tara scotland , use your passport to come to england

[ddtwelve]

all scots need work visas  :b

[phillywilly]

all scots need work visas  :b

why ?- cos none of them work

[VNA]

 

well it looks like in a couple of years scotland will be independent ,sure they have to vote on it but come on what scottish person WANTS to be part of the uk ?- certainly none that ive ever met,
so any scottish bikers on here ,what do you think -stay or go ? [img alt=:evil width=32 height=32]http://foc-u.co.uk/file:///C:/Users/GARETH%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtmlclip1/01/clip_image001.gif[/img]

It ain't about whether you are Scottish or not, if you are a permanent resident in Scotland you will get a vote in this referendum.  My English friends a few doors down will be enthusiastically voting for Scottish Independence.

I was born in Scotland, (Largs in Ayrshire), my mum is scottish born,my dad is yorkshire born,my mums parents are from southern Ireland,her grandmother was French.

Another Largs man!  Welcome. 

I think the rest of the UK could actually benefit from it too in the long run...

Indeed,  That would be my hope.  That firstly it works, and secondly that it improves not only our lives in Scotland, but perhaps those also in other countries.  And this isn't about 'Nationalism' as such, it's about self determination.  The polls suggest it's not gonna happen.  But then it's early days in a 2 year campaign, who knows what will happen, but I'd say this to those residing in this wee nation, do you want a government that you voted for, or a government imposed on you by another nation.  Yet again we've got a bunch of Eton educated toffs in power that nobody up here voted for.  I lived through the Thatcher years , I'm seen Labour become the New Tory Party, and now we have the Toffs back again.  Enough is enough.

i think the only difference it will make is they wont be able to blame them bastard english when it rains or snows or when they lose a poofball. also the free prescriptions and university will have to be rethunk. good luck to em i say,im not a sweaty sock but i love the place

You are absolutely right Chilly.  The problem with Scots is, that despite practically inventing the modern world, we still seem to think we need other people to tell us what to do.  Then we moan about.  The biggest problem Scotland has is her people, where is our self confidence?  It's time to stop blaming the English, it's time to stop bitching about scum bag Tories, stand up on our own two feet and get on with it.

No more free prescriptions paid for by England.

Free Prescriptions?  Paid for by England?  No, simply not the case.  The Scottish parliament  is given a budget by Westminster, the Scottish parliament then decides how to spend that money. 



Also the hope is that free prescriptions while not only keeping to the NHS pledge of health care for all will actually pay for itself and quite possibly save us money.  Means testing costs money.  And many people previous to free prescriptions had to decide whether or not to go to the Doctor - could they afford another expensive prescription.  Those people a few years down the line often end up in hospital.  Prescriptions are a lot cheaper than hospital beds.
And look if we don't win this referendum, well it'll be time to talk about the second question - devo max.  Then in about a decade  time another Independence referendum .  We'll get there eventually.

[taylor]

a this is good, no welsh bashing for a change 8)  well only a little bit lol, dont tar everyone with the same brush, there is good and bad everywhere, if the scottys want to go alone good luck, but dont come back if it all goes pete tong.

[AdieR]

As a Scot living in England, I'm not convinced independence is the way to go. Thing is, on one hand, they get a decent deal financially, but politically (and particularly in Europe) Scotland needs some element of flexibility to act in it's own interest; decisions made in Westminster don't always have Scotland's best interests taken into account.

[dr bong]

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]

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 :eek

[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.

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

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.

[Tiberius Onklevaart]

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.  :rollin


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  :lol

[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.  :rollin


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  :lol

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

[His Dudeness]

WAR - Why Can't We Be Friends

:lol