Scottish Independence

[Baling Hay]

 

[TheRanger]

No one is saying Independence can't work, they're all just saying that there will be loads of uncertainties, which is a fact.

EU membership for example won't be quick and wont be easy, which is a real concern for Scottish farmers relying on CAP subsidies.

Although on the flip side, Scottish agricultural may benefit from a weak Scottish currency allowing lots of exports to the rUK, Europe and beyond.

The reality is no one knows what it will be like until it happens.

 

[TheRanger]

And if all the Scottish banks move from Edinburgh to London, as one said it would yesterday, good bloody riddance!

 

[smcapstick]

No one is saying Independence can't work, they're all just saying that there will be loads of uncertainties, which is a fact.

EU membership for example won't be quick and wont be easy, which is a real concern for Scottish farmers relying on CAP subsidies.

Although on the flip side, Scottish agricultural may benefit from a weak Scottish currency allowing lots of exports to the rUK, Europe and beyond.

The reality is no one knows what it will be like until it happens.

Lots of exports of what?

Mr. Salmon is putting many people's financial security at risk in pursuit of personal power, not to mention dividing the country (culturally, politically and possibly literally).

 

[multi power]

i hope for the sake of us all there are not too many idiots in scotland

 

[Goweresque]

No one is saying Independence can't work, they're all just saying that there will be loads of uncertainties, which is a fact.

EU membership for example won't be quick and wont be easy, which is a real concern for Scottish farmers relying on CAP subsidies.

Although on the flip side, Scottish agricultural may benefit from a weak Scottish currency allowing lots of exports to the rUK, Europe and beyond.

The reality is no one knows what it will be like until it happens.

There isn't going to be a independent Scottish currency to float against other currencies. Plan A is a currency union with the rUK, which has been shot down by the rUK. There doesn't appear to be a Plan B, apart from which if Scotland asks to rejoin the EU one of the consequences would most likely be having to join the Euro. Having an independent currency seems to be right down the option list.

Its all moot anyway, I'd say there's pretty much zero likelihood of a Yes vote now, after the vetoing of the currency union and the announcement by Barroso about how Scotland would have to rejoin the EU.

 

[blackbob]

i hope for the sake of us all there are not too many idiots in scotland

Awww, would you miss us?

Lots of exports of what?

Mr. Salmon is putting many people's financial security at risk in pursuit of personal power, not to mention dividing the country (culturally, politically and possibly literally).

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fff67a62-88fa-11e3-bb5f-00144feab7de.html#axzz2ud3yp8Zp
'Banking, whisky, oil, and Marshall trailers'
Sadly no Hillman Imps, Leyland tractors, MF combines, Ravenscraig steel, or Invergordon aluminium nowadays.. But then Scotland isn't alone in losing heavy industry and coal mining

I would have to say I'm undecided which way to vote, I have met Mr Salmond (took him home from Turriff in my taxi) and he's a lot more sensible than he sometimes seems on tv, I would just rather things like currency had been thought about beforehand rather than a few months before the referendum, all seems a bit 'last minute'.
Maybe one day?

 

[Baling Hay]

i hope for the sake of us all there are not too many idiots in scotland

You never been to Scotland then?

 

[smcapstick]

Awww, would you miss us?


http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fff67a62-88fa-11e3-bb5f-00144feab7de.html#axzz2ud3yp8Zp
'Banking, whisky, oil, and Marshall trailers'
Sadly no Hillman Imps, Leyland tractors, MF combines, Ravenscraig steel, or Invergordon aluminium nowadays.. But then Scotland isn't alone in losing heavy industry and coal mining

I would have to say I'm undecided which way to vote, I have met Mr Salmond (took him home from Turriff in my taxi) and he's a lot more sensible than he sometimes seems on tv, I would just rather things like currency had been thought about beforehand rather than a few months before the referendum, all seems a bit 'last minute'.
Maybe one day?

There's more oil in my OH's smoked salmon amuse-bouche. Especially now that Sven, Hendrik and Lars have started slurping away at it like a classic MF enthusiast bleeding a brake system.

Love the Marshall bit, though! And the fact that nobody picked me up for missing the 'D' off Salmond.

 

[DrDunc]

The uk debt is £1.5 trillion pounds. This debt is in excess of 90% of gross domestic product.

The threshold for "emergency" austerity measures imposed within the euro zone is when a countries debt exceeds 60% of gdp.

Scotland contributes a Westminster estimated 16% of the UK GDP. Without Scotland being part of the pound, the sterling debt would mean south of hadrians wall could not get affordable credit on the international money market.

The pound issue is simple scare mongering; Scotland would face large economic difficulties without a common currency, and the rest of the UK would face huge inflation without the Scottish contribution.

Without Scottish renewable resources , the UK greening targets could never hope to be met.

It is clear that Scottish agriculture would face enormous upheaval without EU membership, and it is a small minority within Scotland that wishes to withdraw from the common market. This is another major part of the better together campaign.

Yet if Cameron's EU membership referendum were held tomorrow, the polls indicate an overwhelming vote within tory strongholds to leave. The uncompromising speech yesterday from the German Chancellor has only bolstered the anti European support.

