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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to move to Scotland

96 replies

WalkingBlind · 24/06/2016 12:42

I'm actually part Scottish anyway and live literally on the border. I'm remain (I do NOT want this to be a huge remain/leave debate the decision was already made) and it seems that Scotland now intend to separate from the UK. Referendum is in the works.

I'm considering moving to Scotland before they leave to fit in with what I think will be better for my children (in my personal opinion).

Is anyone else considering doing this?

Will it be harder to do once Scotland have had their referendum?

Please no arguments about my choice of which campaign to support or "we must now all join together" comments. Thanks

OP posts:
wibblewobble8 · 24/06/2016 14:37

Live in Angus and dont recognise the Scotland Meme is talking about. There are good bits and bad bits, much i suppose like England. Certainly overall Scotland is more left leaning politics wise than England despite all the Labour/Tories insisting SNP is right wing. Education is going through a difficult patch, pretty much the same as England right now. Actually probably not as bad, havent heard about a Scottish teaching strike just yet.

TheManaha · 24/06/2016 14:38

Bye then

HappydaysArehere · 24/06/2016 14:38

If I was young I would definitely emigrate. This country has changed alright but not in a way that I am proud of. Why should the young struggle for years because of the old peopleIs decisions?

memememe94 · 24/06/2016 14:39

husky, you've pretty much described where I live (but a bit further from Edinburgh), but have you not heard of what's happened in the oil industry? Or about what's happening in many universities (Edinburgh, St. Andrews not included)? And the cuts made to the NHS in many places? I'm not asking to be goady--I'm asking a genuine question as it frustrates me how well this has been kept silent.

You're probably also in the Edinburgh bubble a bit, too.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 24/06/2016 14:49

meme I don't think it's that 'this has been kept silent'. I think it's that lots of people have different experiences and perspectives than you. We have family in every city you have mentioned (Dundee; St Andrews; Edinburgh; Glasgow) working in education and the NHS. They wouldn't recognise your dire descriptions.

The Aberdeen jobs and property market has taken a hit because of the oil industry because arguably Aberdeen's market was always artificially inflated by the oil industry in the first place.

purplefox · 24/06/2016 14:49

I'm English, I live in Scotland.

I agree with husky I really don't recognise the Scotland meme is talking about.

As for NHS cuts and teacher shortages these aren't a unique to Scotland, they're a UK wide issue.

e1y1 · 24/06/2016 14:51

I'm giving serious consideration to moving to the Republic of Ireland. Family is from there and some are still living there.

My mother, from the non-Irish side of the family, said she was off to Scotland.

loveMyWeeDog · 24/06/2016 14:58

I've lived in Scotland all my life and I also don't recognise meme's description of Scotland. I've lived in the east, west and now in the islands, went to university here and work as a nurse in the NHS and have cuts but no to that extent and no more than the rest of Britain.

todayitstarts · 24/06/2016 15:03

Me neither. Scotland is great. I take it you are an SNP-hater meme? Only they run Scotland down to such a degree

memememe94 · 24/06/2016 15:04

As I said, Scotland is still a good place to live, but everything I've said is the reality of more than myself and a few others. I want saying to not move here, but to choose your place very carefully.

I'm on my phone so can't link easily, but it's expected that 120 000 people will have lost their jobs in the oil and gas industry by the end of the year (since 2014). That's a heck of a lot of people. That doesn't include all the associated businesses that have closed down.

Look out for significant job losses from universities soon--- I know this is the case. This has been kept silent so far.

memememe94 · 24/06/2016 15:10

No, I'm not an SNP-hater. As I said in my first post, I'm not saying that any group in particular is to blame, but that things are not necessarily as wonderful here as is made out. There are pockets of affluence & if you're in the right place, things can still be great. But choose carefully and don't expect there to be no uni tuition fees if you have youngish children. Either that, or there won't be a higher education sector left.

Iggi999 · 24/06/2016 15:12

Re education, Scottish teachers always sound way happier on here than the ones in England.

ocelot41 · 24/06/2016 15:17

I am moving to Scotland in Sept - took up a job offer before Brexit happened. Very happy to be moving. The rise of the drift of English politics to the right is frightening and I can't run away from it fast enough.

memememe94 · 24/06/2016 15:18

OK, I've not said that the Scottish system is inferior. For example, i prefer the Scottish education system over the English, but it is still stretched very thinly in some parts.

I can't link to stuff about uni's because it would make me very identifiable .

ocelot41 · 24/06/2016 15:22

Meme There are job losses coming up in English universities too and Brexit means that some institutions which were struggling are likely to go under altogether. Its pretty grim in HE right now. Period.

HumphreyCobblers · 24/06/2016 15:27

The EU generally does not encourage splinter states, they may not want an independent Scotland, even if Scotland wants to join. It is all up in the air.

memememe94 · 24/06/2016 15:29

I know it's grim for HE everywhere, but overall, it's much worse up here (bar the old/rich uni's). I know becauase I work high up in the sector.

Anyway, we're getting caught up in one part of the overall picture and I can't provide you with the figures and evidence to show you how higher education in Scotland is on a cliff edge.

KatoPotato · 24/06/2016 15:30

no council housing at all

HuskyLover1 why is this a good thing?

HeffalumpHistory · 24/06/2016 15:37

I am Scottish & lived in England for 6 years. I've already discussed with my partner that I think it's something to consider & I've also started chatting to my parents about us moving back to my home town.

I'd much rather be in an independent Scotland than the fuck up England will possibly become

candykane25 · 24/06/2016 15:39

I'm half NI and I want to move there.

I don't identify with an English identity. England to too right wing for me. I don't like it and it worries me.

FlyingElbows · 24/06/2016 16:23

Mememe, my husband lost his job because the Tory government pulled the type 26 design process. His new job pays a quarter of his old one. We've spent the past 18 months living hand to mouth trying to keep the roof over our heads. I've heard about it and lived it more times than is healthy. I still don't recognise the desolate wasteland you're describing. I look out my window and I see the truly stunning country I live in. I haven't got a pot to piss in but my God it's beautiful out there. There's more to life than universities.

LadyIncuntliaButtock · 24/06/2016 16:29

memememe94 do you actually watch Reporting Scotland? It's all Jackie Bird and co like to go on about.

As for the price of oil, many of the jobs in the sector seem to have been paid grossly inflated wages, disproportionate to the skillset and like sustainability of oil moving forwards.

WalkingBlind · 24/06/2016 16:36

My move isn't necessarily desired by only the lack of EU, I'd still want to go if Scotland don't join the EU as long as they leave the UK. The thought of Boris or Gove being PM is enough to terrify me into moving away, since Cameron resigned it's something that will happen

I don't want to be associated with how right wing the country is becoming and if Trump is elected in the US and we have any kind of alliance I feel like I want to be as far away from both as possible

OP posts:
BananaChew · 24/06/2016 16:39

I don't recognise that Scotland either.

I love living here. Come join us!

RaarSaidTheLion · 24/06/2016 16:42

I grew up in Aberdeen memememe. I don't know anyone my age (early 40s) who went into the oil industry (unless they wanted to go to overseas i.e. leave) because it was common knowledge that it would tank round about now. That's why there are so many people commuting from Dundee/Moray/Newcastle.

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