Is Scottish Independence a good thing?

[maxxi]

In light of SNP majority and promised referendum (within next 4 years) by Salmond what do the panel think of possibility of Scottish Independence? Is it what Scots want? If the vote is 'for' independence what will be the response of UK parliament?

Are there any Scots out there (or out here) who DON'T support it, and if so why not?

[*Bob*]

works for me

[Frankito]

Thanks Maxxi... In short: NO.... Culturally we are independent which is more than enough. The nationalists seem to think that everything English is bad and that all the internal wealth is being funnelled back to London with minimal return. Short-sighted and incorrect but unfortunately many people have chosen to believe that...

That is my layman's take on it anyway..

[????]

It is for the Tories

[Marmora Man]

As an Englishman that spent the best part of 15 years living & working in Scotland and am an avid consumer of its whisky, I love Scotland's magnificent countryside, coastline, mountains and seas, I feel completely at home in Glasgow - a fine and elegant city where I first fell in love I am a huge fan and admirer of everything north of the border.

However I would oppose utterly, any plan to make Scotland independent of England. To break up a successful nation into smaller parts. The sum is, in this case, far greater than the sum of its parts. Cultural diversity and independence of thought - great. Political and economic independence would be to the detriment of everyone in UK.

[MrBen]

Put simply, we would become the Portugal of the north. It's an economic non starter. I'll wager that for a significant number, a vote for the SNP is more an expression of a strong and proud national identity than a genuine yearning for independence. And as ???? says, it's likely that all those voters would not support that in a referendum.

What frustrates me most is the economic drain of talent. The best leave and prosper just about anywhere else apart from Scotland. And yes, I'd love to open a branch of our business back in Edinburgh (which has a significant market for our services) but then I look at the small town politics, the lack of economic incentives, the journo's that stick the knife in unless you keep them sweet and just a general lack of ambition. And I think why bother?

It needs inspired leadership, courage and vision to change that and I don't see any of those attributes in Salmond who is essentially a nationalist for nationalisms sake. A small man with a big chip on his shoulder.

If you find anyone posting on this thread who genuinely believes it to be a good idea, I shall deep fry my kilt and eat it.

[????]

do you wear pants under it?

[MrBen]

Nope. Just 100% Angus beef.

[Pearson]

No true Scotsman ever wears pant mr???? FACT

[katie1997]

Argh what an awful question for a Friday afternoon!

In short, no its not a good thing at all. Most Scots I know don't want this.

[Townleygreen]

I wouldn't like it, as we'd have to change the union jack into something else, and I find I am fond of the old rag.

[Alec John Moore]

MM, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip, to refer to Bill the Quill. If Scotland became independent again it wouldn't be only "independent of England" but but would as you say split the union. Seeing things from a perpetually anglo centric perspective is the thing that pisses the Scots off on a regular basis. However, most intelligent Scots can overlook that innate arrogance and will sensibly agree with you that political and economic independence would be a pointless waste of effort.

[Atticus]

all over it!

[huncamunca]

everyone should be Scottish - males die at 54 but lead a life of drugs, unprotected sex, drink, drugs, drink, deep fried mars bars and drink.

live fast/ die young

[Frankito]

Lol

[Tarot]

Will they be independent, if they will still be bossed about by the euro dictators.

[Annette Curtain]

What's independant ?

Anything like a Weddig dress ?

N(?)

[SCSB79]

The SNP leader (I think it was) said that Scotland should base it's economic strategy on those of Ireland and Iceland.

I'm out!!

[edcam]

Fine by me. They'd go bust without us. The SNP don't have a clue.

[StraferJack]

I suspect the largely patronising posts on here are representative of why many scots don't feel as included as others might think.

Like an abusive partner there is plenty of "oh you think you have it bad now? You wouldn't last 2 minutes out there"

If the scots have a referendum (probable) and if they vote for separation (debatable) then good luck to them.

[Marmora Man]

Alec John Moore Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> MM, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip, to

> refer to Bill the Quill. If Scotland became

> independent again it wouldn't be only "independent

> of England" but but would as you say split the

> union. Seeing things from a perpetually anglo

> centric perspective is the thing that pisses the

> Scots off on a regular basis. However, most

> intelligent Scots can overlook that innate

> arrogance and will sensibly agree with you that

> political and economic independence would be a

> pointless waste of effort.

AJM - you're quite right - a slip of grammar and drafting. Unintentional - I did and do mean that a break up of the Union will be a bad thing for the Union and its constituent parts.

As I said - I'm a fan of all things Scottish - my 15 years there represent almost 50% of my adult life and the whisky I've consumed exceeds, by a large margin, my own body weight. Scotland is part of the family and I'd hate see friendly and good natured relations, with occasional spats, between relatives descend into total and absolute separation.

I believe, and hope, the majority of Scots would not favour full independence. However, I do think Alex Salmond now has to call the referendum - deciding who will be eligible to vote will be an interesting problem.

Many many ex pat Scots of my acquaintance would probably vote in favour of independence on an emotional basis, their view of Scotland being clouded by a misty remembrance of the past - but they would not return to live in Scotland, independent or not. I'd call that the Connery Conundrum.

Additionally, in the event of independence the contractual disputes about who owns what, whether it be oil in the North Sea, military bases, equipment and personnel, NHS hospitals, roads, rail and other infrastructure would just be mind boggling.

[Brendan]

Interesting point about the military. If Scotland became independent and the British military become that of the United Kingdom of England, Wales and Northern Ireland (and various other islands) what would happen to all the Scots in the military?

I don?t know exactly what proportion of the military they make up but I have two friends who are both career army men, they are both Scottish and it seems from the way they speak of things that a disproportionate number of their contemporaries are.

[Tarot]

They wont have free prescriptions thats for sure.

Its all part of the E.U directive to split the uk,because they want it to be the United states of Europe, I think its the old Divide and conquer concept.

Ridiculous idea.

[huncamunca]

Independence should be followed by a claim for reparations.Those hundereds of years of servitude and slavery & the rape of Scotlands natural rescources will not be cheap for Westminster.Scotland used to be a rock of coal floating in a sea of oil. The English will have to pay for this colononial exploloitation.

[Huguenot]

Well possibly, but then Scotland would have to repay their share of the tax generated from all those city boys.

It's easy for petty nationalists to only see one side of the equation. It's a shame that all those high falutin nationalist sentiments should all boil down to sweaty greed from resentful ingrates.

I can't help but feel that there is something childish about a desire to enforce national borders at the same time that globalisation is rendering them less meaningful. It deserves to be patronised.