5 live's 5 big questions about Scottish independence: Guernsey
Post categories: 5 live blog, Chris Mason, Drive, politics
|22:53 UK time, Monday, 23 January 2012
So Day 1 of 5 live's 5 big questions about Scottish independence brings us to Guernsey. We are about as far away from Scotland as you can get whilst still being in the British Isles. But this place offers some fascinating insights into the constitutional dilemma Scotland faces.
Guernsey has a general election coming up in April.
As a British Crown Dependency, Guernsey is pretty much independent. Foreign affairs and defence are managed from London, but some mutter the last time that really mattered here the Nazis invaded.
The island uses the pound, even if the notes and coins look a bit different. And the Queen is the Head of State. So if Scotland’s First Minister put a question on the referendum paper there that offered a compromise between keeping things as they are and independence, could Scotland end up like Guernsey?
Several people here have told us privately that there is a fascination when they meet politicians from Scotland about how Guernsey manages its link with London. In short, that link is a thin but sturdy constitutional umbilical cord. It’s been around since 1204, so it’s certainly durable.
As you are reading this we are dashing from Guernsey to Northamptonshire. On Tuesday we will be reporting from Corby for Drive. It is known as Little Scotland and we will be heading for the Grampian Association. What will people there make of the prospect of Scottish independence? Would they like a vote themselves?
You can listen to our first piece for 5live Drive here.
Our second piece, featuring Guernsey's Bailiff, is here.
Our report for Radio 4's PM programme is here.
And our article for the BBC News website is here.
Chris Mason is 5 live’s political reporter. You can follow him on Twitter: @ChrisMasonBBC.
Chris is travelling with 5 live senior producer Chris Brindley.
Comment number 1.
At 10:30 24th Jan 2012, Sarnia wrote:BLimey! when were you here? Not heard or read anything about this in local media. Did the programme go out y'day?
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Comment number 2.
At 12:08 24th Jan 2012, Chris Mason wrote:Hi Sarnia, when you say 'here' do you mean Guernsey? We were there on Monday, reporting for 5live, Radio 4 and the BBC News website. We will try to add some links to our stuff on here. Cheers Chris
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Comment number 3.
At 16:08 24th Jan 2012, Sarnia wrote:Hi Chris, yes I do mean Guernsey (Sarnia is the Roman name forGsy btw). look forward to seeing the links when I get back as just about to fly to UK for few days as where I'm going has no internet (My Ma's)!!
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Comment number 4.
At 09:25 25th Jan 2012, zelda wrote:Not that Nicky Campbell is biased this morning on the phone in on Scottish Independence - he is letting the Scots bloke take most of the air time.
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Comment number 5.
At 22:32 26th Jan 2012, Chris Mason wrote:Sarnia - all of our pieces, on radio and online, are now linked to above. I never knew your name was also the Roman name for Guernsey!
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Comment number 6.
At 09:53 30th Jan 2012, Sarnia wrote:Thanks Chris for links; some people when doing a toast say "The Queen our Duke" in reference to 1204 and before (Duke of Normandy)
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