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?

Karma Yes, I think it is running out but they are looking into methods to go deeper I think and access reserves they haven't managed to get to before. Its a while since I last read about it though so I might be very out of date.

postbellambugsy -so it is all down to money before you make a choice, isn't this about not being ruled as one whole country rather than just finance?

Devolution granted. The rest are national policies. I look at the poverty in Glasgow and it is beyond anything I saw in London, yet it seemed to be accepted by Scottish Labour.

GCC in power since time immemorial but look at the state of the city - pot holes, white elephants and vanity projects.

I think Scotland is an amazing country and I think it is quite capable of running its own affairs.

Lesley Thats really interesting, thanks for the link.

If Scotland are always in deficit how would they survive alone? Raise taxes?

I truly believe that everyone should have the right to be independent, but we are stronger together than apart. I think we should stop looking at this in terms of nationality and more in terms of how, over the years, the rich and powerful ruling classes, oppress and take advantage of the weak and poor. That holds true whether you are talking about Scottish or English ruling/working classes.

I'm sure a Scottish person living in England could apply for a passport just as my niece has a British and US passport. You just have to satisfy the requirements.

Norman I agree that Scotland is quite capable of running its own affairs - I don't think capability is the question.

As for GCC - I've been impressed by their championing of the Living Wage, their Modern Apprenticeship scheme, the way they are using pension funds to invest in growing SMEs. I do agree though that the pot holes are awful!

honksquonkfronk - I think some people believe that Scotland through its oil will have a vast surplus of money. Sadly not the case. They would have to raise tax.

But I do think Alec Salmond is a very clever politician and probably knows the reality. So i suspect he is actually manouevring for more independence and a better deal for scotland, but not total independence which would cause financial problems for him to deal with.

North oil and gas is well past it's prime earning potential and can't be relied on in the future, even if it was yeilding anywhere near enough to support the country (which it doesn't)
The books do not balance- anyone thinking they can survive on oil revenue is wrong.

That said, as it wouldn't be our problem we'd just view them as we do ROI's financial mess.

GCC have done some great schemes. But it has for many decades had to deal with a city with a high density of populoation and great poverty.

As far as I am aware we would all still have British passports and be ruled by the Royal Family.....

serenity - Which is one of the reasons I think independence would have little impact, if any, on the rest of the uk.

Exactly lesley - GCC can't be expected to eradicate poverty, but I think Labour have worked hard to do what they could with limited resources.

The arrogance of some a lot of English people is quite breath taking. We are NOT a drain on YOUR resources - believe it or not we (and the Welsh and N. Irish) contribute to UK coffers too. Lesley - do you think we would have to survive solely on Oil money (we have recently laid down options on further reserves)?

On a final note, if there's nothing in it for the 'English' government, why oh why would they have held on to such a 'drain' on their resources for so long?

Hammering on about this dual nationality thing.

It's going to cause resentment if Scotland get independence yet they could still retain al the benefits of being a British citizen wouldn't it?

Independence means exactly that and not everyone has the luxury of being affiliated with two countries and able to receive help from either.

I agree with Scotlands right to be independent but it's not clear who exactly is asking for it,the politicians or the people.

ivykaty44, to be honest, I think it will boil down to money at the end of the day. I'm probably getting very old & cynical, but as far as I can tell, when you unpick most political decisions they usually come down to financial implications & vote winning.
From a personal perspective, I don't really care. I'm not Scottish, so I don't have feel very emotionally connected to it. I would have thought the UK would be a more powerful economic unit if we remain united, but without any figures I don't know that for sure.

and then once Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland are independent, London can get it's independence too?

We're not really 'ruled' by the Royal Family, anyway, are we? The Queen acts in line with democratic process. Seems a bit of a daft concern about the whole thing.

sorry Lesley- my post crossed with a number of yours saying the same thing!

lorelilee - The report I linked to looks at spending in Scotland versus taxes raised in Scotland and oil revenues. So it does look at taxes raised in Scotland. And since 1998/9, spending has outweighed income from these sources.

I don't understand why the Conservative Govt want to keep Scotland in the UK.

Lorilee- i think you've missed that Scotland costs the UK more than it contributes? So you'd be in deficit? ergo, currently a drain. Of course people pay tax there! they just need more than that spent on them

No problem serenity.

I quite like the SNP, for the record, because the people involved in the party aren't really career politician types, remember they've never had any power until recently, and a lot of people's dedication to the party will be outliving devolution itself.