Campaigners for Scottish independence today presented a powerful case for the nation’s “decolonisation” at the United Nations in Geneva, arguing that the 1707 Treaty of Union was a “hostile takeover” and that Scotland was an early victim of the expansionist policies that laid the foundations of the British Empire.
The event, held at the Palais des Nations, aimed to bypass the UK government by pursuing independence through international law, seeking recognition of Scotland as a non-self-governing territory. Organisers outlined a detailed legal and historical framework designed to reshape Scotland’s constitutional status on the world stage.
“Self-determination is a legal principle, not a slogan,” declared Junius Ho, a key organiser, in his opening remarks.
The Legal Case: “An Annexation”
The core legal argument was delivered by Professor Robert Black KC, a leading expert in Scots Law. In a video presentation titled “The Takeover of Scotland,” he challenged the commonly accepted narrative of the 1707 Union as a consensual agreement. “It was a takeover of Scotland by England,” he asserted, explaining that English state institutions remained intact while Scottish institutions were dismantled. He concluded that Scotland was effectively “annexed and exploited,” with judicial appeals transferred to English courts dominated by untrained English lords, subordinating Scotland’s legal system.
Sharof Azizov, Executive Director of Justice pour Tous Internationale, reinforced this position: “Scotland’s case is neither novel nor exceptional. The Scottish people are entitled to decolonisation,” citing Westminster’s overriding powers over Scottish legislation and resource control as ongoing evidence of dependency.
Historical Context: The Empire’s First Steps
Campaigners placed Scotland’s experience within a broader historical context, arguing that the English colonial project began close to home. The early 17th-century Plantation of Ulster—a policy orchestrated by English administrators in London and Dublin—can in some ways be seen as the foundational act of the British Empire. This involved settling Scottish Protestant colonists on confiscated Irish lands, establishing a pattern of expansion and control that was later applied to Scotland itself.
Following this, campaigners argue, Scotland was integrated into the imperial framework through the 1707 Union, which entailed cultural suppression—including bans on the Gaelic language—and the marginalisation of Scottish identity. Once subsumed, Scotland assumed a complex dual role: first as a colonised nation, and then as a key participant in empire-building. Scots became administrators, merchants, and soldiers who played instrumental roles in expanding and managing British colonies worldwide—a trajectory comparable to colonial elites in Ireland and India.
International Solidarity and a Vision for the Future
The event attracted significant international attention, notably from Ayman Okeil of the African Union’s ECOSOCC, who expressed solidarity: “We were colonised by England, so we understand your situation… we all agree… self-determination.”
Professor Alf Baird of Liberation Scotland highlighted the psychological dimensions of decolonisation: “We are in the decolonisation process. This is a long period of trying to understand the condition. And the condition, we have to remember, is a psychological condition.”
Despite the weight of history, organisers emphasised their forward-looking focus. They are not seeking reparations but aim to establish Scotland as a modern, independent nation with full participation in the international community.
The campaign continues to advocate for the legal and moral recognition of Scotland’s right to self-determination, reframing its history through the lens of decolonisation rather than union.