Scotland therfore faces a situation where they are damned if they do go independent, and damned if they don't!

Westminster has their own best interests at heart. When will we hear from them the benefits of remaining part of the union? Currently all we're told is how bad things will be for us, nothing about the benefits of unity.

For example, remember the uplift money the EU gave to the UK CAP budget to help bring Scotland's pillar one and two levels up from the lowest levels within Europe? Aye, the money that Westminster has kept for itself?

There are countries with smaller land mass, natural resources, and populations that have very successfully become independent.

I can't think of any that have subsequently rejoined with their former shared borders?

My gut reaction was completely against independence when the referendum was announced. However the Westminster hectoring doctrine being spouted is making me actually look at the issue in depth, with an open objective mind

I've got until the middle of September to make up my voting decision.

 

[hindmaist]

Standard and Poors credit rating agency say An independent Scotland,even if you exclude oil revenues,would have a triple A rating.They reckon Scotland has a good,mixed economy.They don't see us as being too reliant on oil.They think we're maybe a wee bit too heavy on financial services and if a bit of it moved South it would make our economy even more stable.Itswell worth reading Standard Life's statement also.What the chairman actually said,rather than the BBCs sensationalist interpretation.

 

[Cowcalf]

someone care to explain why Cameron and his westminster cronies are so keen to hang on to us if we are such a burden on the rest of UK. DC darenot even debate the issue with Salmond
These people that claim they could not operate in an Independant Scotland are just DC cronies, there will be plenty to take their place.

 

[Sussex Martin]

Bye .

 

[smcapstick]

Let them rattle their sabres, the fight will go out of them when they sober up.

Remember, Buckfast is from Devon...

 

[hindmaist]

someone care to explain why Cameron and his westminster cronies are so keen to hang on to us if we are such a burden on the rest of UK. DC darenot even debate the issue with Salmond
These people that claim they could not operate in an Independant Scotland are just DC cronies, there will be plenty to take their place.

To be fair,no one has actually said they couldn't operate in an independent Scotland.Thats just the spin the media,including STV,like to put on it.

 

[hindmaist]

Let them rattle their sabres, the fight will go out of them when they sober up.

Remember, Buckfast is from Devon...

Cameron says you've got to phone us and beg us to stay.If he wanted you to express your contempt for us he would have said so.

 

[Frodo]

someone care to explain why Cameron and his westminster cronies are so keen to hang on to us if we are such a burden on the rest of UK. DC darenot even debate the issue with Salmond
These people that claim they could not operate in an Independant Scotland are just DC cronies, there will be plenty to take their place.

I agree, David Cameron and the English Conservative Party are the only people I can clearly see would be winners. If Scotland goes independent they will have a majority in the remaining UK, which should ensure near perpetual power. Makes me very suspicious of their motives.

There is also within Scotland a slightly illogical notion that a vote for independence is a vote for the SNP to rule and all their policies to continue. Personally I cant see the point of the SNP party in an independent Scotland and assume it will inevitably split, leaving Scotland with a left of centre a right of centre and a middle party. All three of which are likely to have more social conscience than the current UK equilibrium, which may or may not be a good thing.

 

[smcapstick]

Cameron says you've got to phone us and beg us to stay.If he wanted you to express your contempt for us he would have said so.

http://static.lfgss.com/attachments/7410d1237904524-vic_bob_handbags.jpg

 

[Goweresque]

I agree, David Cameron and the English Conservative Party are the only people I can clearly see would be winners. If Scotland goes independent they will have a majority in the remaining UK, which should ensure near perpetual power. Makes me very suspicious of their motives.

There is also within Scotland a slightly illogical notion that a vote for independence is a vote for the SNP to rule and all their policies to continue. Personally I cant see the point of the SNP party in an independent Scotland and assume it will inevitably split, leaving Scotland with a left of centre a right of centre and a middle party. All three of which are likely to have more social conscience than the current UK equilibrium, which may or may not be a good thing.

There is virtually zero right wing vote in Scotland. You can see that from the returns the Conservatives get to the Scottish Parliament - roughly 15-20% of the vote. The remaining 80%+ are all of the Left - if the SNP lose votes post independence it won't be the Conservatives who gain, it'll be Labour and the LibDems.

An independent Scotland will be run by people who like spending other peoples money for the foreseeable future.

And as for having 'a social conscience', if the recent vote by the Scottish Parliament to place every child in the country under the sole control of the State is anything to go by, you can keep it.

 

[DrDunc]

Let them rattle their sabres, the fight will go out of them when they sober up.

Remember, Buckfast is from Devon...

I actually think this is the idea!

By using the stick approach now, it raises the Scottish chipped shoulders well in advance of crunch time. By the time of the vote, the fight will have gone out of many, but the doubt instilled will remain.

With only one conservative MP (David Mundell) in the whole of Scotland, it is definately the case that the tories would be politically far better off without us. Why can't they be honest and say the UK needs it to remain economically United?





Especially those bucky brewing monks