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

Graham_Devon

Generali wrote: »

GD - How do you think Spain or France who have regions that want to leave the country will react to Scottish independence?

In truth. No idea.

My level is more the basics.

For instance, the BBC. Apparently, when independent, Scots will still be able to view the BBC. Again, because the SNP say so.

The question over whether they would pay for this appears to be no, as it's the "British" Broadcasting Corporation.

What they seem to have assumed is that we Brits will want to watch the new Scottish broadcaster and therefore, we'll give them the BBC in return for access to the new Scottish broadcaster. I'm not interested in watching the Scottish broadcaster and I doubt many in the remaining UK will be.

Now, again, I don't mind them having access to the BBC. But they can pay the licence like the rest of us.

Though it is of course amusing that the lack of the BBC appears to be a concern of some of those wanting to go independent. The whole point of wanting to go independent is surely compromised by fearing being unable to access British broadcasting?!

I can only imagine the complaints from Scots about the lack of Scottish coverage on the BBC post independence if they are able to continue watching it. That's nothing against the Scots themselves....its just the BBC is such an ingrained institution in all of us, it would be difficult to Scots adjusting to watching it with absolutely no coverage of any Scottish issues.

These basic level issues are the things, IMO, that will throw the vote one way or another. The EU stuff is on a level which doesn't touch people each day...not knowingly anyway. It's not something they can tune in with today. Whereas the lack of the BBC, is.

The Scottish population needs to know A) whether they will have access to the BBC and How. It's unfair to suggest they will have access if it's on a pay per view or subscription model if they are unaware of this before voting. That will be an additional cost to many Scottish families that Independence brings.

zagubov

Graham_Devon wrote: »

In truth. No idea.

My level is more the basics.

For instance, the BBC. Apparently, when independent, Scots will still be able to view the BBC. Again, because the SNP say so.

The question over whether they would pay for this appears to be no, as it's the "British" Broadcasting Corporation.

What they seem to have assumed is that we Brits will want to watch the new Scottish broadcaster and therefore, we'll give them the BBC in return for access to the new Scottish broadcaster. I'm not interested in watching the Scottish broadcaster and I doubt many in the remaining UK will be.

Now, again, I don't mind them having access to the BBC. But they can pay the licence like the rest of us.

Though it is of course amusing that the lack of the BBC appears to be a concern of some of those wanting to go independent. The whole point of wanting to go independent is surely compromised by fearing being unable to access British broadcasting?!

I can only imagine the complaints from Scots about the lack of Scottish coverage on the BBC post independence if they are able to continue watching it. That's nothing against the Scots themselves....its just the BBC is such an ingrained institution in all of us, it would be difficult to Scots adjusting to watching it with absolutely no coverage of any Scottish issues.

These basic level issues are the things, IMO, that will throw the vote one way or another. The EU stuff is on a level which doesn't touch people each day...not knowingly anyway. It's not something they can tune in with today. Whereas the lack of the BBC, is.

The Scottish population needs to know A) whether they will have access to the BBC and How. It's unfair to suggest they will have access if it's on a pay per view or subscription model if they are unaware of this before voting. That will be an additional cost to many Scottish families that Independence brings.

Happy St Andrews Day!

So, GD, Scots invent the TV. The UK invents the license.
No thanks I think they'll just stick with the TV.:):beer:

PS the EU won't discuss the membership with a subdivision of a member state, ony with its central government. The SNP are keen. It's Westminster that says No.

Graham_Devon

zagubov wrote: »

Happy St Andrews Day!

So, GD, Scots invent the TV. The UK invents the license.
No thanks I think they'll just stick with the TV.:):beer:

PS the EU won't discuss the membership with a subdivision of a member state, ony with its central government. The SNP are keen. It's Westminster that says No.

And this is a prime example of the thinking in Scotland which I think infuriates the rest of the UK.

I don't mean to be rude....but....

The UK includes Scotland.

Therefore, Scotland were very much a part of introducing the licence.

The through process you have just put forward seems prevalent across so many issues. Scotland makes up the UK. The UK is not "somewhere else".....yet.

zagubov

Graham_Devon wrote: »

And this is a prime example of the thinking in Scotland which I think infuriates the rest of the UK.

I don't mean to be rude....but....

The UK includes Scotland.

