Why no contribution from our Scottish correspondent ?

I think Scotland should remain part of the UK (but I'm open to persuasion !)

Why should they remain in the UK ? England is fucked thanks to Tories and Scotland could do excellent trading with Norway.

In The Know wrote:
Why no contribution from our Scottish correspondent ?

I think Scotland should remain part of the UK (but I'm open to persuasion !)

I think they should too, what will happen when the oil runs out...?

What's the point in splitting up anyway? I think it just helps create bad feeling and we'd become foreigners in each others country with all the hassle that entails, changing currency, not being able to use your inclusive mobile phone minutes when your there or to phone your friends there, it would be a huge pain in the arse and the advantages would far out weight the disadvantages I think...

Well, it will get rid of a large number of Labour MPs - so a lot going for us too !

andrew wrote:
Why should they remain in the UK ? England is fucked thanks to Tories and Scotland could do excellent trading with Norway.

England could trade successfully with the rest of the world if it's allowed to be an independent country again.

Although I'd go further and turn us into a republic, too!

In the cold light of day, nobody would win with an independent Scotland.

Scots deep down know it is a SNP fantasy and the English are just railing against the bluff Scottish attitude, that in my view isn't real, it's just a sport and financially driven perception,

Remember, the rest of England are not best fans of the south and London, but we know where the wealth is generated, and reality shows there is little we can do, but London in needed to keep us afloat.

It's no different for Scotland

I'd love my remaining Scot's relatives to tell England to sod, get their hands on that Nth Sea oil and live in a paradise ruled by a collection of socialist parties

but it isn't going to happen..like leaving the EU won't.

steveimp wrote:

England could trade successfully with the rest of the world if it's allowed to be an independent country again.

So what's stopping us trading successfully with the rest of the world now? Apart, of course, from the fact that we have very little to sell other than "financial services", in which area the City Of London has never actually lost its preeminence?


steveimp wrote:

Although I'd go further and turn us into a republic, too!

Me too.

Mr Reason wrote:
In the cold light of day, nobody would win with an independent Scotland.

Scots deep down know it is a SNP fantasy and the English are just railing against the bluff Scottish attitude, that in my view isn't real, it's just a sport and financially driven perception,

Remember, the rest of England are not best fans of the south and London, but we know where the wealth is generated, and reality shows there is little we can do, but London in needed to keep us afloat.

It's no different for Scotland

Good point, the difference is more a South of England/rest of the country thing than a 'Scotland/England' thing. Also I think a lot of this 'Scottish people hate the English' thing has actually been drummed up by the media and some brain dead sheep will follow.

Like a film released recently about a Scottish guy that meets a girl, but theres just one 'problem' - she's 'English'. Who in real life would make an issue over a thing like that? Let alone make a film about such a ridiculous scenario that must barely ever happen. Stupid films like that just help reinforce silly, not particularly accurate stereo types and small mindedness, it wouldn't surprise if the film 'Braveheart' was realesed for strategic reasons too and the way they just had to bring in an English 'villin' in the film Rob Roy (released round about the same time), when there was no English villian in the real story of Rob Roy and it had nothing to do with Scots disliking the English or vice - versa.

The only thing I think is real is the football thing - the Scots supporting any team but England, but I think that's hardly something to be taken seriously - just silliness and sour grapes, a bit of minor rivalry.

But I don't feel there are sound enough reasons for Scotland to leave the U.K permanatly, even if there were some minor advantages I don't see how this could be a good idea in the long run. The U.K has been in existence for 300 year's, surely there are other ways of improving things without splitting?

Anon wrote:
Mr Reason wrote:
In the cold light of day, nobody would win with an independent Scotland.

Scots deep down know it is a SNP fantasy and the English are just railing against the bluff Scottish attitude, that in my view isn't real, it's just a sport and financially driven perception,

Remember, the rest of England are not best fans of the south and London, but we know where the wealth is generated, and reality shows there is little we can do, but London in needed to keep us afloat.

It's no different for Scotland

Good point, the difference is more a South of England/rest of the country thing than a 'Scotland/England' thing. Also I think a lot of this 'Scottish people hate the English' thing has actually been drummed up by the media and some brain dead sheep will follow.

