Dennis Canavan described the prospect of the newborn child one day being a separate Scotland’s head of state as “an affront to democracy and a complete anachronism.”
The Yes Scotland chairman and former Labour MP said that Scots should instead be offered a second referendum, shortly after next year's vote on independence, asking whether they wanted to retain a hereditary monarchy.
Alex Salmond has tried to persuade Scots to back separation by arguing that the Queen and her successors would automatically remain head of state after separation from England.
But Mr Canavan’s views are shared by other parties who are part of the Yes Scotland campaign for independence, including the Scottish Greens, and a large number of SNP MSPs and members.
Despite the First Minister’s claim the SNP has supported the retention of the monarchy for decades, in 2002 the party published a draft written constitution for a separate Scotland that included a referendum on the issue. Continue reading and comment » | Simon Johnson, Scottish Political Editor | Sunday, July 28, 2013
