to wonder how Scotland's decision will affect england?

[LEMmingaround]

Just that really? If they do go their ownway how will it affect england?

Also will it open a can of worms with wales and northern Ireland?

Fishewife I am not a Yes voter.

Or a No one. Yet.

Scotland might or might not become a republic, but it will not be a tinpot country. It will be a small European country.

However many English people, if asked, are very certain that, in the event of England being given its independence from Scotland, next time BoS or RBoS goes bust, it won't be the BoE and the rUK taxpayer bailing them out.

It will be interesting. On a purely selfish level I think I will be slightly disappointed if the Scots vote No - just because it will be interesting to watch it all happen!

I feel the same. Is that bad?

Numanoid One question: If we're better together, why is it not better for Scotland already? Why do we only get promised more powers, like a child being promised a treat for behaving, now that there's a referendum? Why weren't we given more powers well before now?

This seems to be the latest parroted line being pedalled by the Yes camp. I've seen it several times on FB already. "If we're better together, why is not better for Scotland already?"

I would rather the Yes camp and whole bloody Scottish Parliament answered the question "if they have so many extra powers, why have they not made Scotland better already?". Why is Edinburgh City Council still a fraudulent under-performing mess which isn't even being investigated by the Parliament? Why are they wasting time passing ever more controlling legislation designed to eradicate personal choice? (e.g. the child guardianship fiasco). Why are the roads still a mess, business start ups far lower than in England, public sector employment higher than in any other European country? Why is the NHS still so awful and why is it necessary to pay to go private for quite serious matters, rather than wait to be put on a waiting list to go on a waiting list to get on a waiting list for a scan? (aka fobbing off).

I'm not interested in free prescriptions (as an asthmatic, I could always buy cheap repeat prescriptions anyway). The free care for the elderly policy works out much the same as for the rest of the country in practice and I'm not interested in inheriting a house (its supposed to be a socialist country anyway...). I'm not interested in being poor, or living on benefits and I already pay tax and see a lot of my income redistributed to help this anyway. I'm not interested in seeing armed police on the streets. And I'm absolutely not interested in lots of useless jobs being paid for out of more of my tax to set up a separate Scottish socialist state.

The Scottish Parliament is already making things worse. I fear, possibly irrationally, possibly not, that living in Scotland will become very controlled, with the government interfering in almost every aspect of your life, while ignoring the day to day things that matter that make the average person's life better, such as a modern transport infrastructure, better education and competent local government. None of that is even on the Scottish Parliament's horizon - what they mainly want is more control.

Well Gatorade and Jinsei it will be interesting up here however the vote goes because it looks like being close and there are a lot of people not normally involved in politics and campaigning who are not just going to go back to 'normal'.

Jinsei It will be interesting. On a purely selfish level I think I will be slightly disappointed if the Scots vote No - just because it will be interesting to watch it all happen!

I agree. It would be fascinating. I would move out of course, and empty my bank accounts and sell my property as a precaution. It would be like watching a car crash, but I suspect the information coming out of Scotland would be highly monitored and subject to cover ups, and a certain type of person in Scotland would continue to believe the official line.

Logically I hope the Scots vote no next month.

Part of me thinks "Well if you really want to go then fuck off then"

For me this is exactly like a divorce. You can't make someone stay who doesn't want to. It may well be that rUK will be worse off. Just like a wife who leaves her husband always thinks she will be will be better off without him. Whether or not it's true is almost inconsequential. And I bet divorcing couples agree terms based on pure logic. Most of the time emotions get in the way.

One thing that never ever happens though is divorced couples sharing finances.

Incidentally why is Salmond so keen on keeping the pound? Why not just go straight to the Euro? I mean that's also a traded currency so iScotland can just use that straight away too. Scotland will also join the EU straight away and promising to implement the Euro is a precondition to joining anyway.

Just go straight to your bigger richer man and start spending their money instead.

The problem is that lots of us don't want to go. Whatever the result, lots of people will be disappointed.

Why not just go straight to the Euro? I mean that's also a traded currency so iScotland can just use that straight away too.

He can't. There are strict criteria for entering the Euro, and Scotland wouldn't qualify for a very long time.

I do think its something that a special majority or at least an ordinary majority should be required for, comprised of the eligible number of voters. Its ridiculous to have a situation where the majority of eligible voters in a country could be forced to be citizens of another country because there is a statistical majority who voted in favour. I don't think that will happen, because the majority are in favour of No, but a special majority is required for changing the constitution of a company, so why not a country?

