Scottish independence

[captainhaddock]

it sounds to me like a classic attempt at divide and rule
we will be much less a thorn in europes side if we are split
that salmond man can think he is clever
but there will be much more powerful people in much higher places a lot happier if this small island is fragmented
wales would obviously be next

dont do it !

[Heinrich]

Good luck to the Scottish, I say, in their aspiration for independence as a proud nation as worthy of respect as much as any country.

[Mr Sloane]

Good luck to the Scottish, I say, in their aspiration for independence as a proud nation as worthy of respect as much as any country.

I do hope if Scotland does choose independence they don't select that dreadful dirge The Flower of Scotland to be the their national anthem. It's simply an up market football chant, reviving and distorting memories of a 700 year old battle.

[DB7]

It's a matter purely for the Scots. The EU side will be interesting as Spain (not wanting to encourage the Basques) have said they'd veto an independent Scotland joining the EU.

[CaptainWaggett]

Presumably English and Welsh students will be able to attend Scottish universities for free since differential charging isn't allowed between EU member states. That will be popular with the English middle classes

[julian_craster]

As independence will almost certainly mean more taxes for the Scots (who are currently heavily subsidised by taxpayers in SE England), my guess is that the Scots (renowned for being tight with their money, except for spending on booze...) will vote with their wallets and say NO ! .......

[Richard_in_wales]

I seem to recall an article saying Scotland gives back more than it gets from those in SE England ? So funding stops at the Watford Gap? No cash generated out side of London? I had no idea that the taxpayers of SE England funded not only the rest of England and Wales but also Scotland...Well done to them all I say and many thanks for the money :)

[Arfur Teacake]

Good luck and good riddance.They have been going on about this at least since I was born.
Has Sean Connery built his dream film studio complex in Edinburgh yet ?
Nah just hot aired big jessie talk as usual.

However I do see that maybe a N. Ireland situation might develop in the future with Scottish terrorists
coming over the border and blowing things up in England everytime something goes wrong in Scotland.

[loudonsmum]

Good luck and good riddance.They have been going on about this at least since I was born.
Has Sean Connery built his dream film studio complex in Edinburgh yet ?
Nah just hot aired big jessie talk as usual.

However I do see that maybe a N. Ireland situation might develop in the future with Scottish terrorists
coming over the border and blowing things up in England everytime something goes wrong in Scotland.

had not made my mind up but after reading the nonsense above its a yes for me.

[icetorch]

I seem to recall an article saying Scotland gives back more than it gets from those in SE England ? So funding stops at the Watford Gap? No cash generated out side of London? I had no idea that the taxpayers of SE England funded not only the rest of England and Wales but also Scotland...Well done to them all I say and many thanks for the money :)

Not sure about the figures, but remember the huge (and hugely undertaxed) wealth of the City. But according to Evan Davies this is balanced out by North Sea oil, most of which would be in Scottish waters if Scotland became independent.

[Tonch]

Not sure about the figures, but remember the huge (and hugely undertaxed) wealth of the City. But according to Evan Davies this is balanced out by North Sea oil, most of which would be in Scottish waters if Scotland became independent.

Would it? I read that much of what's left of North Sea Oil lies South of the diagonal line dividing Scotland from England were this line to be extrapolated into the sea.

And let's not forget "The North Sea" was actually The German Ocean - maybe the Germans will have something to say about this?

That's if Shetlanders - many of whom do not feel "Scottish" but have stronger ties to Scandinavia - don't decide to put their case forwards.

Deciding "whose" oil it is is fraught with paradox and if you are implying that Geographical proximity determines ownership rights... where does that leave those "Malvinas" way down in the South Atlantic? What about the Scots and English and Welsh who fought to keep them "British"?

As something of a centrist who leans towards the idea of nations coming together I would be sad to see Scotland leave the UK. We are the richer in social, historic and cultural terms for their presence; for a nation of its size, Scotland has historically contributed massively to the culture, science and progress of the modern world - they are a not inconsiderable part of what makes Britain Great, and I say that as someone who is wholly English (and proud to be so). And whilst I cannot now recall the figures either, leaving the whole oil debate aside I've read convincing evidence that our Caledonian friends more than pay their way.

I still cringe at the way Thatcher & co. arrogantly used them as guinea pigs for the poll tax.

