tara scotland , use your passport to come to england

[The Rocketeer]

Hope it doesn't happen, could affect whisky prices..........

[goldfazer]

'we wouldn't need our passports cos we'd fly over the top of you'

Oh no you, wouldn't - you'll be banned from UK airspace, so would have to go round Ireland too

[GringoRojo]

the reverse would be true then, redirecting all your flights to North America to avoid our airspace all the way up to Shetland and the Isle of Lewis. there's the massive air traffic control site at Prestwick too which handles flights for western europe to/from the Atlantic.

[Farjo]

To be serious, one thing I think the Scottish would miss is a voice in Europe. Currently they are part of a big economy (6th? biggest worldwide) with a population of 62 million, to a small economy with around 5 million people. The rest of the UK will still be a big player, but Scotland will be just another Slovakia.

Does anyone know - will an independent Scotland keep the pound, linked to the UK pound? Or will it float the Scottish pound or take the Euro?

[VNA - BMW Wank]

To be serious, one thing I think the Scottish would miss is a voice in Europe. Currently they are part of a big economy (6th? biggest worldwide) with a population of 62 million, to a small economy with around 5 million people. The rest of the UK will still be a big player, but Scotland will be just another Slovakia.

Does anyone know - will an independent Scotland keep the pound, linked to the UK pound? Or will it float the Scottish pound or take the Euro?

 Indeed, the EU is the biggest single open market in the world.  The EU may be in turmoil right now, but a total collapse of the EU is unthinkable.
Though I'm not aware of any polls of how Scotland views Europe, nor I am aware of Europe being a big issue with the Scottish electorate.  I think it's taken for granted that Scotland wants to be part of the EU.  There's not the EU issue in Scotland that there is in England.

This however gives us a problem, if we stay as part of the UK our access to the single biggest open market in the world, that happens to be on our door step could be under threat.  I've said it before, I don't think the UK will leave the EU, I think it's posturing, playing to the audience, a good distraction from real issues, but such dangerous noise and posturing if not nipped in the bud at some point, well who knows where it could lead.
There are questions about an Independent Scotland's membership of the EU, but I think in reality that's about detail, not whether Scotland would/could be a member.
But it's clear, I think, if Scotland wants to guarantee it's access to Europe, well Independence is the better option.
Oh we'll take the pound thanks.  It's not unusual for two states to share a currency, and it's certainly not the terrible miss-match that some, a la EURO debacle, would have you believe that it might be.  That's nonsense.
In the longer term Scotland would be under pressure to join the EURO.  But that can't happen until the EURO has been stabilised.
Creating out own currency could be problematic, our oil wealth could create a rather troublesome strong Scottish pound, just as for England if Scotland dropped the pound, that could create troublesome issues of currency weakness.

 

[Farjo]

Interesting. However my point was not whether Scotland or UK will leave the EU (as you say, neither will) but that Scotland will have a minor say around the negotiation tables due to its small economy and population, compared to the UK as a whole.

Agreed also about the pound. Ireland's punt was = GBP1 from independence until 1979, so you're right it's common.

Interesting point about oil reserves. I always thought that Thatcher sold most of it off to the oil companies, which is why we haven't done as well out of it as Norway. Also from what I've heard some of the fields will be kept by the UK - but I cannot remember the details.

Another bone of contention will be the current UK's debt, and how it will be split. I've no idea how that can be resolved, unless Scotland takes a share pro rata to population. I'm sure there's many opinions on this one

[Chillum]

. Also from what I've heard some of the fields will be kept by the UK - but I cannot remember the details.

From what I read once I believe that parliament were going to insist on maritime borders (which extend the / line out into the North Sea, as opposed to the logical - line)
 
This meant that a lot of sites in the North Sea were part of England.

[Raymy]

If thats the case Chillum, the line where it leaves the border, if going straight out into the north sea will run a line directly to Egersand, thereby missing anything of significance to us. You english are awfy sneaky. Ye'll no git awiy wi it

[Chillum]

More like Bergen I reckon.

[Raymy]

As long as its no Stavangar

[GringoRojo]

irrespective of the mineral resources at stake, I think the north sea boundary should start with a line perpendicular to the coast at the border out to the territorial limit at 12 miles, then parallel to the lines of lattitude out to the "mid" point/international waters of the North Sea.

the Solway/Irish sea boundary could be interesting.

[Slaninar]

irrespective of the mineral resources at stake, I think the north sea boundary should start with a line perpendicular to the coast at the border out to the territorial limit at 12 miles, then parallel to the lines of lattitude out to the "mid" point/international waters of the North Sea.

the Solway/Irish sea boundary could be interesting.