I think the thing that rubs me up the wrong way the most is that I find Salmond a slippery slimeball who speaks with forked tongue.

He's essentially selling the dream that you can have your cake and eat it. Without England that Scotland will be all caviar and champagne. Or in political terms, higher spending whilst without raising taxes.

And if there's one thing I've learned in life is that if it looks too good to be true then usually it is.

Why not just go straight to the Euro? I mean that's also a traded currency so iScotland can just use that straight away too

He can't. There are strict criteria for entering the Euro, and Scotland wouldn't qualify for a very long time

For one thing, the stated policy in the White Paper on different tuition fees for English students is a breach of EU accession procedures.

I don't think it is like a divorce. It's being forced to a certain extent - and by Westminster. Why did it have to be just stay or go?

I read on the 'watch with Mumsnet' thread that many Scots are angry that for instance their politicians can vote against bedroom tax almost unanimously, yet have their decision ignored. Further devolution might have been a better option for all of us. This campaign has been disrespectful, I know I cringed when the Scots were offered free fish and chips to stay, and it seems a shame that it may well end so abruptly, yes, maybe like an acrimonious split actually. 'If you want to go, there's the door, fuck off' is not the most mature offer for Cameron to put on the table. It could have been handled in a more respectful manner considering all the years of shared history.

Free fish and chips? When was that? Although I'm not too keen on chips, can I swap for a sausage supper?

In all seriousness, I think if we have a No vote we need a second referendum on devolution options. I don't think it should be dependent on the General Election.

"I'm not interested in being poor or on benefits".

Yes because loads of people aspire to poverty

The scottish executive already has tax raising powers. It does not exercise them.

Many SNP MSPs moved into the SNP from various left of centre parties when they saw the political wind blowing that way. Put simply ramping up taxes to pay for services doesnt play as well as blaming the eeevil eeengglish tories.

As for England needing you - my earlier comment on GDP - Scotland is less that 10% of the GDP of the UK - Remove that and the rUK doesnt move down from 6th in the world but a new country appears just above ireland and about the same as Portugal.

We will still buy the booze and mixed sheep innards from you, and a bit of brent crude (but not much - no use for fuel)

You need us a whole lot more than we need you - such dependence builds resentment. If you want to go - theres the door. Dont let it slam on the way out?

Like that poster - TEENAGERS? Get a job, Pay bills, move out - while you still know everything!

He can't. There are strict criteria for entering the Euro, and Scotland wouldn't qualify for a very long time

Yes but rUK have said they are 100% definitely against sharing the pound too but that hasn't stopped Salmond from claiming he can just use it anyway. So surely that logic applies to the Euro as well yes?

If he's not bothered about having a lender of last resort then just go and use the Euro like Panama uses the US dollar.

For rUK it's like this "So....you want to leave us.....but use our currency....until YOU decide when it suits YOU......then you'll ditch us and swap to the Euro." What's in it for me? Oh yes....you'll take on a little bit of the debt. Whoopiefuckingdoo. Fuck the fuck off, i'll be alright.

I hope Scotland goes independent too, so we can all observe the results :-) I'd like especially to see how the politicians in England react, teehee.

Oddcommentator why can't you be informative without being rude and insulting?

And what makes me giggle - truly. Is that if it goes to Yes - which deep down i hope it does. Wee eck and co will say - let us in a currency union or we wont take the debt. HMG will say - thanks but trot on. we have already factored the debt in, your share per GDP is a small amount anyway. Off you trot.

Then someone will take Salmond aside and go - umm - is the world bank and the IMF on the phone - they are saying if you dont take the debt - you wont be lent any money.

You see - in order to borrow money you have to be seen to be good for it. wether you are a person or a country. the UK is seen as good for it - hence our 10yr gilt yield. iScotland wont have a track record and starting by stamping yer feet and shouting "we will nae touch our share" wont play well with the people who you want to buy your gilts. And where will you sell them? Oh the largest gilt market naturally? London. Good luck with that.

Argentina are having spot of bother with government debt - hows that working out for them?

Scotland is much more than whisky and haggis.

Good grief.

sorry I forgot the shortbread

Am wondering why you feel the need to be so insulting tbh. And to indulge in such crass sterotypes. Do you know any Scottish people?