Will Scotland stay or go?

[rebel11]

Where the banks are concerned, you really can't take them seriously, you just have to look at their recent history.

[SabreSheep]

I feel the independence for scotland referendum has mirandered from what it was meant to be.

 

Instead of the question "Should Scotland be an Independent Country?" being asked, in the Minds fo the voters it will actually read "Should Scotlands Society decide to be part of the Westminster Greed is Good culture?"

 

Being independent would not be the question if we had prevented our politicians attacking the weak poor disabled and vulnerable an din return feathering the nest of the wealthy for the cock ups of the wealthy.

 

This is more ANTI London feeling as opposed to Independent Scotland feeling. The writing is on the wall here. That Anti London feeling is spreading. That is why Scotland is on the cusp of independence. That is why UKIP is gaining ground. That is why the trust in our governing system is at an all time low.

[rebel11]

Agree with SabreSheep, a lot of 'blackmailing' going on, 'if you vote this way, we will do this', it's pretty much holding a gun to the heads of the Scottish people, I don't think they should be blackmailed into voting a particular way, when they want to go it alone. This is the government putting pressure on the institutions, close links, to say 'they will leave'.

[citizenB]

Apparently 35 years ago, Shetland and Orkney were asked if they wanted to be part of an independent Scotland - they voted 9-1 against. Whilst there are only 42,500 residents that is a few NO votes

 

I didn't realise this Independence thing had been rumbling on for so long !

 

When Shetland's local authority held a referendum 35 years ago asking if residents wanted to be part of an independent Scotland, the result was nine to one against.

 

An opt-out clause was negotiated in the failed Scottish devolution referendum of 1979, which the islanders opposed, and the Earl of Caithness last month tabled plans in the House of Lords for a similar safeguard in the independence referendum.

 

[rebel11]

Next year is the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.

 

Apparently 35 years ago, Shetland and Orkney were asked if they wanted to be part of an independent Scotland - they voted 9-1 against. Whilst there are only 42,500 residents that is a few NO votes

 

I didn't realise this Independence thing had been rumbling on for so long !

[Capt Slog]

Just wondering what the SNP will do if they win and every body did call their bluff. The rest of the UK refused to support the Pound, The EU said they are not members and the same with NATO.

Independence for Scotland raises one other serious point I haven't seen addressed recently. There is the possibility that Scotland might end ip on a different time zone during the winter months. When it has been mentioned about a change in the policy of moving the clocks then it has been resisted due to the time it gets light the further North you go, leaving children going to school in darkness. Could it be that when we South of the Border change our clocks in the Autumn then Scotland might not?

[unclebulgaria67]

Just wondering what the SNP will do if they win and every body did call their bluff. The rest of the UK refused to support the Pound, The EU said they are not members and the same with NATO.

Independence for Scotland raises one other serious point I haven't seen addressed recently. There is the possibility that Scotland might end ip on a different time zone during the winter months. When it has been mentioned about a change in the policy of moving the clocks then it has been resisted due to the time it gets light the further North you go, leaving children going to school in darkness. Could it be that when we South of the Border change our clocks in the Autumn then Scotland might not?

 

If Scotland votes for independence it will be because they no longer feel part of the UK. Most of the financial issues indicate that Scotland could well be worse off. But according to the latest poll 49% don't appear to care about this. The YES campaigns financial forecasts are based on a high oil price and if this falls which analysts predict it will, then Scotland would have a deficit to fund. The YES campaign want to reduce business tax by 3%, so this could well mean that personal taxes will have to increase and services will have to be cut.

 

If I am correct in what I have said above, which is based on what I have heard/read, then it really confuses me why people who are left of centre politics wise would vote for independence. My conclusion is that it must be heart decision and not one where the brain works out whether they will be better or worse off.

 

As for changing the clocks, this is not going to be a priority decision. Independence means a huge mess for people to sort out.

[Horsen]

Is it not true that there is also a disagreement over where the dividing line is with regards to the actual oilfields themselves. The Yes campaign say the line should be drawn along the 55th(?) parallel and the no campaign state that international law is that it is a straight line continuation. the difference between the two is about 10% in estimates for each country.

As for not feeling part of the UK then I think it means they believe London doesn't listen. I don't live anywhere London and that is the way I and no doubt many other people feel.

With the clock changing, if memory serves, doesn't it require an act of parliament to make any amendments to this event. Last time this was mentioned in the not too distant past didn't the Scottish and Northern MPs kick up a fuss?

[citizenB]

Is it not true that there is also a disagreement over where the dividing line is with regards to the actual oilfields themselves. The Yes campaign say the line should be drawn along the 55th(?) parallel and the no campaign state that international law is that it is a straight line continuation. the difference between the two is about 10% in estimates for each country.

As for not feeling part of the UK then I think it means they believe London doesn't listen. I don't live anywhere London and that is the way I and no doubt many other people feel.

With the clock changing, if memory serves, doesn't it require an act of parliament to make any amendments to this event. Last time this was mentioned in the not too distant past didn't the Scottish and Northern MPs kick up a fuss?

 

Yes, there is.. International law decides how the line is drawn, but it is something that Salmond seems to think he can simply just alter to ensure that the oil is Scotland's side of the border !! If they were to get away with re drawing the line, you can imagine every other country with oil is going to want to do the same.

