England Wales N Ireland! Wheres Scotland?

[dem maser]

After a hard day at work ive only just caught up with news.....

I dont get it, is Scotland now independant?
I gather Cameron has issued a referendum to the scottish people to decide on whether they want independance....they will obv say yes but where does that leave us?

How do you guys feel? Good move? Bad move?

 

[dickygrace]

They won't obviously say 'yes' Dem. It's a close call from previous opinion polls.

 

[dem maser]

They have been fighting the english for years Dicky.....

 

[DaveT]

They won't obviously say 'yes' Dem. It's a close call from previous opinion polls.

If anything no more than 33% are currently in favour according to opinion polls.
If they vote yes then fair enough. It's their choice.

As a Scots exile living down here I'll be interested to watch how things unfold.

 

[mondie]

As an Aussie and recently having moved to Scotland, this will be interesting. I have asked a few Scots about this and all reckoned it will be voted down, that Scotland would be financially screwed without the union. Whether there are enough Scots who will belligerently vote yes regardless of the implications to overrule the sensible heads remains to be seen. Be interesting to read a native Scots take on this.

 

[DaveT]

I guess it depends on whether you judge everything by whether you are better or worse off.

If I were voting I think it should be about more than that. Do you want run your own affairs or have them run remotely? There is only one Tory mp in Scotland but they are running the country. That's always going to be the argument from one side.

I've no doubt Scotland could make a go of it on its own. If it goes belly up then no one else to blame.

Interesting to watch what occurs but if I was betting is put money on a NO vote.

 

[DaveT]

As an Aussie and recently having moved to Scotland, this will be interesting. I have asked a few Scots about this and all reckoned it will be voted down, that Scotland would be financially screwed without the union. Whether there are enough Scots who will belligerently vote yes regardless of the implications to overrule the sensible heads remains to be seen. Be interesting to read a native Scots take on this.

As I remember you are in Aberdeen which is the financial powerhouse of the country with the oil etc.
I have lots of family and friends there and they would mostly vote NO. Aberdeen is very well off. They wouldn't want anything to change particularly as other parts of Scotland have people with higher dependency on benefits.

There's a feeling with people I know from the area that they wouldn't want to subsidise these folks who are mostly in the west of Scotland, Glasgow area.

 

[mondie]

Yes I am in Aberdeenshire Dave and you are probably correct on those in the area wanting to keep the status quo. It will be interesting to watch the deb ate on this evolve as the vote gets closer.

 

[dem maser]

Interesting thread.....i dont know a lot about this so kean to see how it evolves

I do know that there is or was beef but now could be forgotten

 

[Grinzzz]

Why cant we vote too?

Still think that Maggies idea of privatising Scotland (ie sell it to the yanks for golf courses) was the best idea

 

[Blox]

I am English through and through but I support an independent Scotland. I have loads of Scottish friends and work colleagues and i really think they should be allowed self determination. How can we support (and fight) for this in Thirld World countries if we won't allow it in our own back yard ? The quid pro quo is no Scottish MP's in Parliament or (as we have on many occasions) Scottish Prime Ministers !

 

[hodroyd]

Unfortunately we would still get such as the Scottish Trade Unionists causing havoc down here, it would not stop the Scots leaving in droves and heading south. Who bales Salmon out when he falls flat on his face..???

 

[2b1ask1]

I think Scottish independence is fine on the basis we can sing the 5th and 6th verses of the National anthem again!!!

 

[hodroyd]

Nice one Newton..!!!

 

[conaero]

It won't happen.

England pay a higher proportion of benifits to the Scots, plus they are rated as one of the most unhealthy countries on Europe, if not the. This will mean a higher drain on there version of the NHS and when it goes t1ts up, we will have to bail them out anyway.

Besides, contrary to what the Scots might think, I recon most English would want to stay one big family.

Be good to hear the views of our Sottish members.

 

[Blox]

As I understand it, the vote will be based on just 1 question. I don't think that question will begin with, "if you could afford it....."

I think it will be a close call.

 

[dem maser]

BB?! Your thoughts.......

They have wanted independance for a long time, im thinking this will happen

 

[bigbob]

I'm British mate and very proud of it.

Think it will all go away after 2014. SNP are only strong as an anti Labour vote IMHO. As Labour revive, the SNP will suffer.

 

[bigbob]

It won't happen.

England pay a higher proportion on benifits to the Scots, plus they are rated as one of the most unhealthy countries on Eirope, if not the. This will mean a higher drain on there version of the NHS and when it goes t1ts up, we will have to bail th out anyway.

Besides, contrary to what the Scots might think, I recon most English would want to stay one big family.

Be good to hear the views of our Sottish members.

You have to be very careful with averages as English data is very affected by London. Scotland is much stronger economically than NI, Wales, NW or NE England.

 

[allandwf]

There are people who will vote yes purely because of Maggie. I'm as yet undecided as are many here. Lived through the Maggie years and the " test it out on Scotland first" policies , and then the Labour who were no better. There is a bit of " we wont know until we try" attitude. I do think that letting 16 17 year olds vote, may backfire on Salmond though, as they will not have had to endure Thatcher and the like, so unless he can get a wave of patriotism going prior to the vote cant see many voting for.