An independent Scotland?

[ronmcd]

Are you complaining that Investment in The west of Shetland field has tax breaks ? with the situation in the middle east and the price of oil do you not think that providing tax breaks (that come from the whole country BTW OBVIOUSLY !!!) is a prudent idea ?
I guess The money would be better spent on a new airport for London or another extension to the Tube network ?

With no Barnett consequentials ... ?

[ronmcd]

I find it interesting how vehement foreigners get about our nation's wish to govern itself.

Apparently not though. Current opinion polls show that scots don't want to split.
I think it shows a lot of common sense in Scotland. Which is what I would have expected.

Polls always show that Scots want Holyrood to control policy, and trust Holyrood to do it much better than Westminister. The challenge for the political parties which support independence is to convince those people that they need independence to achieve that.

It's worth noting that the 40% or so who would have voted for "devo max", ie more powers short of independence, now have a choice ... independence and all powers, or the status quo. The SNP have taken the risk that those people will go with independence, the UK govt have taken the risk (greater risk?) that those people will go for the slightly less sexy (?) option of the status quo.

There really is no way to predict what will happen, anyone who thinks they know on either side is probably fooling themselves.

[Svartalf]

Are Scots that naive? or that fed up with westmoutier?

[Svartalf]

Re the above, I think a federal system would be workable. The Federation Of The Isles, to include Eire...

Eire won't ever be part of anything involving brits or vikings, of which Scots are descended.

Now, if you'd be decent and take your subjects out of the 6 counties so they can go back to Ireland without another major war...

[klr]

Scotland as country would never vote the Cuntservatives in .That surely has to be the biggest point in favour !
Hux ,the oil revenue paid for Thatchers tax cuts ! while she killed every other industry north of Watford and turned Britain into a country totally dependant on the London financial 'industry' .

Interesting. Losing Scotland would mean that the Conservatives have a better chance of winning a Westminster election. They wouldn't lose any seats from Scotland, but Labour would.

On the other hand, I think losing Scotland goes against Conservative core values or something ...

[Svartalf]

I don't like this referendum, and Cameron is an idiot, the way he has agreed to it.

Firstly, I just don't like nationalism. It's illogical, causes wars, and is on a par with religion as far as logic goes.

It depends what you mean. Nationalism as in religion or ethnicity, I agree. But that isn't the purpose here, it's simply about political control. Those who accuse the YES campaign of being "nationalists" often assume it's about being Scottish, but it isn't. It's the people who live in Scotland, Scots, English, EU citizens etc, making better (hopefully) decisions about this country than Westminister. Devolution goes so far, a federal system would go further, but only independence would give control over important areas such as taking part in wars or removing nuclear weapons.

Westminister (esp Tory) politicians talk of nationalists in Scotland in disparaging terms, but can't see that they are considerably more nationalistic about the British state and it's place in Europe than those they accuse. Why is British independence ok, but Scottish not?

That's complete bollocks. It's emotional them/us nationalism, nothing more.
Devolution of decision-making isn't more efficient. It just SOUNDS better, when you say it quick.
In real life, it's often a disaster. Big institutions can afford better expertise.

British and Scottish independence don't exist. And never will again.
If the scots vote for separation, they won't be independent. And neither will the UK.

I can vouch for it... since 1981, a lot of traditionally state powers in France have been devolved to local (or at least more local) authorities... except thos authorities have not been given the means to have any serious policy about their new responsibilities... our roads and schools are already suffering from that, even though nobody says so in public and we still act like the State was responsible, which it is since it has the budgetary powers regions and cities don't, and is not handing the money.

[Feck]

No let's have a major war, let's hold it in France again it's great venue, the locals don't put up much of a fight

[Svartalf]

I find it interesting how vehement foreigners get about our nation's wish to govern itself.

If Scotland becomes independent and I get a Scottish passport will I not have to put up with the racism ?will people stop assuming I'm a 'Hun' ?

Ye're a feckin' sass'n anyway

[Svartalf]

No let's have a major war, let's hold it in France again it's great venue, the locals don't put up much of a fight

You'll starve before you get a bite of my cheese

[mistermack]

Some suggest, as you appear to, that the quality of politician at the local level will be poor. Thats actually not a bad argument. "local big-mouths" indeed. But in the Scottish Parliament the 'big-hitters' from the SNP are there, not Westminister, as there are only a handful of MP's. One of the reasons the SNP have been seen as competent in government I think, compared to past Lib/lab coalitions where the bigger names saw Westminister as the ultimate career progression. If not the Lords!

Well, frankly, thats their problem. There are actually very good politicians in Holyrood, some on the Labour benches I have a lot of respect for, and a number in SNP, Greens. And it's self-fulfilling ... give the devolved parliament more powers, as is happening, and the power will mean those with quality will want to be there.

The Irish governments were considered wizards, while things were going well.
Now people look back, and they're idiots.
If there had been no scottish parliament, there's no reason things would have been worse.
You are prejudiced, you support the scot nats. Labour could have done just as well.

When Scotland has NO mps in London, and nobody in London cares about Scotland, then investment and devolopment will dry up.
Investors like things when they are backed by the bank of England.
The BOE might let you use the pound, but they won't be backing your banks, or underwriting your debt.
Scots will almost instantly find that they pay a lot more, for their money.
A bank of Scotland has a lot to live down. The last one didn't do too well.

[Feck]

I don't swing that way ,I don't want to 'bite your cheese' or any other such Gallic euphemism

[Svartalf]

I don't euphemize to men.

[Clinton Huxley]

Re the above, I think a federal system would be workable. The Federation Of The Isles, to include Eire...

Eire won't ever be part of anything involving brits or vikings, of which Scots are descended.

Now, if you'd be decent and take your subjects out of the 6 counties so they can go back to Ireland without another major war...

They might do, should economic imperatives necessitate. I think it would be elegant.

[Clinton Huxley]

An "independent" Scotland would still need to keep sweet with England, considering that is where 60% of their exports go. We love shortbread in England.

[Svartalf]

I love it too... going to the market to get some actually.