Like a film released recently about a Scottish guy that meets a girl, but theres just one 'problem' - she's 'English'. Who in real life would make an issue over a thing like that? Let alone make a film about such a ridiculous scenario that must barely ever happen. Stupid films like that just help reinforce silly, not particularly accurate stereo types and small mindedness, it wouldn't surprise if the film 'Braveheart' was realesed for strategic reasons too and the way they just had to bring in an English 'villin' in the film Rob Roy (released round about the same time), when there was no English villian in the real story of Rob Roy and it had nothing to do with Scots disliking the English or vice - versa.

The only thing I think is real is the football thing - the Scots supporting any team but England, but I think that's hardly something to be taken seriously - just silliness and sour grapes, a bit of minor rivalry.

But I don't feel there are sound enough reasons for Scotland to leave the U.K permanatly, even if there were some minor advantages I don't see how this could be a good idea in the long run. The U.K has been in existence for 300 year's, surely there are other ways of improving things without splitting?

Its got a lot more to with history actually. But that's a side issue. If Scotland costs the UK so much then let "us" go. Seems to me hypocritical that the UK government want us to stay united whilst plotting to leave Europe.

Ah, the voice of Scotland has spoken (and seems quite sensible to me).

steveimp wrote:
andrew wrote:
Why should they remain in the UK ? England is fucked thanks to Tories and Scotland could do excellent trading with Norway.

England could trade successfully with the rest of the world if it's allowed to be an independent country again.

Although I'd go further and turn us into a republic, too!

Republic of England adds a very nice ring to it.

I'm not sure the UK ever states 'Scotland costs us too much!' ......Scotland is in the UK, so it can't cost us any more than any other region.......It only LOOKS like it costs lots of pounds because of the Parliament in Scotland demanding to run certain budgets, and thus needs to have a seperated accounted 'budget' passed to them............in the past this would have just been part of UK PLC accounts....now it looks like UK PLC 'pays' Scotland, but it doesn't, its still the same pot of money.

And for the record....if any Scot is using the 300 year history of when it was Independent, and thinks thats a suitable situation to return to in the modern world, then I think you would find Scotland would return back to some of those less wanted issues of being a smaller neighbour to a larger economy and more influential society............

Perhaps the Scots are looking forward to loosing the pound,and gaining all the current 'delights' of joining the euro?

Or maybe the Krone ?

Pattaya wrote:
Perhaps the Scots are looking forward to loosing the pound,and gaining all the current 'delights' of joining the euro?

That nice Mr Salmond chappie has already said they will keep the Pound (if we let him !)

He's also said Scotland will remain in the EU - blissfully unaware (it seems) that EU membership has to be applied for, and forgetting (it also seems) how long it took the UK to join in the first place !

In The Know wrote:
Pattaya wrote:
Perhaps the Scots are looking forward to loosing the pound,and gaining all the current 'delights' of joining the euro?

That nice Mr Salmond chappie has already said they will keep the Pound (if we let him !)

He's also said Scotland will remain in the EU - blissfully unaware (it seems) that EU membership has to be applied for, and forgetting (it also seems) how long it took the UK to join in the first place !

Indeed ITK,these questions will no doubt be debated and qualified before any referendum.

I have no strong feelings either way but would liken it to the football situation; the United Kingdom would do far better in world football than any of the four split units. I think the UK makes more sense as a powerful unit than divided into quarters.

Ditto Eurovision (though we do need a decent Eurovision boss... I do like and admire Alex Salmond and wish he played a larger role in the UK).

Of course if Scotland get independence, there remains a chance (admittedly a very small one) that JK's prediction that by the time he was 84 Rod Stewart would be King of Scotland, could actually come to pass

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2ZN4ljDcXrs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Andy wrote:
Of course if Scotland get independence, there remains a chance (admittedly a very small one) that JK's prediction that by the time he was 84 Rod Stewart would be King of Scotland, could actually come to pass

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2ZN4ljDcXrs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Royal house of Stewart IS still around (despite the Hanovarians trying to write them out of history !)