Scottish Independence, for or against?

[Vista]

 

What do we think? Take your tartan skirts and Foxtrot Oscar or come closer and stand with us as part of the UK, with one voice we shout louder sort of thing?

 

For what it's worth I'm in the latter camp. What does bug me about it as that only the people living in Scotland (and many of those won't actually be Scots) get a say in the matter. It affects everyone in the UK so surely we should all get a say?

 

Any Scots on here from either side of the debate?

 

[DT36]

If it's anything like the ponzie government we now have in Wales, the Scots should vote against it.

Severn Bridge is killing the Welsh economy, but have they got the power or balls to sort it out? No...

[SmokeEm]

I would love to have unity but the harsh facts are that 90% of Scots can't stand us English. They love to see us fall whereas most English people would love to see Scotland have some success. Look at how the English embraced Andy Murray? The Scots hated Tim Henman and loved watching him fail so I vote fook em!

[Vista]

Dave Re sporting success or failure.

 

Though in fairness I think the 90% statistic is probably a little harsh. Probably true in big Scottish state schools (I went to two whilst living up there in the 80's) but most grow out of it eventually, except perhaps the great unwashed from some of the rough estates around Glasgow maybe.

 

Personally I think Alex Salmond and the nationalists are deluded if they think that life will go on as normal for Scotland post independence from the UK.

[Mk2Jo]

Hmmmm .... I've not really thought much about it and I suppose down here in Hampshire I'm honestly not sure how it would affect me?

[Vista]

Hmmmm .... I've not really thought much about it and I suppose down here in Hampshire I'm honestly not sure how it would affect me?

Dissolution of the UK will affect everyone Jo. In many ways but here are just a few:

 

1. The SNP have committed themselves to removing the UK's nuclear deterrent from Scottish soil. The cost of dismantling Faslane & RNAD Coulport would be enormous. Do you reckon Scotland will be putting their hand in their pocket to fund it?

 

2. Pensions for people living in Scotland, who's going to pay for them?

 

3. Regardless of whether keeps the £ or not, if their independent economy fails, who will they turn to for help? Salmond will answer this with the EU, but entry to the EU is not automatic and separating from the UK does not guarantee Scotland membership as it would be a new state in its own right.

 

4. An independent Scotland would (rightly perhaps) see the UK'S largest energy reserves (North Sea Oil & Gas) as theirs. Where does that leave England and Wales?

 

Etc etc ad infinitum

[Mk2Jo]

I see .... I wonder if the average Scotsman realises all this? Let alone the un educated Scotsman (and I don't mean that comment to be derogatory).

[Vista]

I'm sure the educated do and will vote wisely for what's really in their best interests, but Alex Salmond has, in my opinion, rigged both the question that they will be voting on (by making it over simplistic) and the electorate who will be voting in the referendum. The latter by by allowing people as young as 16 to vote in it. Do you think a 16 year old has enough understanding of what's at stake to be allowed a say? I know I didn't at that age.

 

I'll wager that there'll be nightly TV screenings of Mel Gibson's Braveheart in the run up to the vote.

[irishtorag]

im kinda on the independence camp as like N.Ireland my true home Mrs Thatcher destroyed the factorys etc to stop independence from ever taking place as there was no economy

Now so many years on and looking from the R.O.I. home I see a strong statelet that yerns to be free and could boom if let.

and yes there still are political issues as in a certain people think the Queen gives a fook about them and another crowd that think the republic give a fook

If they adopted the euro in the north it would be a better state but !

if the republic took the pound and sided with the common wealth we would be fit to devalue and fook the germans

 

 

before you jump at me politics destroys nations.

[Vista]

I don't think the Northern Ireland issue is comparable personally. Scotland & England have been one nation for centuries and one land mass for millennia. What's to be gained for either side by putting a border back inbetween? Personally I think it will make the sense of resentment between the Scots and the English worse rather than better and for what gain to either side? 

[irishtorag]

Maybe the problem is like roi

the Dublin folk seem to say wee pay most taxs because its main city with most population so we call the shots

country folk like us in west think fook you in big city we grown the food for ya on the farms..

 

 

on contrary I do agree with you to a certain xtent in one land mass and maybe an indepenant parliament free from head office bully boy tactics may be a better option.

the hate probably comes with the control and deemed gloating imo

[DT36]

Big big money drain in Wales has also been seen in the education system due to devolution.

 

I work as a Technical Training Manager in the heavy automotive industry, but also lectured City & Guilds (Motor Vehicle) as a nightclass over the last 4 years in the UK until my recent move to a tax free environment for this year.

