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?

Narked - most of 'us' Scottish people have says on here we wouldn't be happy with independance so take your bigotry else where.

Twat.

YY, I'm not in the least anti-English, despite being pro-independence, I was born in Watford. LBE

And to answer your question.

Because they can, I suppose.

But, as I said, this is nothing to do with the SNP. They are instigating the referendum, nothing more. Eight years down the line there might be a Tory government in Holyrood.

This is about independence for Scotland, not about personalities or parties.

these threads start off so well a nice discussion then off it goes in a tagent

Can England and Wales have a vote. And N. Ireland. And everyone who wants to can stay in a Union. So bits of N. Ireland and wherever else wants to can have the flag and the name, and the rest of us can go our own way.

Full fiscal autonomy (sometimes referred to as devolution max[1], devo-max,[2]fiscal federalism,[3]independence lite,[4] or independence-minus,[5]) is a particular form of far-reaching devolution proposed for Scotland. The term has come to describe a constitutional arrangement in which instead of receiving a block grant from the UK Exchequer as at present, the Scottish Parliament would receive all taxation levied in Scotland; it would be responsible for most spending in Scotland, but would make payments to the UK government to cover Scotland's share of the cost of providing certain UK-wide services, including, at a minimum, defence and the conduct of foreign relations. Scottish fiscal autonomy, stopping short of full political independence, is usually promoted by advocates of a federal or confederal constitution for the United Kingdom.

Serious thought here. I'm not so sure that Scotland leaving the UK would mean a permanent Tory government in the rest of the UK.

That might happen with the first election after independence, but then the Tory party would split. It's only the fear of Labour that keeps the pro-EU and anti-EU Tories together. With a big majority they would feel safe to split, with the anti-EU group leaving either to form a separate party or join/take over UKIP. And the LibDems would be looking to take disenchanted Tories as well.

For the first time there could be three or four viable parties each with a chance of governing, instead of only two. It would be a very interesting few years.

But I'm still in favour of keeping the Union because we'd all be worse off without it.

I'm Scottish. Living in Scotland.

I can't believe we are actually humouring Mr Toad of Toad Hall. (that's fat Salmond for those of you who don't know - go google a photo). I know no one in favour and only a few who think it might not be a total disaster. Look at him, sitting in his imaginary motor car going poop poop!

Oil revenue will keep us afloat! Poop poop! People will take us seriously! Poop!

This man was a washed up reject a decade ago and I'm furious that the main political parties have made such a complete arse of the last fifteen years that his little hobby party is getting the massive protest vote that has put them in power.

Like hanky, I am an undecided voter

If anyone thinks that there'll ever be a tory government in Holyrood, then they're fooling themselves. As another poster stated ^^ Scotland is tribal and clannish in nature, and that includes politics.

say what you feel rhonda dont hold back hen

toad of toad hall

This is about independence for Scotland, not about personalities or parties

The SNP is a single issue party. Beyond that one point they agree on, their politics are spread from traditional Tory to the left wing of Labour. After the post independence glow fades and the joy of power begins to wane, as the responsibilities of making tough budget decisions weighs heavily, they will fall apart. Because the sums don't add up.

Tapir

Not many tribes or clans about here (Fife)

I'm English/Welsh and find it odd that the Scottish can (apparently) decide to break the country up without any question of mutual consent from the rest of the UK.

In particular, I cannot help but contrast that with all the very difficult politics of Northern Ireland where it has been Westminster policy that NI shall be part of the UK and many resources and lives have been put into defending that position over the years.

Could be worse ... we could have George Galloway running things.

Mind you, give him a saucer of milk and he'd be happy.

*Could be worse ... we could have George Galloway running things.

Mind you, give him a saucer of milk and he'd be happy.*

I'm in Fife Katie - this is the county that elected a communist MP during WW2. Politics here is very much off the list of things to talk about, as many people I know vote for the party that their parents, grandparents voted for. That won't change any time soon.

I'm not so sure about Salmond. You Scots may joke about him but from outside he sounds to me like a very slippery devious clever politician.

You are not wrong Sallying - Salmond is no fool tbh.

WW2?

You're stretching the point a bit, methinks.

How little faith you have in the intelligence of your countrymen. Not all of us are ignorant sheep.

And I don't hate Scottish people. I hate Scottish politics.

I have Scottish family who have actually moved south as a result of the last election. Seriously. He sees Scotland heading to independence and doesn't want his business exposed to what he sees as the consequences. He is an arse though.

Born and raised in England to a Scottish mother and English father who was raised in Scotland. The idea is Scottish independence makes me sad and I don't think it's a good idea.

ItsAll - and the royals? No one wants them.

It is just that several million acres of land are owned by a handful of people as well you know and they are having millions of pounds thrown at them in "green" subsidies etc whilst avoiding paying tax.

The Norwegian system of sharing the oil revenue should have been adopted by this govt a long time ago also their transparency of who actually owns the land. It is a huge problem here and one which is being ignored.
Why vote for independence for a few squashed acres when most of the country is practically out of bounds to the rest of the populace?

narked but it doesn't matter in the slightest if the SNP implodes after independence, if they do they will be replaced by another party.

bilbo if england/Wales has a say it would be grossly unfair. If the entire population of Scotland voted yes, but 5percent of England/Wales voted no, then no it would be. How is that fair?

I also think he's no fool and devious as heck. But having seen him in the flesh (on a plane where he held everyone up and was travelling with a ridiculous entourage) i think Toad of Toad Hall sums him up!