EIGG "REFERENDUM" CAUSES TENSION Queen Aoife II of Eigg had today confirmed that on Thursday 1st September 2022 citizens of Eigg will have a chance to formally cast their vote in what she has described as an "Independence Referendum". The Eigg Royal Office has been distributing ballot boxes and voting slips across the Kingdom over the last two days with an expected full delivery to have been achieved by the end of the day. The ballot paper features a very simple but controversial question, "Should the Kingdom of Eigg become an independent nation by leaving the Federation of Dál Riata?" with the options being a simple "yes" or "no". The Queen has today issued invitations to several non-state independent media sources to cover the referendum to ensure "that the ballot is a clear representation of the wishes of the people of Eigg and it is conducted in a fair and open way." The fact the ballot boxes and voting papers have been issued so quickly is largely down to the small nature of Eigg, with a population of some 4.7million with around 3.5million being allowed to vote as they are over 18 years of age. Various polls have indicated that around 58-71% of Eiggites wish to gain independence however with around 1.3million Eiggites living spread throughout the rest of the Federation they have often been ignored by pollsters and will not have a vote in the coming "referendum"
The Federation government have refused to acknowledge this as an official ballot as it has not been voted on in the Federations Standing Council. Grand Marshall Kenneth Macrae has issued a warning that if the "referendum" does go ahead it will face problems, "The Federal government will not recognise this result and anyone taking part in an official capacity as a returning officer, counter or even delivering ballot papers could face serious criminal charges. This is a move designed to cause disruption and disharmony in the Federation. We need to be focusing on working together even closer than we are now rather than splitting away. For any ballot to take place it must have due process in the Standing Council and this is the first we have heard of this ballot. Queen Aoife is walking on very thin ice and needs to step back from taking action that could very well spoil her reign."
Meanwhile the Queen urged her subjects to get out and vote. "Since becoming a teenager I've been fully committed to being behind the cause of independence. Culturally we are similar to the rest of Dal Riata but we are not of their clans. We are unique and while they push an agenda to eliminate the differences between clans, tribes and regions we have no interest. We are followers even of a slightly different religion, the rest of the Federation worship the Eight Gods, who choose Áine to lead them. In that way they have shaped the Federation, a council with an elected leader. Here in Eigg though we respect the seven Gods we know that their leader is The Morrígan, not through voting but by divine right. If the Gods wish us to follow them then the monarchy must have its place and the Federation turned its back on monarchies nearly 250 years ago. We haven't. The people of Eigg need to go out and tell us how they wish to be ruled. If it is from the Federation then I accept that result and I shall retire from public life. If they want independence then I accept that too and vow to the best of my ability to guide Eigg forward as a friend of the Federation not its minion."
Members of the Eigg National Militia, a force of 4,500 soldiers, sailors and airmen, held a series of votes of their own yesterday. 78% of its members voted to change the name of the force to the Royal Militia and adopt a new cap badge including a crown. The Kenridie Highland Regiment voted to finally formally accept the Royal Eigg Standard to parade alongside their own Regimental Colours and thus change their name to the Royal Kenridie Highland Regiment. Each of the forces three Frigates voted to change the name of their vessels. Now the FNS Constantine, Donald and Kenneth, all of which were named after nobles from the Federations history, will now be called HMS Badb, Macha, and Nemain, the three personas of The Morrigan. It is clear that Militia strongly support the notion of independence and we have seen an alleged official internal memo from their commander Field Marshall William McCart that the members should "stand ready to support security of electoral processes" however we have been unable to confirm whether this order has actually been given.