 

I had some really good groups of adult learners, who were all very keen DIY and Sunday morning mechanics. Most of these learners all had to pay to come on the course, so all wanted to be there. However, due to the Nationalists now in government down in Cardiff, everything I did in English had to be duplicated in Welsh, even though not one person on the course spoke the language. Any books or handouts I had also had to be duplicated or translated, which I could not do myself.  This in essence took a large chunk out of the yearly budget which could have been put to better use for more equipment and tools.

 

Eventually, I spoke with C&G external assesors and changed the course to be more practical based with less books and online tests, to move away from the use of Welsh medium.

 

Now don't get me wrong, I am proud of my roots and of the community that I grew up in, but having left home to do my mechanical apprentice training in the Army at 16, followed by various postings in England and worldwide, I can honestly say from experience that the insular approach of nationalism is not worth a sh1t outside of its own borders, let alone speaking the language.  Oh, and don't get me started on the all singing all dancing FAILED Welsh Bacaleurate they tried to get my children to do in school. 

 

Many children and parents were bullied into doing this, but I stood my ground with my two and had them do the traditional A levels by actually having them taxied from their school to another for individual lessons not offered by the school they attended for years.  My argument to their Head Teacher was that this was a waste of their education and it would not be recognised outside of Wales by any Employer or University. 

 

Bottom line, my children passed their A levels and most of those that did the Bacaleurate failed. Those that did pass were then getting rejections from English Universities.

 

Seriously, if your a Scot, vote against it if the recent changes of politics in Wales is anything to go by.  Next it will be your NHS...

[skeeter]

Depends.

 

Full independence, ie zero support from Westminster taxes and uk currency then I am agnostic.

 

Supported independence, against.

 

S

[deltamal]

Majority of the larger companies with business concerns North and south are against independence, being nationalistic is a luxury that has to be afforded.... 

[Vista]

Cornwall next on the devolution band wagon?

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-27132035

 

Stand by for implementation of Grockle Tax for tourists coming over the border

 

And caravan tax too whilst I'm on my soap box 

[deltamal]

Hopefully old Fords will be exempt!  

[mk2xflow]

im Scottish live in Scotland and couldn't give a toss either way it doesent matter whos in charge English or Scottish ,either way theyl balls it up anyway, I may add ive nothing against English folks , half my mates are English we all have to live on this island anyways

[theloudboy]

They have been talking about this a lot on LBC I can understand why they want independence but from what I have been hearing it will be a disaster for us and them if they vote yes and if they do I'm guessing the welsh will be next.

[livewire7116]

I say if they want it let em have it, but they need to pay back any debts first and bring all accounts into the black so they have a clean slate to start with,

[mk2xflow]

yep let the English sort there own debt too as well as the Scottish ,,,itl never happen

[mk2xflow]

theres not enough info on independence for the scots to decide anyway , ive more pressing things to do ,like rebuilding my escort

[Vista]

theres not enough info on independence for the scots to decide anyway , ive more pressing things to do ,like rebuilding my escort

 

But will you vote and do you care about the outcome?

[mk2xflow]

no and no in that order

[escortmad79]

Salmond ain't got a clue!!

Osbourne stated that he won't allow Scots to use the GBP, this leaves Scotland with a dilemma of what currency they will use! Salmond doesn't have a backup plan!

Salmond reckons he'll be in charge of one of the wealthiest countries in the UK, made from North sea oil... North Sea oil has made a loss in the past 12 months! Oil won't last forever, it's making a loss & a lot of the oil platforms in the North sea are owned by BRITISH Petroleum!!
He reckons he'll be able to walk into the EU, not the case if Scotland splits from the rest of the UK.
He wants independence from the UK BUT still wants to keep the GBP & other things, you can't be independent AND use some of what the UK has!
He's plucking figures out of the air WITHOUT any hard evidence!
He reckons that Scots will get more benefits etc but hasn't stated WHERE the money is going to come from!
Scots will soon lose free education & prescriptions in Scotland as he cuts them in order to make money!

Research funding for Scotland will be cut!
Cancer Research have facilities in Glasgow, get independence & funding will be cut! There will be NO cancer research in Scotland! It's CRUK after all, NOT CR Scotland & CR England!
Alec Salmond is a one trick pony! Hopefully he will lose in September & stand down as his position will become untenable!

Independence will be a nightmare for Scotland! Hopefully it'll not happen

[cdeane74]

If they are even thinking about it, then England should give them no choice and chuck them out now anyway! Why are they calling the shots? I'm not a fan of irn bru or haggis anyway