FEAR - Let's Have a War

[pointer2null]

From what I read, every poll shows Scotts won't want to go (60:40 split), which is a real shame as I doubt we'll every get this close to getting rid of them for a long time. 


Mind you it might be a happier story when it comes to Alex Salmond - if he wins he can enjoy his "Arc of Prosperity" without annoying us (at least till Scotland goes bust), and if he looses he'll probably go hind under a rock for a few decades 

[phillywilly]

From what I read, every poll shows Scotts won't want to go (60:40 split), which is a real shame as I doubt we'll every get this close to getting rid of them for a long time. 


Mind you it might be a happier story when it comes to Alex Salmond - if he wins he can enjoy his "Arc of Prosperity" without annoying us (at least till Scotland goes bust), and if he looses he'll probably go hind under a rock for a few decades 

parliament should let england have a vote so WE can be independent of scotland   

[His Dudeness]

WAR - Why Can't We Be Friends

 

[Robbie8666]

'I spose cornwall will be next .'

Hope so - full of bloody Laaandaners anyway

Bloody Emits!!!

as far as scotland concermed here SNP are looking at been a Nuclear missile free country & its involvement in NATO??
 
or I may have miss heard it on the radio

cant see how this would work as a) Faslane is a Major employer & without the boats up there what would the navy send up there? (good news for Devonport though)
b) would all the scotish regiments have to be moved to scotish bases?
c) would the RAF & Marines have to move out of the scottish bases?
 
errr think that could be a step to far

[budgiemurray]

Theres talk of sharing armed forces despite devolution.. Its not as if we are closing borders and moving the country..
Besides if you sent all the scots soldiers home who the hell would you send into wars first.. ;D

Scotland nueclear free is something they are pushing for.. Cant confirm the nato thing though..

Budgie

sent from somewhere beyond the rim.

[noggythenog]

Ive heard that england is already training up elite sniffer dogs to stop iron-bru getting across the border!

[BBROWN1664]

There is also talk of banning exports of Buckfast.

[VNA - BMW Wank]

as far as scotland concermed here SNP are looking at been a Nuclear missile free country & its involvement in NATO??

 What the Yes campaign, and in particular the SNP have to very careful about, is what exactly this referendum is about.  We are voting as to  whether or not we want to be an independent nation.

The SNP needs to resolve what it's own preferred position post a possible yes vote is.  They are in danger of allowing people to think that their policies will be post Independence Scotland's policies - that could easily lose them this referendum.

What they need to do is get in place a time table and frame work for a post 'yes' vote Scotland.   It needs to be set up and  agreed, and in turn the people of Scotland and indeed the rest of the UK (if they are interested) need to know how negotiations will work and how our constitution will be written and agreed.

Scotland will not be voting in 2014 on whether there will continue to be nuclear weapons on it's soil, or for that matter whether we will continue to be NATO partners or otherwise.   What we will be voting for is whether or not we as a nation will decide such matters, or we will continue to allow another country to make such decisions for us. 
 
The SNP needs to sort out it's own post yes independence manifesto and proposals in a timely matter, and get back to the real debate.

[alan sherman]

But Buckfast comes from a sleepy Monastery in Devon so it is an export from England to Scotland.  Yes, England actually produces something!

[Robbie8666]

thanks VNA for the explanation
 
I've said in the past that i dont understand politics ... or much of anything really tbh! and before i get jumped on saying that i should as it effects my life etc i have to admit i am happy in my own little bubble but do take the occasional foray out n stick my periscope out of it to see whats happening in the rest of the world!
 

[BBROWN1664]

Exactly Alan. How will Scotland operate without its daily tipple?

[VNA - BMW Wank]

It's something that needs cleared up.

The No campaign will be only too happy to let the debate become a discussion of SNP policy, which is of course a seperate issue to the question of independence.

There would of course at some point after a YES vote be an election for a government (2015?).  This would happen, I would assume, after basic negotiations with Westminster on issues such as debt and 'defence' issues etc etc and once a constitution has been drawn up.  That's how I see it.

But I I'm not clear how that all works.  And people need to know how it would all work.  It's extremely important.

But of course the NO campaign don't want to address such issues - for obvious reasons - and would much rather focus on the SNP's post YES ideals. 

The SNP needs to decide where it stands on policy, move on, let us know how it will work, and get back to campaigning on Independence.

[budgiemurray]

Well said VNA..

Budgie

sent from somewhere beyond the rim.