elected Assembly with tax raising Powers. With its traditional Reliance on shipbuilding textiles steel and mining Scotland has borne the Brunt of Britain s shill away irom heavy Industry toward tourism financial services and High tech manufacturing. Many scots believe that London Bankers no Glasgow shipbuilders set the government s priorities and that prime minister Margaret Thatcher is indifferent to Scotland s problems. The mood of helplessness heightened last year with a airing of major Job losses in shipbuilding and sleet. He slump in scottish Oil revenues and most recently the closure of the Caterpillar tractor Plant near Glasgow. Meanwhile a property tax system that last year doubled the Burden on Many homeowners has chafed the Middle classes. According to poll 80 percent of scots want some sort of self government. Both major scottish newspapers endorse devolution As do the two leading churches. The scottish Trade Union movement has also switched emphasis from class struggle to separatism. We be soon All our major industries ravaged we be seen unemployment go up to almost 400.000 in real terms we will not land by and see a further period of devastation says Campbell Christie Secretary general of to scottish Trade Union Congress. The Trade Union movement now after seven years of mrs. Thatcher in Power Are More convinced than they were in 1978 and 1979 about the importance of  Scotland which merged with England in 1707, already has some Independence such As a separate Legal and educational system. In 1979, Britain s labor government gave scots a referendum on devolution. The government stipulated that 40 percent of registered voters had to support the plan. But two thirds of scots did t bother to Vole and the devolution Sis mustered Only 32.5 percent. The defeat left the scottish nationalism movement in disarray the Scollish National party which seeks full Independence Tell from 11 seats to two among the 72 scottish members of the House of commons in London. The National party has recently mounted a comeback doubling its seals in municipal elections last May to place ii second behind1 the socialist labor party. It expects to win at least seven House of commons seats in the next election separatists Range from the Independence seeking National party to the Campaign for a scottish Assembly an Alt party pressure group that wants to keep Scotland in the United kingdom under a separate Assembly with lax raising Powers similar to . State Legislatures or Swiss cantons. With Britain s next general election required by mid 1938, Tho devolution Issue has become More prominent. Scotland traditionally supports the socialist labor parly which holds 41 scottish seats in the 650-member parliament to the governing conservatives 21 an election Victory Lor Thatcher giving conservatives a thud consecutive Loim. Would moan App to the port of Aberdeen with lit traditional Reliance on shipbuilding textiles steel and mining Scotland has Home Trie Brunt of Britain s theft away from heavy Industry. An almost permanent situation arising in which labor wins increasingly comfortably in Scotland bul finds ii almost impossible to win Al United kingdom level says Alan Lawson editor of Radical Scotland a pro labor Magazine. While Thatcher supports maintaining Scotland s status quo scottish Laberite Denis Canavan said in an interview that his party is committed to devolution in a stranger Way than we have Ever been in our history the conservatives deny anti scottish Bias noting that Scotland s 5.13 million inhabitants enjoy higher Public expenditure 2,210 pounds $3,315 per head last year compared with 1,761 pounds $2.641 in England. While conceding that heavy Industry has declined the conservatives say the government has brought in High Lech industries boosted tourism and made Edinburgh an attractive investment Center Logan Colter the scottish conservative party spokesman argues that an Assembly Wilh tax raising Powers would Only add another tier of taxation loan already burdened populace. No one denies thai we scots have a distinct nationality a separateness a scottish Ness he said in an interview. Bul the fact remains we believe that the interests of Scotland Are Best served by a Strong United  nonetheless the tories Are trying to defuse some of Scotland s complaints. Thatcher fought hard to save Caterpillar and scottish Secretary of state Malcolm Rivkind has announced a major Reform of property taxes. But even some scottish tories Are moving toward supporting devolution things change said Brian Meek a scottish conservative lawmaker. What is not changing is the tact that the majority at scottish people would like to see some form of devolution and believe that ultimately that will have Lobo sati Slid " Page 18 the stars and stripes sunday april 5,19b7