Will RoUK really give up some of its financial freedom to the independant Scots?

Graham_Devon

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

I dare say there will be heated words on both sides and so appreciate your point on this whole thing getting 'nasty'. I can't see any way around it, especially as it would be in the SNP's interest for it to become a slanging match of 'England vs Scotland'. Alex Salmond must have been mortified when the Leader of the WELSH assembly said he was opposed to an independent Scotland having a voice in the Bank of England.

I think it's unrealistic to expect the RoUK not to get involved in the debate, seeing as everyone in the UK will be impacted by Scotland leaving the Union. I agree that it is better to keep the language of the debate reasonable.

Yer, we should definately be involved in the debate.

Just I'm pretty sure we could be setting ourselves up for the inevitable fall out if we say too much now and the Scot's return a vote to stay within the UK.

We'll have a fall out in that case anyway, but we certainly don't want to use language now which only exacerbates the issue and makes it look as if Scots are somehow inferior and don't know what they are doing. I feel it would be better if we could be on the "reasonable" side of the fence in all this. By that, I mean that the SNP's position on assets etc isn't reasonable.

MFW_ASAP

Graham_Devon wrote: »

Yer, we should definately be involved in the debate.

Just I'm pretty sure we could be setting ourselves up for the inevitable fall out if we say too much now and the Scot's return a vote to stay within the UK.

We'll have a fall out in that case anyway, but we certainly don't want to use language now which only exacerbates the issue and makes it look as if Scots are somehow inferior and don't know what they are doing. I feel it would be better if we could be on the "reasonable" side of the fence in all this. By that, I mean that the SNP's position on assets etc isn't reasonable.

It's a 'no win' situation all around. One of the Scottish papers had a poll on the 'yes' vote which said more English were in favour of Scottish Independence than Scots were. They put it down to the anti-English nature of the SNPs campaign. While the 'No' vote lobby and the British government have to tread on egg shells, the SNP can jump about with hobnail boots. They want to stir up anti-English sentiment because it helps their cause, and if they end up staying in the Union, it doesn't matter about the damage because they won't be governing anyone anyway.

On a different issue, what was laughable last night in a debate in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP 2nd in command was berating 'Westminster' for considering having a referendum on leaving the EU, because it would impact jobs, industry, etc. and yet she didn't see the irony of them having a referendum about leaving the UK which is a much closer relationship and would have far greater impact. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

angrypirate

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

It's a 'no win' situation all around. One of the Scottish papers had a poll on the 'yes' vote which said more English were in favour of Scottish Independence than Scots were. They put it down to the anti-English nature of the SNPs campaign. While the 'No' vote lobby and the British government have to tread on egg shells, the SNP can jump about with hobnail boots. They want to stir up anti-English sentiment because it helps their cause, and if they end up staying in the Union, it doesn't matter about the damage because they won't be governing anyone anyway.

On a different issue, what was laughable last night in a debate in the Scottish Parliament, the SNP 2nd in command was berating 'Westminster' for considering having a referendum on leaving the EU, because it would impact jobs, industry, etc. and yet she didn't see the irony of them having a referendum about leaving the UK which is a much closer relationship and would have far greater impact. I just couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I can. Sturgeon and Salmon are complete muppets who tend to walk around with their fingers in their ears.

In my opinion, either Scotland should choose to be part of the UK or it should be independent. If its independent, expect no favours from the RoUK. That includes being lumbered with their share of national debt not to mention RBS and no favours with regards to pound sterling. If they choose to be part of the UK, then the Scottish Parliament should be abolished. Its just a beurocratic waste of taxpayers money having both Scottish MPs and MSPs. (For the record i dont agree on the welsh having an assembly either)

pbouk

I can't wait until next year when Scotland votes 'no' (and it will do),the look on Salmond's face will be priceless!
A country that wants to be independent,would not still want to use another currency, but it's own, excluding Euro or poorer countries that use, for e.g USD.
The fact that SNP are not creating a 'Scottish Pound' or 'Scottish Dollar' speaks volumes.