Therefore, Scotland were very much a part of introducing the licence.

The through process you have just put forward seems prevalent across so many issues. Scotland makes up the UK. The UK is not "somewhere else".....yet.

It's just another example of where the benefits toScotland got diluted and I don't mean distributed pro rata so they got say 8-9% of the work and investment. I mean diluted beyond that. Scotland has subsidised the BBC by paying massively more than is spent or invested locally and has done so for many decades.

The current setup is a slowly built asset which has favoured London for a long time. When the assets are split I can't see any benefit in avoiding mutual sharing of output. What other English-speaking countires in Northern Europe are there to add to its audience? Non-commonwealth non-contributing Ireland has had access for ages.

kabayiri

zagubov wrote: »

...
PS the EU won't discuss the membership with a subdivision of a member state, ony with its central government. The SNP are keen. It's Westminster that says No.

This does seem a ridiculous state of affairs.

How on earth can a Scottish voter make an informed choice without knowing the answer to key issues like this?

Is this going to become a referendum based on trust and wishlists, rather than fact ?

Shakethedisease

kabayiri wrote: »

This does seem a ridiculous state of affairs.

How on earth can a Scottish voter make an informed choice without knowing the answer to key issues like this?

Is this going to become a referendum based on trust and wishlists, rather than fact ?

I think the UK government may be afraid of what they'll hear. If they knew 100% Scotland would be kicked out and have to re-apply.. they'd be shouting it from the rooftops with headline after headline. In fact, we'd never hear the end of it most likely.

The Scottish population needs to know A) whether they will have access to the BBC and How. It's unfair to suggest they will have access if it's on a pay per view or subscription model if they are unaware of this before voting. That will be an additional cost to many Scottish families that Independence brings.

"Scotland has 8.6% of the UK population but only receives 3.7 % of the BBC's programme making expenditure. (See here.) In addition, the BBC makes money from selling programmes to other broadcasters.
After independence Scotland would get its own national TV network. Assuming the licence fee system remained in place, the Scottish Broadcasting Corporation would have double the budget currently received by BBC Scotland. Scotland would also be in a position to sell its programming to other broadcasters and retain the revenues. This would allow the 'SBC' to buy in all those BBC programmes we actually like. Dr Who and David Attenborough being cuddled by gorillas would be safe for the nation." <--- from Newsnet Scotland

http://www.newsnetscotland.com/index.php/scottish-opinion/4341-a-unionist-lexicon-an-a-z-of-unionist-scare-stories-myths-and-misinformation#bbc

There's also the SNP proposals in the white paper.

http://www.scotreferendum.com/?s=bbc

BobQ

kabayiri wrote: »

This does seem a ridiculous state of affairs.

How on earth can a Scottish voter make an informed choice without knowing the answer to key issues like this?

Is this going to become a referendum based on trust and wishlists, rather than fact ?

The enclosed is a fairly balanced explanation of the minefield into which Scottish independence would lead and the problems it could cause RoUK and the rest of the EU.


http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmfaff/643/64306.htm#a2

andybenw

Scotland is already in the EU. In the unlikely event of a yes vote transition will be pretty seemless. Remember there were no vetos when East Germany became part of Germany. As for the bbc, a freesat box and dish will sort that. A bit like the poles living in Britain can still get prigrammes via satellite. The shared sterling would also happen pretty easily I feel. Its a shame the No campaign focusses on fear politics as they could quite easily run a positive campaign.

sss555s

This is a very interesting program on the possible future of Scotland if you're interested.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03kk8j7

Generali

Shakethedisease wrote: »

I think the UK government may be afraid of what they'll hear. If they knew 100% Scotland would be kicked out and have to re-apply.. they'd be shouting it from the rooftops with headline after headline. In fact, we'd never hear the end of it most likely.

The EU have been completely clear on what would happen if Scotland leaves the UK: they'd have to reapply under the 2004 rules.

It doesn't matter what English or Scottish politicians have to say on the matter, the rules are very simple. 'England' would be the successor state so would remain in the EU, Scotland would be the secessionist state so would have to apply if they wanted to be members of the EU.

Under the 2004 rules that would mean joining the ERM before taking the Euro as the currency.

Luckily Scotland will not be voting for independence any time soon so this is all moot.