Last week saw dramatic developments in the debate on the future of Scotland and its place within the United Kingdom. The Coalition government of David Cameron decided to demand a date in the near future for a referendum on Scotland’s constitutional position. The current administration of Alex Salmond of the Scottish National Party (a member of the European Free Alliance) had a manifesto commitment to hold a referendum during its term, but they had envisaged a 2014 date, and a non-binding referendum held in Scotland with three options – Independence, maintaining the status quo or ‘Devolution Max’ (giving the Scottish Parliament authority over everything except foreign affairs and defence). The difference of opinion between London and Edinburgh has led to sharp words between Salmond and the Coalition government, and ensured the constitutional issue is at the top of the political agenda in the UK.

The Scottish Green Party have a number of seats in the Scottish Parliament, and are the only other party there that supports Scottish independence, along with the SNP. Party leader Patrick Harvie spoke in the Parliament on Thursday, laying out the failures of the debate to date, and to make sure that any referendum keeps in mind the type of country that Scots would like to see emerge post-referendum.

Patrick Harvie again:

“Though the starting gun has been fired, there will be a very long run-up to the independence referendum which will most likely be in late 2014. Greens will aim to use this time to make the case for independence not as an end in itself, but as the means to achieve a more equal, more sustainable and more democratic society. We’re the only party on the Yes side of this debate with a radical vision for Scotland, and we’ll work hard to share that vision with the voters.”

If Scotland does decide to leave the UK, it will be looking to smaller countries in Europe to consider how they would like to engage with the EU, post-independence. Would they rejoin as an independent member state, consider external cooperation through the European Economic Area (like Norway) or try to make another arrangement. The Scottish Greens hope is that an independent Scotland can reengage with the EU in a constructive, radical and Green way. With Salmon inviting the Coalition leaders to Edinburgh for talks on the referendum format, it remains to be seen how long they will have to wait.