From reading these threads, it strikes me as strange/funny/ironic that it seems that more Scots seem to favour independence than the English do. Even though it would likely mean in the long run England is better off and politically it would probably spell the end of Labour as a party of government.
Also, I simply cannot understand why Scotland would want to make themselves a smaller weaker country in the current climate. Look at what happened to Ireland & Iceland. Would Scotland have survived had RBS & HBOS gone under if they were independent? No. They'd have gone bump like Iceland and cap in hand to the IMF.
As a small country in the EU, they'd have little choice but to go along with the majority. Look at who the key players are. France, Germany and UK. Ok, we're the pain in their arses but at least we stand up. When was the last time countries like Latvia & Lithuania set the agenda in the EU?
Look back to a who weeks ago. Do you think Salmond would have been able to veto the financial plans the French & German's were forcing down everyone's throats? I doubt it.
Under the Barnett formula, Scotland gets a greater share of UK tax revenues which means govt spending-wise they do better than say London or Manchester. If they go it alone, they'd only have their own tax revenues. Sure they can spend it entirely as they wish but then you'd have less money to start with, so less to go around.
And what about all those jobs in Scotland supporting the UK govt? Some would of course be retained to support Scotland's new govt but the rest? They'd be lost as England would rightly take those jobs back.
Overall I fear this being a long term disaster for Scotland, just so Alex Salmond and co can have more power.