to ask how you feel about Scottish Independence?

[PierreBourdieu]

Particularly looking for opinions from South of the Border, but all opinions welcome. My FB is awash with Independence fever after the rally in Edinburgh yesterday. As a Scotwoman I am always interested to hear the views of the English and get that perspective. I'll not disclose whether I'm pro or anti as I suppose it's not relevant here, also not looking for a bunfight! Care to share?

niceguy2

Appreciate that. Saved my typing it again! LOL

This is defiantly the best discussion online i've ever been in, so far no fighters in here for a cyberscrap either way (The Shetland thing is close! ;-) )

Currency:, Australia is a good case in point where they kept the pound going for decades, I think it was the 60's before they had the AU$ and I think similarly, Scotland should follow that model and, assuming the Euro stays a toxic product, should go with its own currency in the end. As I said on page 18, I think Scotland would bring a lot to the table in a Sterling-zone, and politically would work very well too...

As Scotland is highly unlikely to be part of the Euro, a lot of the machinations of euro currency politicking just won't come into it so the other issues you mention are not applicable.

Oil: As said on page 18, 40 years was said back in 1980. Its still coming out thick and fast. In 2050 I think they'll sail be saying 'ooh, 40 years left'. I'll leave that to the oil companies to decide, they;re investing more and more which can only be a good sign theres a lot more than that under there! ;-)

I agree Charlie, both on good discussion, and on keeping the pound with a view to Scotland creating its own currency down the road.

As an English person and without taking any practicalities into account, if the Scottish people vote for independance why not. (Not read all 25 pages!).

God knows I feel pretty detached from Westminster and its politics and I only live in East Anglia!

couldnt care less,

Can any of you tell me what an independent Scotland is going to offer a professional woman that a non-independent Scotland doesn't?

What benefits is it going to bring for me, not someone suffering from ill health, or on benefits, but for me and people like me?

And how much is it going to cost us?

(I do of course realise that I should put up and shut up because I'm not one of those in one of the elite groups worthy of mention to be told this sort of stuff in Scotland).

Independence from scotland - is that such a bad thing?

Geegee said "I do of course realise that I should put up and shut up because I'm not one of those in one of the elite groups worthy of mention to be told this sort of stuff in Scotland"

What do you mean?

geegee888

For a professional person, without the austerity attached to the current UK economy which is draining us all, hopefully Scotland will (as its doing now...) continue to attract considerable inward investment in some new sectors - wind technology is very, very interesting and very progressive and its financial sector is still well respected. The engineering world around the oil and gas industry is still booming

Personal experiences are always difficult to discuss in the wider context, but Scottish education is still considered world class.

KitCat26

Freedom for Anglians! You could claim most of the UK oil sector for yourself too. Quids in!

Charlie I refer you to my post at 11.46:-

*I honestly am failed to be convinced what an independent Scotland would offer me, as a young(ish) professional female. I am part Scottish part another European race, educated partly in Scotland, and as a result I'm always able to compare Scotland with another 3 1/2 times larger nation state. And tbh I would not choose to stay in Scotland if it becomes independent, its only its membership of the UK that makes it just about bearable.

Why? Because its really hard to have a good standard of living and a nice life as a professional female here. Yes, you get the jobs, but you will never earn as much money or have as easy a life through the really high paid jobs in QUANGOS and local government, which aren't accessible to all. Its true there are some good jobs in banking, but they aren't really recruiting any more, and in the oil and gas industry (almost impossible to get into unless you know someone and incredibly misogynistic/sexist). Such a set up is only sustainable from such a small population by making the lives of those who do produce tax revenue utterly miserable.

So you end up with the situation of the most clever people almost sidelined, told that their views don't count, and expected to put up and shut up.

I also don't partcularly want to live in tiny country with a tiny population, but that pales in comparison to the ordeal of having to listen to the "I'm so special, I'm Scottish and there are only 5 point something million of us" drivel that is constantly shoved down your throat living here. So, so sick of hearing it. If only they could get on with putting their heads down and simply working hard and not making a big fuss all the time about being "special".

