Scottish independence

InvestInPoker

Labour peer and former UK Health Secretary John Reid has accused the SNP of a "lie" over claims that the NHS could be privatised if Scotland stays in the UK. "The only way that could be true is if Alex Salmond privatises it in a day of reckoning to punish the people of Scotland after we vote 'No'," he said. "The NHS cannot be privatised unless the Scottish Parliament decides to privatise it."

Rupert Murdoch has tweeted: "Have to worry about some of Salmond's allies. Far left socialists and extreme greenies. Must change course to prosper if he wins." The media mogul, who has not declared a position on the referendum, added: "Should remember Scots invented modern world 200-odd years ago with Scottish Enlightenment. Free people, free markets, decent restraints."

A former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt, told the Sunday Telegraph that a "Yes" vote could be "letting down" the Scottish soldiers who "died to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom".

Doshwaster

Salmond today: "there are no NO voters, just deferred YES ones"

I don't have a vote but I'm really looking forward to seeing the smug grin wiped off his face.

jimjames

Doshwaster wrote: »

Salmond today: "there are no NO voters, just deferred YES ones"

I don't have a vote but I'm really looking forward to seeing the smug grin wiped off his face.

You can bet if there's a yes vote, he'll say it's the will of the Scottish people. If it's no then it's due to Westminster bullying. As always trying to have things both ways.

Better_Call_Saul

Doshwaster wrote: »

Salmond today: "there are no NO voters, just deferred YES ones"

I don't have a vote but I'm really looking forward to seeing the smug grin wiped off his face.

You're not the only one looking forward to that. Salmond is nothing more than a bitter wee troll who stamps his feet in a tantrum if anybody disagrees with him.

jimjames

Better_Call_Saul wrote: »

You're not the only one looking forward to that. Salmond is nothing more than a bitter wee troll who stamps his feet in a tantrum if anybody disagrees with him.

Not sure if anyone has seen this.
http://www.mike-anthony.info/2014/politics/scottish-independence-after-yes/

Interesting scenario that could play out in the event of Yes vote. Hypothetical but there is no reason at all to think that SNP will get negotiations all one way.

Tried to contact RBS today about a mortgage application. Due to exceptional demand they are unable to offer any callbacks on any days. Looks like they are being overwhelmed by worried customers calling in.

jm2926

If you had asked me 20, 10 or 5 years ago what I thought of Scottish independence, I would have said it was unnecessary, an additional overheard with no benefit. On Thursday I will be voting yes, because Westminster is so London/SE centric, affecting everywhere else in England, Wales, Ni and Scotland and i would rather live in a country where our vote counts and makes a difference.

At the moment it doesn't matter how we vote, we get the government England votes for. We have different issues e.g lower population density and need different policies. This isn't personal, you can have a great relationship with your neighbour without the need to share intimate space.

jm2926

jimjames wrote: »

Not sure if anyone has seen this.
http://www.mike-anthony.info/2014/politics/scottish-independence-after-yes/

Interesting scenario that could play out in the event of Yes vote. Hypothetical but there is no reason at all to think that SNP will get negotiations all one way.

The nature of negotiation is that it is not all one way. No one assumes it will be.

Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach an understanding, resolve points of difference, to gain advantage for an individual or collective, or to craft outcomes to satisfy various interests.

Archi_Bald

jm2926 wrote: »

Negotiation is a dialogue between two or more people or parties intended to reach an understanding

You are quite right. In the case of negotiations about scottish independence, it would be a negotiation between representatives of Scotland, some 5 million people, and representatives of rUK, some 59 million people.

The 59 million have not, as yet, been given the right to a referendum but that should not be mistaken for the 59 million not having the same rights to decide about their future as the 5 million have.

You should also consider that the vast majority of the 59 million are unlikely to accept that Alex Salmond determines what is "in their interest".

black_taxi_2

YES--NO stand-off Dundee City centre

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/video-yes-and-no-campaigners-in-dundee-city-centre-stand-off-1.574511

kingrulzuk

jm2926 wrote: »

If you had asked me 20, 10 or 5 years ago what I thought of Scottish independence, I would have said it was unnecessary, an additional overheard with no benefit. On Thursday I will be voting yes, because Westminster is so London/SE centric, affecting everywhere else in England, Wales, Ni and Scotland and i would rather live in a country where our vote counts and makes a difference.

At the moment it doesn't matter how we vote, we get the government England votes for. We have different issues e.g lower population density and need different policies. This isn't personal, you can have a great relationship with your neighbour without the need to share intimate space.

I totally agree with you