to think some of the Anti Scottish rhetoric in the media due to the rise of the SNP is frankly shocking?

[ssd]

Scotland voted to stay in the UK, David Cameron and Ed Milliband wanted this, now it feels like they wish we hadnt.

Scotland had a Tory government with no mandate in Scotland for 18 years, which decimated industry and jobs. funded the sell off of public resources on the cheap and the rise of the super banks/bankers by squandering the oil resources.

Labour was supported by Scotland from 1997-2010, but now they too have adopted the neo liberalism as fact. SNP are an alternative to that and we have the democratic right to vote for them. Or to not vote for them. It' has upset the political applecart in WM of course, but that's no bad thing

I think the fact that it has upset the WM applecart appeals to a lot more people than just the Scots.

And I find your claim of sneering and patronising annoying too - so it appears we're equal ssd.

Yes Crystal - I do laugh at the idea that the SNP has the gall to talk about the lack of democracy for Scotland at WM when it consistently refuses to recognise the wishes of the majority of Scottish people that were expressed in September 2014.

I realise that Maki and these areas have my sympathies. The fact is, though, Labour are no longer a viable option for many and SNP are giving the Scots an alternative. It is unfortunate that there is not an alternative in rUK. Perhaps it can be addressed. I believe that is what was being suggested by NS - that by voting Green/SNP/PC could be the collaborative alternative option to the usual UK politics. God knows Labour have had enough time but have failed to be something other than Tory Lite.

Expecting the SNP a to give up on independence is like expecting the Green Party to turn their backs on environmental issues.

It is not a case of ignoring wishes, it is party policy and SNP have been voted into Scottish government democratically. No one has their arm twisted.

How do you envisage the SNP offering an alternative to the usual UK politics when it's main aim is to ultimately break up the UK?

You seem to be a bit obsessed by the fact there may be another referendum - it was a No vote and Scotland aren't independent, who's to say it will always be that in the future? No-ones even talking about another referendum at this isn't but why shouldn't this be part of their agenda, they are called the SNP..I think that's the big clue!

No, it's absolutely about ignoring the wishes of the Scottish people. What they do with their policy of independence is up to them, but they can't keep holding the country to ransom with empty promises of a 'once in a generation opportunity'.

Presumably if a Labour Government were to be elected at Holyrood after a Yes vote then they could hold a referendum to rejoin the UK? Or does it only work one way in SNP Land?

They lost the referendum. There is nothing in the GE manifesto about independence. Unless something dramatically different happens such that the Scottish Electorate are demanding another referendum, then vote to have one, then vote for it, there will be no independence. Did people think that SNP would just off and fuck after a NO vote? They didn't do it in 1979 either.

No-ones even talking about another referendum

Nicola Sturgeon is doing just that and is refusing to rule one out.

Maki
That's your call but I agree it's exciting

The way the trio of 'the vow' have behaved in this campaign kind of proves the yes campaign's point that they don't actually want MPs scots vote for in Westminster to have any kind of power.

No, there is nothing in the GE manifesto - but as Crystal has already correctly pointed out, "why shouldn't this be part of their agenda, they are called the SNP..I think that's the big clue". NS continues to refuse to rule it out, their main aim is independence, their main aim is to break up the UK.

The trio haven't behaved any better or worse than any of the other parties - it simply depends on your viewpoint.

Sirchenjin- I was there. She was never booed I assure you!

It was like a pop concert.

It's absolutely not ignoring the wishes of the Scottish people. Independence is not on the table and it won't be unless the Scottish people democratically vote to have it on the table. And then vote for it.

Again, they were never going to just piss off and it's naive to expect that they would and disingenuous that they are being undemocratic or ignoring the will of the people

So? it's hardly a surprise the SNP want Independence is it? When I said no-ones talking about it it's because that is not the focus of the GE, which is to win more seats for their MPs - and by all accounts that's going to happen.

Even if we return 59 SNP MPs, there will be no mechanism to "break up the UK", I really don't understand the fear and panic. Surely, if they do break up the UK, they'll want it to be in decent nick for going independent?

It's not as simple as a saying the no voters can just tick no again. Many of us on both sides don't want another referendum at all because it was so divisive. I personally fell out with my family over it. And it costs millions to stage a referendum.

I've voted already. I will be furious if asked to vote again.

I agree, the anti-Scottish feeling is sad, but to be honest I'm not sure what people expected after the nastiness of the referendum. Plus it's really a drop in the ocean compared to the long-term deeply-rooted anti English feeling in Scotland. I'm Scottish, by the way, and in my life have heard a constant barrage of casual anti-English sentiment north of the border and nothing of except fondness south of the border - until the referendum.

I was a no voter and now I sometimes wish it had been a yes - not because I wanted a yes at all. I think nationalism is vile actually. I just now feel it's time for Scottish politicians to stop having a finger to point and someone to whinge at. If they'd actually achieved independence, then it would be on them for once and the people of Scotland could stop with this 'Westmonster' nonsense and start taking a closer look at Sturgeon and her pals. They'd soon realise that she/they are no better and that they are no more honest and that they don't keep their promises or keep the rivers flowing with honey any more than anyone else. But to be honest I suspect even if it had been a yes, and even if people did then realise that they were actually much worse off - they'd still just whinge and blame England and say they got a 'bad deal' in the divorce. This seems to just be the way of things now.

The worst is this type of quote from poster Vivienne : "As long as Scotland was an obedient little country quite happy to be ruled by Westminster the powers that be were happy. Now things are changing they're in a panic". - it's nasty stuff that's being fed to the people of Scotland by the SNP and cybernats. 'obedient little country' and all that. Yuck. It's like this quote that kept being bandied around, 'They think that we're too wee, too poor, too stupid'. Um, nobody actually said that except the supporters of independence, and then they kept arguing against it themselves - 'Of course we're not too wee, too poor, too stupid - that's what they think' etc. Nobody thinks that - it's just being fed to stir up nasty nationalist feelings.

She was booed - it's on the internet for all to see. She's booed just as all politicians are booed.

Refusing to rule out another referendum is ignoring the wishes of the Scottish people, and we don't vote to have a referendum - that's not how it works. No-one expected them to piss off, but we did expect them to put up with the results for a generation (which is around 25 years) as they promised.

I'm not after independence. We lost and I accept that. As does the NS and she has very clearly stated that. But she will not write it off forever because it is not the right of ANYONE to do that if the will of the people change, which is what will have to happen for independence to even be on the table again.

However, in losing the referendum does that mean I have to go back to voting Labour? No - they have had their chance and SNP are a genuine alternative. So I'm voting for them an I sincerely hope that they can kick the arses of the Establishment as it's long overdue

She was asked what will would bring about a referendum and she said she "didn't know" - then blustered and bluffed about UKIP taking us out of Europe iirc.

I don't expect her to write it off forever, but as a party which presents itself as representing Scotland and democracy I do expect them to respect the promise that it was a once in a generation opportunity. A generation.