AIBU that an independent Scotland ill have to have a hard border to ensure the rest of the UK keeps control of its borders when Scotland joins theEU

[monstiebags]

Whilst I totally agree that Scotland has the right to become independent, it seems to me that they want to push though a vote without telling the people how they expect to fund themselves, what currency they will use and what trading agreement they expect to have with the UK. I really think that these things should be made clear to the rest of the UK before they are allowed their rightful vote - A weak Scotland using our currency could drag us all down with them and a soft border would encourage the continued uncontrolled migration to England via Scotland. AIBU

The rest of the UK is by far the biggest trading partner of Scotland 45billion compared to 12billion with the whole of the rest of the EU. You will be paying to trade if you separate. Your goods will become more expensive. Also you don't have the infastucture for increasing trade with Europe, you would have to pay to use UK ports etc

I know, can you imagine choosing to separate from your biggest trading partner and ploughing a massive part of your resources into organising that for years to come, just to get back to exactly where you were? We should totally listen to the UK on this, they would never do something so stupid

I'm still waiting to hear why it would be illegal to keep using sterling without agreement.

They would need to negotiate if we were to have a formal currency union. But you don't need a formal currency union to use the currency.

Just a little reminder that scotland is leaving northern ireland and wales in this scenario. Their currency too!

Yep but they'd be on Scotland's side in any negotiations. It would just turn into some massive economic ongoing rubgy international

I'm impressed the anti-referendum threads have started so early.

I love the idea of Scottish passports and taxes for the diaspora. Hopefully that will make it into one of the wee coloured books

You could negotiate with the EU to use the Euro but they would also say no.

@FizzyGreenWater

Best post of the day and it's not even 11am yet!

There is no need to negotiate with the UK for IndyScotland to use Sterling like Zimbabwe uses US Dollars. But we aren't giving those pounds away. You have to buy them. They cost a pound each.

The idea that the UK will allow IndyScotland a seat on the Bank of England board and a say in our monetary policies is something the SNP needs to move on from. It will not be entertained.

OK, clearly you have no evidence to suggest it would be illegal, otherwise you would have posted it by now.

therein lies the problem. We don't want a Tory government but it doesn't matter as we have to do what England tells us
London doesn't want a tory government either

The idea that the UK will allow IndyScotland a seat on the Bank of England board and a say in our monetary policies is something the SNP needs to move on from

They have. In April.

But would there be a UK?

As the UK is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and Great Britain consists of Scotland, Wales and England, the UK, in its current form, could not exist if Scotland pulls out. There will need to be a redefinition where it could become the United(ish) Kingdom of Northern Ireland, Wales and England. Then when a border poll leads to a united Ireland, there will need to be another redefintion.

The 1707 Acts of Union would need to be revoked.This would presumably have a follow on impact to the Anglo Irish Treaty of 1921, when the UK replaced Ireland with Northern Ireland.

And then, of course there is the issue of the flag. The union jack has the white saltire of St Andrew to represent Scotland, the red saltire of St. Patrick to represent Ireland (now reduced to NI), and the red cross of St George to represent England (poor old Wales has no representation on the flag). If Scotland secede, will the white part be removed from the flag? Then if Ireland is reunited, all you're left with is a St George's cross on a blue background.

Oh jeez... I think you are confusing legal tender, where shops etc. can accept other countries money as happens with the dollar alot. It's not that counties currency.

jeezypeeps, you could make the Euro legal tender but it wouldn't be your currency..........

poor old Wales has no representation on the flag

Who needs it, with a flag as brilliant as the one they've got all to themselves though?

No, I'm really not.

There are countries that use other currency as standard. The USD is the most common.

Are you willing to admit you were wrong?

whyamidoingthis

The 1707 Act of Union was revoked in 1801. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland remained the United Kingdom when southern Ireland left, and it will remain The United Kingdom if Scotland leaves. The legal term is secedes. And since it will be the only united kingdom in Great Britian and Northern Ireland, the name, flag and everything else will stay.

See the evidence to the UK parliament in 2014 by Prof Murkens of the LSE.

@Harpingon

We would need to negotiate for a currency union. We do not need a currency union to keep the pound. We do need to negotiate to keep the pound.

It would leave us tied to the whims of the bank of England. If we needed interest rates to fall, but they need then to rise then they would raise them... and we would need to just go with it. We would have no control, but its not illegal for us to keep using sterling as our currency. Unless you want to start actually giving evidence for that? Because all the evidence is currently against you

Any country can adopt any currency they want as their official currency. They dont get to have control over it. They are at the mercy of the bank which controls it. But they can use it all they want.

There is also the Hong Kong option of a Scottish Pound that shadows Sterling in value, similar to the old Irish Punt. But for that, you will need reserves and some standing on the global bond markets.

Jeezypeeps...... i. e......... Ecuador does not have it's own currency but the US dollar is used as legal tender. Have a little look at their economy whilst researching it and also read the SNP referendum proposal where it says to use Sterling Scotland would have to negotiate with the UK. It's very clear but you cannot argue with stupid. 😂

To use Sterling Scotland would have to negotiate with the UK.

Like, "Can we have the pounds for 50p each?"

(Answer- No)

Going to have to borrow from somewhere to get started. Try the IMF and see what they say.

Spain will lobby hard against Scotland joining the EU.

I'm still waiting to hear why it would be illegal.

Again, they would need to negotiate for a currency union. And they'd want to do that because it would be better for Scotland. They dont want to just keep using it without any formal agreement because then they'd have no say and would need to just follow what the bank of England say. They dont want to do that so, for the purposes of their manifesto, they say they will negotiate got the pound. Because that's what's best for Scotland

But what you're saying is that it would be illegal for Scotland to keep using sterling and we would need our own currency from day one. That's what you said. And that was totally incorrect.

Scotland needs to negotiate a currency union for Scotland to get good use of the sterling. But we dont need to negotiate in order to use it.

But you're right, we cant argue with stupid.

The head of the bank of England has stated "if Scotland were to try to use the British pound as their own it would need huge reserves (25% of GDP in reserves to convince the rest of the world it can credibly act as a lender should there be an emergency i. e bank collapse. That's a big no to using Sterling.
You would have a zero credit rating.

Scotland: We'll just keep the pound.

UK: Sorry you can't.

Scotland: We'll just keep the pound.

UK : Bangs head on wall.