[Guest]

.....you can imagine every other country with oil is going to want to do the same.

 

china for eg, 'building' islands to apparently try extend their territory, for whatever purpose (sth china sea said to have oil/gas reserves)?

[citizenB]

I just wish it was done and over with.. I am getting sick to death of seeing Huw Edwards (a Welsh man reporting on Scottish issues ??) on the news every night.

[SabreSheep]

Im kinda hoping Scotland DOES vote yes.

 

The fallout for us will be amusing.

 

Camerons position would become untenable.

The Tories will be damaged

The English Nationalism and calls for an English parliament will gain more strength.

Westminister PLC will finally wake up that there is a reveloution on their hands.

[rebel11]

I don't think you do, once the Scottish economy fails, where do you think eveyone will want to go?

 

Im kinda hoping Scotland DOES vote yes.

 

The fallout for us will be amusing.

 

Camerons position would become untenable.

The Tories will be damaged

The English Nationalism and calls for an English parliament will gain more strength.

Westminister PLC will finally wake up that there is a reveloution on their hands.

[SabreSheep]

Doesnt mean we have to let them in

 

If their economy fails, we can BUY scotland back cheaply >;D

[citizenB]

Now Manchester wants to be independent ??

 

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/should-greater-manchester-follow-scotlands-7750466

 

As Scotland prepares to go to the polls, five separate reports have backed Greater Manchester breaking free from many of the strictures of Whitehall

 

Greater Manchester’s economy is bigger than that of both Wales and Northern Ireland – and Manchester is the fastest growing city in the country.

 

More and more experts are now asking if it is now time for an independent Manchester !

 

[SabreSheep]

I suspect Cornwall will also want Independence as well. Many regions will be looking for ways to ceade from Team Westminister.

 

Our system needs to change to a more democratically accountable system AND Team Westminister need to wake up FAST

[Horsen]

As a Proud Manc living in exile else where in England I would rather trust Alex Salmond than the people in Manchester Town Hall. These are the people that tried to introduce a congestion charge for everyone travelling within the M60 boundary. Who in the 90's tried selling the street light furniture to lease it back, kept Manchester a " Nuclear Free Zone" and whose latest idea to ease traffic congestion is to introduce even more bus lanes for some of the most dilapidated buses in the North West. Sounds like I'm doing a Scousers take on life in Manchester.

[caro]

This is getting ridiculous!

[Capt Slog]

Have you heard the latest comments from the ex head of the SNP, Jim Sillars, threatening retribution to all those businesses supporting the No vote. He also reckons that by not paying their share of the national debt it would put Scotland in a good starting position financially. Who could possibly think that acting like that is a good basis for forming business arrangements. I only hope that the people who do vote do so, not as a protest, but really understanding what it means to them.

[rebel11]

A tense interview on Sky News, not messing with his words.

 

Have you heard the latest comments from the ex head of the SNP, Jim Sillars, threatening retribution to all those businesses supporting the No vote. He also reckons that by not paying their share of the national debt it would put Scotland in a good starting position financially. Who could possibly think that acting like that is a good basis for forming business arrangements. I only hope that the people who do vote do so, not as a protest, but really understanding what it means to them.

[Horsen]

What are the financial implications foe the rest of the UK if Scotland does go? How big a swing will there be between our imports and exports? No doubt we would lose billions with the oil with having to import it from Scotland and to a lesser degree the same with Whisky etc.

[rebel11]

Alex Salmond signing autographs, he's reached 'stardom'

[raydetinu]

we will all be better off if Scotland goes; we subsidise them to the tune £1000/head so they can have free university education etc.

An English parliament is what we want and out of the EU. when we had this devolution thing a few years ago we should have stopped them voting in Westminster parliament on English affairs.

As it affects us all maybe we should all have had a vote.

It all comes down to what they want and if that's it then they should be prepared to pay for it.

I would be prepared to pay whatever it costs to stop being told by the EU what we should do and how.

There is nothing to stop us joining up or agreeing on world action whenever it is required, like we do with the USA.

[unclebulgaria67]

we will all be better off if Scotland goes; we subsidise them to the tune £1000/head so they can have free university education etc.

An English parliament is what we want and out of the EU. when we had this devolution thing a few years ago we should have stopped them voting in Westminster parliament on English affairs.

As it affects us all maybe we should all have had a vote.

It all comes down to what they want and if that's it then they should be prepared to pay for it.

I would be prepared to pay whatever it costs to stop being told by the EU what we should do and how.

There is nothing to stop us joining up or agreeing on world action whenever it is required, like we do with the USA.

 

The silly thing is that if the Bank of England and the Westminster government don't allow Scotland to use Pounds Sterling as the official currency, with the BoE acting as a central bank, that Scotland would be faced with a very difficult decision. They may end up using Pounds Sterling without BoE underwriting it and then when they apply to join the EU, they will have to sign up to the Euro. So if you are a EU sceptic in Scotland, a YES vote could mean that you will be part of the Euro area.

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Alex Salmond signing autographs, he's reached 'stardom'

I think he's just another Blair style megalomaniac.