[icetorch]

Deciding "whose" oil it is is fraught with paradox and if you are implying that Geographical proximity determines ownership rights... where does that leave those "Malvinas" way down in the South Atlantic? What about the Scots and English and Welsh who fought to keep them "British"?

I'm not implying anything. There are international laws that determine who gets what - like your line extrapolated into the sea from the Scots-English border.

I still cringe at the way Thatcher & co. arrogantly used them as guinea pigs for the poll tax.

They didn't use anybody as a guinea pig. The Scots cried loudest and first about the unfairness of the rates, so Mrs Thatcher decided to do something about it. Unfortunately, as she found out, reforms are often very expensive, and practice often doesn't equate very well to theory.

[ayrshireman]

I still cringe at the way Thatcher & co. arrogantly used them as guinea pigs for the poll tax.

Actually, Scots Tories advised her that the Poll Tax would get some, but relatively little public opposition here. Her mistake perhaps was to listen to their incorrect assessment,

[Windthrop]

Blame Connery if it all goes wrong - not that it will affect him on the golf course in Nassau

[ayrshireman]

As independence will almost certainly mean more taxes for the Scots (who are currently heavily subsidised by taxpayers in SE England), my guess is that the Scots (renowned for being tight with their money, except for spending on booze...) will vote with their wallets and say NO ! .......

Myth. And I say that as someone who is very pro-Union and cannot wait to tick the NO box in 2014.

I seem to recall an article saying Scotland gives back more than it gets from those in SE England ? So funding stops at the Watford Gap? No cash generated out side of London? I had no idea that the taxpayers of SE England funded not only the rest of England and Wales but also Scotland...Well done to them all I say and many thanks for the money :)

Yes, it does.

Good luck and good riddance.They have been going on about this at least since I was born.Has Sean Connery built his dream film studio complex in Edinburgh yet ?
Nah just hot aired big jessie talk as usual.

However I do see that maybe a N. Ireland situation might develop in the future with Scottish terrorists
coming over the border and blowing things up in England everytime something goes wrong in Scotland.

Yes. Because you have a small % that want independence, whilst most Scots then and now and 2014 do not and will not want it.

Oh dear, you serious?.

[GRAEME]

As an ethnic Scot, I think it would be a real pity to break up the Union. But I can understand why folks will be attracted by independence - England has dominated thoughtlessly for a very long time.

[icetorch]

As an ethnic Scot, I think it would be a real pity to break up the Union. But I can understand why folks will be attracted by independence - England has dominated thoughtlessly for a very long time.

How? Fair enough, devolution was a long time coming, and much needed, though Tony Blair now regrets implementing it. T

There's only one Tory MP in Scotland - but I have read that under PR there'd be between 10 to 12.

I remember in the 1980s looking for some traditional English folk songs in a record shop, but there were none to be found. Plenty of Irish and Scottish, plus bagpipe music and Welsh choirs. In the 1990s, I saw a TV documentary suggesting that the English had suppressed their national character and become culturally mongrel, so it showed the English doing line dancing, etc., in their leisure time, rather than Morris dancing. OK, Morris dancing is rather boring... And the state has over time encouraged immigration, while formerly most English were against it (less so over time). So you could say the state has worked to dilute Englishness, if indirectly. But anyway, the English don't want English food if they're going out - anything but. Yet some Indians claim that the curry we love is unknown in India! What the truth is, I don't know.

[alan french]

Hi,
I am keeping my mouth shut on this one, as I am going to Scotland for a holiday.

Alan French.

[golightly]

I think we should have a vote in England on the same day about remaining in the Union, why just the Scots?

[Marky B]

Personally,I don't wish to see a break up of the Union,but if the people of Scotland vote for independence,then that is their wish! However,I think they should really ponder over their decision. Scotland today is different from the Scotland of centuries ago,so they should forget about getting misty eyed about Bonnie Prince Charlie,William (Mel Gibson) Wallace and Rob Roy,but remember that the years of fusion with England and Wales over the last three hundred years has seen us fighting together in bigger wars - global wars - and the bonding has cemented a nation.
The question needs to be asked,if Scotland really needs - and survive (more crucially) - independence,or whether they are just hoovering up the dreams of Alex Salmond and his party. And much as I like SIR Sean Connery,his attitude towards independence is a bit two faced considering his self imposed exile in foreign (Commonwealth?) shores.
Ta Ta
Marky B