Parliamentary elections in Scotland

May 1st 2007 will be the 300th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Union between England and Scotland. Two days later, regional parliamentary elections will be held in Scotland. The Scottish National Party (SNP) is said to have good chances of winning a majority. George Waser reports: "Alex Salmond, who would be the First Minister in the case of an SNP victory, is already giving himself the airs of an elder statesman. 'Going it alone' is the motto of those who want a break with the Union and dream of a boom similar to that in Ireland. But how realistic is this dream of 'going it alone'?... No doubt the SNP (which having enhanced its strategic skills is now rooting for a referendum in three years' time instead of immediately) would plead in favour of abandoning the union with England, pointing to the oil and gas reserves in the North Sea. But notwithstanding a report which was long kept secret by the British government, according to which the Scottish were always at a disadvantage, it's still uncertain to what extent complete autonomy would give them the rights to these reserves."

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