To think Scotland becoming independent wouldn't have any impact on the rest of the UK?

[lesley33]

Some in Scotland want it to become independent. I don't really understand why the coalition government is fighting against this happening. Will it really matter in the rest of the UK if scotland does become independent?

ivykaty44, understand where you are coming from, but surely the most significant factor in whether or not Scotland could have a very bright future if it becomes a country in its own right, is that it has to be economically viable.
Any country could have a very bright future, as long as it can pay for that bright future!

Iceland went bust, Ireland is bust, but they don't look around to join up with another country and lose independence and then be ruled by another government because they decide that it isn't economically viable.

Never mind the economic arguments, the real danger of independence is far more sinister and troubling.

Apparently we could lose the pandas.

arf at the pandas but at that despicable shit Osbourne spouting that lie about Scotland having to bail out RBOS.

Oh he is a despicable liar alright. As was that sinister little squirt Gove this morning saying the referendum would be a choice between being part of an outward looking multicultural society and having only a unified nationalist identity. Dodgy, dodgy, dodgy - and pretty ironic given that Scotland is actively encouraging immigration.

Alex Salmond could wear a panda suit and be a pretty convincing replacement...

"Was absolutely disgusting the manner in which she was treated, never let finish an answer, cut of and talked over by Dimbleby.
Douglas Alexander behaved like an utter arsehole who needs to grow up. "

Yes, I did see this - and was absolutely seething with rage! I was willing Sturgeon to reach across the table and give Douglas Alexander a good chinning, and Dimbleby should be ashamed of himself.

Shame the debate was in Tower Hamlets. The audience seemed not to give a toss either way, which didn't help. She could have done with some vocal support.

Douglas Alexander was using the Labour method of debate (shown again on a BBC Scotland radio show this morning.)

When your opponent is trying to make their point continually talk over them, repeating the same banal question that is possibly not relevant and might just be answered if you shut the f up and let them finish.

It is why I hate Labour. They do it all the time. They're all great at it and I do wish the people would stop, turn to the Labourite and ask them if they want a debate or a haranguing match.

Nicola Sturgeon does not lack the manners to do this, unlike Alexander, but I really, strongly, desperately wanted her to say "do you want me to 'bring it on'?" a la his sister Wendy. And look what happened to her.

LOVE Wendy. I know her personally and she is a guid woman.

Really? I've heard otherwise, about both Alexanders, from people who have met them.

well she's my pal and i wuv her. so stop saying bad things about my pal. dunno her bro, but her parents are darlings.

DO agree about the Labour debating style though, excellent spot that.

Wendy was a fab Minister when she was in government...she was the only intelligent Labour MSP back then but....she was the bitch from hell to work for Her brother on the other hand...

As someone who works in the field I can 'hand on heart' say that the SNP Ministers & Cab Secs are actually intelligent, want to make Scotland a better place and do stuff they say they will...although wee Eck is a bit of a fud

"wee Eck is a bit of a fud"

never a truer word spoken!

She was extremely disliked among parliament staff.

So I heard

i can imagine that, she is quite driven and certainly doesn't suffer fools... but then i do think that those attributes are infinitely more 'forgiveable' in male politicians and like i say i actually do know her as a chum so am sticking with my opinion.

Oh I actually liked her Aitch...but then I never worked directly for her. She was far too good for that party and Jack McConnell stitched her up good and proper

i think she would be hard to work for because her mind whirrs at a fierce pace, it's quite funny socially, because she's so 'on it', iykwim? you would have to be on the top of your game All The Time, because she is, i think. and YES, she was totally stitched up, i found the UK parly expenses thing just a farking giggle after what she was done for.

Scotland will not be independent as the SNP will take us into Europe and then we will dance to Brussels tune.Its just a case of swapping one for the other.

Fannyfifer- the SNP DO have an attitude toward the English - may I point you to Joan McAlpine's appalling comment re all MSPs being 'anti-Scottish' ??
Just because they do not back independence - exactly how does that make them anti-Scottish? Ridiculous comments from somebody obssessed by independence.
I am not a Labour voter however I have great respect for the Alexanders- intelligent politicians.
I watched QT and Douglas Alexander was quite right. Nicola Sturgeon was pulling the usual politician BS and refusing to answer an uncomfortable question and just waffling on. Also how exactly was the panel bias? The SNP are the only party who want independence- to have had a 2nd pro-independence voice would have made it an unbalanced discussion. All the parties were represented. And as only one third of Scots want independence some may say that the SNP were over represented.
Also fed up with the SNP referring to the fact that SOME of the cabinet went to Eton....shall we start referring to their education - THEIR parents chose for them. I note that they didn't refer to Blair going to Fettes - also a public school. Is that OK because it is in Edinburgh????
Lastly 'oldladywhoknowsnothing' - you are wrong !!!! Eck did not put date in manifesto at all- he mentioned it briefly at SNP thing at Perth Concert Hall FOUR days before the Holyrood election, because he felt he may win. And he said it would be the latter half of his term - the usual vagueness.

Twoifbysea - bit odd, attacking purely Labour politicians for using debating methods to attempt to win an argument. All politicians use debating tricks - it goes with the job. Far better to do that than to constantly slip up and reveal yourself as an arrogant prejudiced bugger who thinks everyone who didn't go to Eton is some form of pond scum, like Cameron does. (NOTE I did not claim all Tories, unlike your grand claim that all Labour MPs are the same.)

i know Joan as well... another guid woman and very bright. no room for her in Scottish politics either...

Saying that the unionist parties behaviour is anti-Scottish does not also mean that the SNP is anti English, that's a load of bollocks.
The Green's also support independence.

It is rude to interrupt someone and continually talk over them with a comment that is out of context at that moment.

I feel Joan McAlpine's comment was misconstrued then used as 'ammunition' by the parties she was talking about.If you read her comment properly in context then I think she has a valid point.

Scottish Labour, Lib Dems and the tories, all the same party it would appear, have not put the needs of the Scottish people to the forefront. They worked to their own agenda.

The SNP is not anti English nor anti any other country, just pro Scots.

If you look at the past record of the Labour/Lib Dem/tory - apart from ignoring north of the Forth, they have not listened to the people of Scotland (and I want to make it clear that the people are from many cultures, not just Scottish born Scots).

There are many issues to work through before Scotland goes to the vote and they cannot be rushed.

It is shocking and sickening to read some of the vile, openly racist comments on this thread.