And personally, I found the education system dreadful. I was actually unable to study a mainstream Higher that I needed to get into university because it simply wasn't able in the schools in my area, and was lucky to get into Dentistry with only 5 As. My headmaster told my mother that he "didn't expect pupils from this school to go onto university". I was told by a careers advisor not to aim so high and perhaps consider librarianship. I had a very strong feelingt that it was an education to make you fit in, not stand out through excellence or achievement. Hence, I'm not surprised now by the sheer ignorance and misinformation in the political "debate".

I particularly object to the SNP doublespeak and being told what to think by people not as intelligent as myself. Harsh but true. *

It is simply not appealing to voters like me.

Of course you want to be independent but keep the pound. That's like us saying we want England to be independent but keep the oil!

Geegee as a well paid professional socialist leaning governments will offer little for you other than perhaps a salve for your conscience.

Scottish education considered world class? There are 4 British universities in the worlds top 20, none of them are Scottish. Scottish higher education may be considered more accessible than English or welsh but you would be hard pressed to argue on a world stage it is better. Surely it should offer something better if you are breaking away?

Charlie. If Scotland are going to keep Sterling for possibly decades, how does that independence differ from simply getting more powers devolved but staying within the union?

For me it's a bit like saying I'm going to divorce you but please can I still share a bank account with you for the next 10-20 years? Are you really independent? Not really in my book.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15195718

Having 5 in the top 200 worldwide doesn't seem too shabby

Yes but it is worse than having say 20or whatever the uk has now! I can't check the exact number as your link doesn't work

I can see a brain drain occurring. Well, more than there is already.

I'd also be really worried about the universities. Just how many English and international students will want to come to a university in a tiny country of 5 million in the north west of Europe? Without dumbing down the student intake and therefore their reputations?

Oh I wouldn't worry about the universities. St Andrews, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Heriot Watt aren't going to drop in popularity any time soon.

Geegee, I'm also a professional woman, but don't share your concerns. I'm happy to pay taxes as long as they go towards the good of the people, maintaining the NHS, free education etc. I would probably feel the same as you if I lived in England, and was deprived of an education because I couldn't afford it, couldn't get into a professional job as a result, or was unable to get the healthcare I needed because of my background. I would wonder what the country offered for me. Scotland is a socialist country by nature, so probably never will offer you what you want. Though you could always vote for a more right-leaning party in an independent Scotland, and would be better represented due to a smaller population.

Do you really believe people only come to study in Scotland because it's part of the UK? I really don't see how the size of a population will affect the universities.

londonone, re Universities it's one of those lies, damned lies and statistics things. Scotland has 14 Universities. Five of those are in the top 200 worldwide. That's a higher porportion of world-class Universities than there are in England. But it's not worth arguing about really.

I wouldn't be so sure jins. Edinburgh had approx 40 %English in 2009, trinity in Dublin which is perhaps the closest comparable in a non uk country had 11 % other eu.

I suppose I would argue that realistically only Edinburgh could be called world class!

University world rankings - Edinburgh (36) St Andrews (85) Glasgow (102) Aberdeen (151) Dundee (176).

I'm a professional woman who doesn't share geegees concerns.

Thank you for illustrating my point

Actually Jmacks I believe that Scotland was traditionally rather a right wing, conservative with a small c country. But it is currently dominated by urban politics and the central belt.

Theres little meaningful debate about the historical context of Scottish politics, because its too often portrayed as the put upon working class and the toffs. Its very odd, politically. Its been virtually a one party state for as long as I can remember. Labour was first, then the SNP. Always left wing, very little healthy opposition.

As I remarked before, its tribal and clannish in nature. It does not, for example, have much in common with the Lower Rhenish model of co-operation, which has a lot to be said for it.

I find it interesting that you have assumed that I am right wing, when in fact I am a floating voter, and actually very, very left wing when it comes to matters such as public transport, the health system and education. But I'm not taken in my champagne socialism one bit, and I do expect to see a return for my taxes, not to see them soaked up by those doing all too nicely off their roles in the state and public sector. A trend which I can only see being multiplied in an independent Scotland.

Increasingly as I get older, I find myself realising how relatively poor the education is in Scotland. Its very over-rated.