Should Scotland be Independent

[The Super Pope]

In a recent election the SNP have come to power in Scotland putting independence on the agenda.
What are your arguments for and against Scottish Independence

[Libertine]

Totally Against - if it happens im emigrating...

[Tabell]

Totally Against - if it happens im emigrating...

to the kingdom of england

[finneys13]

to the kingdom of england

Another point, I would imagine it would be called the United Kingdom of England and Northern Ireland, wouldn't it?


No room for Wales.

[ScottishAdam]

Totally Against - if it happens im emigrating...

lol cheeerio!!

[finneys13]

Don't see why not.

They were traditionally independent and still have a very strong nationalistic feeling. Call a Scot an Englishman and you will see that.

They still have some gas and oil reserves to help the bumpy first years.

Many countries of a similar size are doing fine throughout Europe with less natural resources.

They won't have to follow Westminster's lead in foreign relations anymore.

Less of a brain-drain from Scotland to London perhaps?

[Tom Paine]

Let 'em. Their industry vastly relies on the rest of the UK. They go independant, our firms move out of Scotland, and they go bankrupt. So let 'em try.

And as to "traditionally independant"... only if you ignore the last 3 to 4 hundred years of our history, dependant on whether you feel the union of the monarchs or the union of the Parliaments ended their independance.

[finneys13]

Let 'em. Their industry vastly relies on the rest of the UK. They go independant, our firms move out of Scotland, and they go bankrupt. So let 'em try.

And as to "traditionally independant"... only if you ignore the last 3 to 4 hundred years of our history, dependant on whether you feel the union of the monarchs or the union of the Parliaments ended their independance.

If they are sensible and follows Ireland's lead, they will cut back on the welfare state and introduce low corporation tax.

Soon enough it will industries leaving England for Scotland.

Ireland was ruled for at least 500 years by England, we didn't lose our identity and meekly stayed a part of the UK.

[charlton]

don't we pay for them?
I think i heard that the rest of the uk gives them money from our taxes how would they cope without that?

no more free uni

[Blau&Gruen]

Theoretically, if Scotlands gains independence from UK, the Scots would still be subjects to Her Majesty the Queen, wouldn't they?

[finneys13]

Theoretically, if Scotlands gains independence from UK, the Scots would still be subjects to Her Majesty the Queen, wouldn't they?

Depends on if they decide they want to be a republic or not.

[Jubal_Barca]

It's not worth speculating about because the SNP won't even be able to hold a referendum, let alone win one.

I believe in devolution, but not independence. Our countries are too well joined to be thus separated. We benefit each other.

[The Super Pope]

But at the next election for the Assembly their support could grow.
Having the SNP in power in Holyrood is like having the BNP in power in Westminster

[finneys13]

don't we pay for them?
I think i heard that the rest of the uk gives them money from our taxes how would they cope without that?

no more free uni

Will have to live by their means, they have had an easy ride. People don't seem to recognise that Scotland if independent can make themselves more attractive than England for companies to move too.

The reduction of miltary expenses will help too.

[Enemy of the State]

If the Scots want it, why not.
Every nation should have a choice to be independent.
Cant really say much about it, let the Scots decide.

[MightyBoo]

I Don't see how Scotland would benefit from Independence.

[ScottishAdam]

I Don't see how Scotland would benefit from Independence.

Its this negative vibe that the rest of britain has landed on scotland for years now. I for one find it offensive that people say we couldn't run our own country. this "we are too thick and have no resources" really pisses me off

For one we have a bigger population than ireland, iceland, holland and more resources to trade with!

now that is a fact not an opinion.

Freedom for Scotland now. This is the biggest support for independance since the union was formed. Lets hope it grows

Also Alex Salmond is an extremely smart man, I can't say the same for that wee tosser Jack McConnell

[LoZz]

Its this negative vibe that the rest of britain has landed on scotland for years now. I for one find it offensive that people say we couldn't run our own country. this "we are too thick and have no resources" really pisses me off

For one we have a bigger population than ireland, iceland, holland and more resources to trade with!

now that is a fact not an opinion.

Freedom for Scotland now. This is the biggest support for independance since the union was formed. Lets hope it grows

Also Alex Salmond is an extremely smart man, I can't say the same for that wee tosser Jack McConnell

look, sit down, and think about it,

scotland currently gets 8 billion extra a year from westminister, if you left the uk where would that 8 billion come from? or atlest how does salmond plan to keep all services going such as no uni fee's with that big whole?

your population is smaller then that of holland and about the same size as ireland, dont think you can be another ireland or did salmond not mention to you the billions each year ireland gets from the EU in order to keep its economy going? your only real resorce is that small oil feild in the north, which is running low and wont be around in 20 or 30 years, what do you trade next? the financal center of the uk is london, if you leave you lose alot of big city investment from london

we have been a union for 400 years, do you realy think it can be undone over night? our two countries are so linked that even if you where given independance torrmorrow it would take decades before it would take affect because how linked we are. Law, the military (big problem their) the power and water grids are nationalised and dont treat scotland as a boarder, the NHS is another one.


and how does your wise leader salmond plan to get independance because i have news for you mate, the scottish parliament does not have the power to grant itself independance from the UK

so even if you did have a referendum, and the SNP won what do you think it will achive? your government doesnt have the power needed, freedom can only come from westminister.

you may feel the rest of the uk has a bit of a bad vibe to you, as a welshmen i personal think the same way but it is nothing compaired to the shame scotland would suffer as a nation if its independance went tits up and scottish people realy suffered, and god forbid if scotland then asked to come back into the union, is it realy worth the risk? because its very likly thats what would happen and this isnt some anti scottish stuff, this is simple economics you cant make money out of thin air.

[Denny Crane!]

I was going to say.

They at present have 49 out of 69 votes needed, the libs won't form a coalition with a possible referendum on the cards. It won't happen anytime soon.

The SNP are going about it the wrong way, they are trying to run before they can walk, they need to aim for increased powers for their parliment which has popular support. If they creep up on the idea it will happen.

As for all our industry leaving? That just won't happen, Edinburgh is a massive commercial center. I have yet to see any of the real negative points for Scotland leaving but I can see a few positive ones especially for England and in particular me in the north.

Peter

[Tom Paine]

Its foolish, actually of the Lib Dems - the Scots won't go for comlpete independance, ergo, they should support a referendum to shut the SNP up for a while. It makes a lot of political sense, and this just highlights the lack of political acumen of the three main parties in Scotland.