molerat

I have had a quick skim of Alec In Wonderland, don't try to read too much at once in case I nod off. There seems very little as to where all this money will come from to increase pensions, increase free childcare, increase armed forces, decrease corporation tax, taking on the energy companies social costs. Will HMG allow a squadron of high tech jets to be given to Alec's Air Force, in fact will the US allow it , will they be able to pick and choose non Scottish based ships for Nicola's Navy ? Lots of things that will be transitional arrangements for the armed forces, DVLA and NATS seem to be "you will do this upon independence". The whole document is a list of bribes to the Scots population with seemingly no care about the cost, typical from our own Scottish Raving Loony Party. Although we have both an SNP MSP and MP the local council elections gave them a kicking based on their reckless spending for which we are still picking up the pieces.

System

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

I agree that it is better to keep the language of the debate reasonable.

If they are allowed to retain English as their language,

Loughton_Monkey

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

If they are allowed to retain English as their language,

I don't understand this. "Retain"?

Surely, if they become independent then they can continue to talk the same drivel as they do now.

If (as I expect) they say a resounding "No", then maybe Cameron ought to be saying that now that Scotland is tied to us for the foreseeable future, then it's about time they learned to talk properly.

That odious Sturgeon woman could even be talking sense for all I know. [I am 99.9% sure she isn't]. But how can I tell if I can't understand the woman?

Even the [assume] British based weather woman Carol Kirkwood on BBC cannot talk English. Have you ever listened to her? [BBC Breakfast Television is banned in my house].

Her pronunciation is weird. Englind, Scotlend, and when it comes to 'Ireland', it's a sort of pronunciation with an Irish accent that I cannot hope to write down.

If they want to retain the Queen, and her picture on their currency, then at least they ought to have the decency to speak the Queen's English.

zagubov

MFW_ASAP wrote: »

From what I've seen from Salmon and other SNP representatives Scottish News reports, if anything is going well it's because of the judicious government from the SNP, if things are going badly then it's the fault of 'Westminster'. I can imagine this will persist into independence. If it doesn't work out, it's the fault of the English.

So the Westminster government's now the English government all of a sudden to make the SNP look racist. Seems like only recently people on this thread were calling lots of previous cabinet members Scottish.

antrobus wrote: »

Alistair Darling is a Conservative MP? When did this happen? Has anybody told Gordon Brown?

It's worse than that- what a confused thread this is.

Tony Blair's born in Scotland and represents an English seat and lives in England and so he's "Scottish". Alistair Darling's born in London and lives in London and presisded over the financial hardships that befell Scotland (and much of England) but he's "Scottish". It seems everybody you don't like's Scottish. But that makes the Westminster government an English government, how.....? And who exactly has blamed Scotland's woes on "the English"? Can you find a source for that?;)

Or is it just another "everybody knows" or "I hear everybody saying it.." pile of unsubstantiated tosh.

HAMISH_MCTAVISH

molerat wrote: »

I have had a quick skim of Alec In Wonderland, don't try to read too much at once in case I nod off. There seems very little as to where all this money will come from to increase pensions, increase free childcare, increase armed forces, decrease corporation tax, taking on the energy companies social costs. Will HMG allow a squadron of high tech jets to be given to Alec's Air Force, in fact will the US allow it , will they be able to pick and choose non Scottish based ships for Nicola's Navy ? Lots of things that will be transitional arrangements for the armed forces, DVLA and NATS seem to be "you will do this upon independence". The whole document is a list of bribes to the Scots population with seemingly no care about the cost, typical from our own Scottish Raving Loony Party. Although we have both an SNP MSP and MP the local council elections gave them a kicking based on their reckless spending for which we are still picking up the pieces.

Indeed....

A meaningless wishlist that anyone with an ounce of sense knows is impossible to deliver.

RJP33

Another interesting point is the proposal to drop corporation tax - won't that lead to a further drop in oil tax revenues?