To think Alex Salmond is in his own private dream world?

[SpineInABap]

Ok so Alex Salmond wants an independent Scotland, and sets out his ideas.

Then all three Westminster parties tell him - "no you can't share the pound and be independent as well, it would be too unstable. Did you see what happened in Europe when they tried to share a currency between different countries with different economic policies? And those countries were trying to become more united, and in this case the two countries would be trying to split apart!"

Then a guy from the European Union remarks that it won't be plain sailing for an Independent Scotland to join the EU, as all the other members will have to agree - and many won't as they don't want to encourage their own splinter states to start asking for independence as well.

So two fairly serious problems. And what is Alex Salmon's reaction? Basically to go "Ner ner ner, you're all being mean and nasty and you don't really mean it. I think that if we all vote yes for an independent Scotland, then you will change your mind and let us share the pound, and let us join the EU. You're bluffing, and so I'm not coming up with a plan for what would happen if Scotland voted yes and we realised that, oops no...you weren't bluffing".

How can anyone think this man does not sound a bit bonkers? I'm English, but if I was Scottish I would be very worried about voting for someone who thinks nothing of destabilising a whole economy just to make a Political point.

ProfundoRosso guess you've never been English and worked in deprived areas of Glasgow then? There is most definitely anti-English feeling to the point where Scots would vote Yes whatever the potential negative impacts.

I have yet to here a single positive reason WHY scotland shouldnt vote yes. Plenty scaremongering from Cameron and his party, who if I'm honest have only managed to make Everyone's life more difficult since being sort of elected. SNP isnt the only one who is pushing for independence, they just have the loudest voice on the world stage. Its the ones working quietly you should actually listen to, there are plenty articles out there if you bother to look, instead of the diatribe and personal attacks regurgitated in the newspapers

Are you serious theri? You haven't heard a reason why they shouldn't vote yes?

How about AS currently has no strategy to overcome the fact that a devolved Scotland won't be allowed to use the pound or the euro?

for years down south wondered about our scottish pound and wondered if it was legal, so not much difference really

YANBU at all.

People are still raring to vote for complete uncertainty though :(

Please tell me that was a joke theri

There's a big difference between people not recognising legal tender and not actually having a currency of your own.

People are still raring to vote for complete uncertainty though

Yes, quite. Except they seem to see it as ' total freedom, and an exciting, fresh start' rather than the reality staring into abyss of complete uncertainty which could very well go tits up.

and these all use their own form of the pound

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pound_%28currency%29

I'm English and think there is a certain amount of hysteria around this issue.

Salmond can't be so naive as to have no plan if keeping the pound isn't an option and joining the EU is difficult. He is probably just trying to soothe the nerves of the Scottish people who this would sway into a "No" vote.

Scotland has every right to vote and decide whether to be independent. I don't believe the line that as a country Scotland want to just "pick and choose" all the good things from the UK and walk away from the negatives. I'm sure they are weighing up the positives and negatives and deciding if it's worth it for them.

But Ishouldbesolucky comments like

"Also when we do get independence I really hope you enjoy the terms and terms of Tory rule because labour will never get back in power without Scotland."

Are spiteful and undermine your argument.

I am truly shocked that the only response to a request for a reasoned argument for the Yes vote is from someone who thinks not having a currency won't be any different to people questioning Scottish pound notes in England!

The Yes vote will probably win if this truly is the naivety of those planning to vote for it.

No English person that I know is opposed to Scottish independence, but there is a feeling that Scotland should take its share of the national debt if it separates from the rest of the U.K. Many people think that AS is cherry picking the bits he wants (the pound, EU membership) and is reluctant to take on responsibility for the debts. Of course, any politician would want that beneficial arrangement, but it doesn't seem realistic.

Megrim, no, I have never been English and working in Glasgow. But I have, as a Glaswegian, been called derogatory names and mocked for my Scottishness in England.

SpineInABap (your brother's your wife, right? ) I am genuinely still making my mind up on which way to vote, as are many of my peers. I've been drawn towards both sides at different times but I want to educate myself as much as possible before I make that decision. I hear lots of my friends and family saying similar things. I wouldn't vote for Francois Hollande to become Scottish First Minister because I love French culture any more than I would vote for an independent Scotland because I enjoy Ae Fond Kiss and the work of John Byrne, or any other sense of national 'pride.'

But theri there is no plan for an independent Scotland to have their own pound, AS is blindly hoping that Scotland will be able to use the rUK pound or the Euro and has no back up plan.

Scottish banknotes are not legal tender, even in Scotland. English banknotes are not legal tender in Scotland either. Scottish banknotes are legal currency, but are often not accepted outside Scotland (use of them has to be agreed by both parties). That's why many places in London, for instance, refuse to accept Scottish notes.

I don't think there is any doubt that we'd have to take our share of the debt is there?

ProfundoRosso so maybe you should have a greater understanding of how nationalism can have an over-riding effect?

there's nothing to stop Scotland from using the pound, they can easily do this without Westminster permission. But Westminster could do things to punish Scotland for it and create hostile relations, also Westminster feels they are under no obligation to give another country say in how the Bank of England is run. Hence the stalemate.

Scotland as member of EU MUST USE THE EURO. Them's the rules for new EU member applicants.

Maybe Westminster would have been better to have tried a whiny whinging approach, along lines of "Wow we really don't want Scotland to keep using the pound because these are going to be very vulnerable to what they get up to if they do." But that might have created anti-Scottish feeling. So really no way forward.

I'm an American living in the UK, have no stake in the game and found it difficult to understand the ins and outs of secession. A few days ago I came across this which talks about Salmond's approach (contrasting with Jim Sillars) a bit and talks more about the currency and other issues. I'm just posting because I found it super interesting: notesfromnorthbritain.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/the-snps-currency-nightmare/

I also read something about the period between independence and EU membership but can't find that. It outlined the difficulties for the Scottish during the transition.

All of this is not to say I disagree with independence! As I said, I don't have an opinion on it. Some things are worth doing even though they're difficult and can cause a period of chaos. I have no idea if this is one of those things.

Good to hear you are considering things so carefully ProfondoRosso (yes, I should have said "baguette" ).

I want all of those living in Scotland to closely scrutinise exactly what is being offered to them. If it were me, I would feel like it would be quite a risk to bet a comfortable existence in the UK for the total unknown of independence.

Re the uncertainty if Scotland votes yes. There is also an awful lot of uncertainty if Scotland votes No. The difference is, that in the event of a Yes vote, broadly most things would be more under the control of the Scots.

Plenty English people out campaigning in my constituency.
Oh and Welsh,Irish, Polish, Chinese,Pakistani to name a few.

Having watched AS's career, it always appears he doesn't have a plan. He plays the jolly fat man well, time and time again he's out thought his critics and come out on top. You dont think he's been networking like a maniac and smoozing all the businesses for fun and a free meal do you

Alex Salmond said this yesterday (FT.com):

“If there is no legal basis for Scotland having a share of the public asset of the Bank of England, then there is equally no legal basis for Scotland accepting a share of the public liability of the national debt.”

More likely to be taken out Europe if we vote No as there is prob going to be a referendum on it.

More likely to be taken out Europe if we vote No as there is prob going to be a referendum on it.