I don't know one single reason why Scotland would want to quit the UK

[ClementineKelandra]

I'm genuinely interested in the reasons why Scotland want to break away from the UK. I'm sure there must be many good ones but I jyst can't see any atm.

[ShamyFarrahCooper]

Scotland doesn't. It's a country, it doesn't have feelings
Being Scottish and living in Scotland I currently don't know anybody personally who wishes to be independant.

[ClementineKelandra]

That's really interested Shamy. I genuinely thought the majority did want independence. I need to stop listening to the press I think.

[Alisvolatpropiis]

I think because the general idea is the Scotland would be significantly more prosperous as an independent nation? Says Mr Salmond,the utter fuckwit.

As Shamy says,I have never met a Scottish person who actually wants it though.

except tossers like my OH's friend who insists he's Scottish but was born and raised in England. The very South of England

[ShamyFarrahCooper]

If you read the DM then yes us 'free loading' scots want independence with no consequences, all paid for by England (they never include Wales).

There is a reason Salmond wants the referendum in 2014. Commonwealth Games, Bannockburn. There is a reason he wants 16-18 year olds to vote.

Not enough people want this, we have little to no information on how an independent scotland would work!

[Caerlaverock]

Quite a few if us a considering it. It is not just about wealth. It is about self governance and making decisions for the good of the country if Scotland. There are different priorities up here and it would be good to have accountability with local politicians. It would be good to get rid of the chip on the shoulder and bear responsibility for our own actions. I suppose it is pointless asking that this thread not deteriorate into scots/English bashing?

[prettybird]

Different set of values from (the majority of) the English - to me that's the biggy. They also seem to be diverging more and more.
Different education system
Different legal system
A desire not to be ruled by Westminster in ways that are at odds with what Scots want
Better if decisions about Scotland are taken by the people of Scotland

I actually don't believe that the Scottish voters should vote for independence because they think that they would be better off - I think they should vote for it if they think it is right

Some reasons why people are going to vote "Yes

[Frustratedartist]

Also Scottish,living in Scotland.
I agree with the above comments, I don't know anyone who wants independence either. I think the UK should be endeavouring to work more closely together rather than separating.
I feel like the whole thing is some massive publicity stunt that I don't understand - but it's potentially a dangerous one.
I did think this link would be a series of Scotland bashing comments- it's quite funny to find the opposite

[FeckOffCup]

I'm Scottish and considering voting Yes to get Scotland out from under tory rule, Salmond is preferable to Cameron and his shower IMHO, tories won't ever get a majority vote in the Scottish parliament, we only have one tory MP in the whole country. I would need to do some more research into how independence would actually work long term though so my mind isn't totally set, I'm open to debate about what would be best for the country in terms of currency, remaining part of the EU etc.

[mrskeithrichards]

Scot living in Scotland.

I know many people who are independence supporters.

I am. It's quite scary though. It's been a pipe dream for so long and now we're face with making a huge decision it's daunting and I agree, we need more information.

[Caerlaverock]

A federal Britain would be good, a group of nations with common interests working together but looking after its own population and accountable to them.

[prettybird]

I know lots of people who are going to vote "Yes".

My dad, for one, who had been a life long Labour voter until the Iraq War, is the one who said to me "We have a different set of values". He has friends who are Tories who are also unhappy with Westminster.

He had been getting extremely uptight about the NHS reforms in England that he was reading about in the BMJ - until he reminded himself that they weren't happening in Scotland.

But there are other things, like welfare reform, that aren't devolved matters :(

[prettybird]

The other key thing to recognise is that a vote for Independence is not a vote for Alex Salmond.

The Scots would then have the opportunity to vote for their own parties and not ones led from Westminster.

[BonaDea]

A Scot, living in England. I don't know any Scots (either at home or 'down south') who agree with independence. I hate the idea.

The SNP is a disgrace and I'm ashamed they've got this far.

I haven't heard a single reasonable argument in relation to how Scotland proposes to survive economically. "Oil" is frequently touted, but is hardly a long term solution, and anyway, I don't think the rest of Britain would or should just hand over large swathes of the North Sea.

[Caerlaverock]

I really don't think snp are a disgrace. They have created a feeling of optimism in Scotland despite all the doom and gloom. They don't really have an agenda apart from improving the lives of those who live in Scotland. I am not a nationalist by any means but with labour an corrupt whining mess and the Tories ashamed of their London counterparts, snp was the only option for me in the last election.

[DivineInspiration]

It must be about who you know and the social circles you mix in - virtually all the Scots I know are pro-Independence.

I'm English and living in Scotland. I support Independence. This is the country I have chosen to live and work in and as a result I want what happens here to be decided by the people who live here and know the country most keenly. I believe Scotland has a right to self-governance, the right to make decisions about our country's economy and resources, and I believe that a smaller country with a government whose representatives are more in tune with a particular region's wants and needs is easier to change as the priorities change.

[DivineInspiration]

Plenty of 'reasonable' (and entirely feasible) arguments about how Scotland proposes to survive economically if you look for them. The link prettybird gave above is a good place to start.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

A Scottish person living in England. I dont know anyone friends/family back in Scotland who want independence either.

Scotland have lots of good things, lower prescription charges, no hospital parking fees and lots of other good things that I cant think of at the moment. They also have their own schooling system and legal system.

I havent read or heard a decent reason regarding this at all.

[sleepyhead]

I'd rather pay higher taxes in exchange for better (or at least more secure) public services.

I think the UK government has permanently moved to the right, no matter the party in power, but that Scotland is more naturally Socialist by inclination and so more likely to introduce the sort of legislation that I agree with. I'll vote Yes on that basis.

Scottish Labour are a disgrace and just shout "how high?" when the UK Labour Party ask them to jump. I don't trust them to have the best interests of the Scottish people at heart. I wouldn't necessarily vote SNP after Independence - hopefully I'd have a range of political parties to choose from and could go back to being a Scottish Labour voter.

[prettybird]

It's not a case of "handing over" - it's a case of geographical reality.

I find the "poor wee Scotland couldn't survive" comments particularly irritating - it's a bit like saying "You can't divorce me because you're not capable of surviving on your own".

Quite apart from the oil, Scotland has other resources: green energy, whisky, tourism, call centres to name some. It would also be the responsibility of any new government responsibility to develop more.

One of the tragedies however, is that unlike Norway, an oil fund has not been set up to help pump-prime new industries for when the oil does run out.

[mrskeithrichards]

Do people not think that Scotland already generates wealth? Has tax payers? Employment?

All these things are happening.

Just like we already manage many devolved areas and budgets.

[mrskeithrichards]

And the money we're given to manage these things is entirely proportional to what we generate.

[JaxTellerIsMyFriend]

I do think an oil fund needs to be set up. I would also like to see an incentive to companies to open up industry in Scotland, creating more jobs and generating more wealth/opportunities.

London and SE England are the epicentre of everything and it just isnt fair.

[shesariver]

To be rid of the Tories once and for all thats a good enough reason for me.....there are more pandas in Scotland than Tory MPs just now, but one is one too many!

[merlottits]

My DH is a Scot living in England. Definitely against as are all his family and friends. I think most of them are realistic about Scotlands survival 'on it's own'. Great in theory.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

Why does any country want independence? To not be ruled by those perceived to be outsiders. Scotland is considerably more socialist in outlook than England; but with just a tenth of the population of England, it will always be outvoted in Westminster.