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If the people of Scotland vote for independence tomorrow,
Thursday 18th, the process of separation will not, as too many
politicians have suggested, be postponed for eighteen months of negotiation. It
will begin around five in the morning on Friday, 19th September.
Civil
servants in the Treasury, in the Bank of England, the Foreign Office, the
Ministry of Defence and those parts of the Home Office which are responsible
for immigration policy will immediately find themselves briefing ministers on
how to negotiate with the Scottish government. De facto, therefore they
will already be working for what will, in these hitherto reserved functions, be
a “rump UK” government. More to the point, they will be advising ministers on
how to protect the interests of England, Wales and Northern Ireland in those
talks, not those of Scotland which will already be represented by the Edinburgh
government. Long before independence would be announced, the role and
accountability of senior London civil servants and the interests they serve
will have changed drastically. They will have to adjust the advice they offer
to ministers accordingly – and do it immediately when they start work on Friday
morning.
