To think Scotland should become independent?

[antelopevalley]

As life continues to get worse in the UK, it is time for Scotland to go independent. We need to build a forward-looking country that invests in its future, rather than the backward-looking country the UK has become that prioritises the rich. It is time for Scotland to separate from the UK and become that country.

It beats me why you want to stay in a country - the UK - that only works to benefit the rich.
So much money wasted during covid, so much fraud by big business.
Even the current budget deficit could be halved if HS2 was scrapped.
The issue is not about money, it is about how it is spent. We need a forward-looking independent Scotland. And I think it will happen.
Life is going to get much worse, at some point people will vote for hope.

This jumped out at me:

Note that in particular spending was higher due to the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

I voted for independence at the last referendum. The current legistlative attack on the rights of women and girls mean that I will vote against it at the next referendum if/when that happens. There are other reasons too, but that's my line in the sand.

Contrary to what people often claim, there is no reason to believe that Scotland will simply swan back into the EU given established procedures and the right of other members states to veto it.

I'm also surprised that OP having lived here 'since the summer' feels able to confidently state that she knows what's best for the whole of Scotland, a very diverse country in terms of geography, economy and infrastructure.

I hope people understand that it costs more to deliver services to remote communities and in particular those on the islands. The majority of people in Scotland (around 80%) live in the central belt and they will get less spent on them per head of population compared to the remote communities. I really hope people here when complaining about the amount spent in Scotland are not saying that just because you live on an island you shouldn't get access to healthcare and education. Also, for those that like to holiday in the highlands but have a serious accident - you then tend to have to get a helicopter to rescue you and take you to hospital. This all costs much more.

@Redbushteaforme 💯!

My only caveat: no SNP rule in an independent Scotland. I want a fairer Scotland, with a green economy, land reform and the safeguarding of the rights of women and girls.

I live in England and I too think that Scotland should become independent. We have had 12 years of this shitshow of a government and it doesn't look like things will improve. Or they'll ever get voted out. The UK is just going to become worse in terms of quality of life and being able to access basic necessities like health care.

I'd miss you but the Scottish do seem to be more progressive, liberal and open minded so I think you deserve better.

All the best!!

Stupid woman/man; in terms of what Scotland contributes there's nothing unfair about it.

If you want to look unfairness look at what NI gets per head.

Thanks @ILoveXmasChocsInNov
It always amazes me how much MN hate the SNP and yet in real life people keep voting for them.
Scotland will become independent.

Are you 12 OP? Seriously? You make the arguments of my 12 year old daughter! Selling water to England? Jeez!

I suggest you do some serious research, and look at the opinions of serious economists about what they think an Indy Scotland’s economy would look like. It might be an eye opener for you!

@Americano75

Figures for other years are available. For instance 2018/19 Scotland's income including share of North Sea oil was £66b, but it received £81b. These figures are available on the Scotland Government website.

I voted against independence the first time and will do the same for any future referendum. NS talks about joining the EU, keeping sterling etc, but she conveniently leaves out how that is possible and any timescale required.

Because of the Barnett formula, the Treasury provides about 85% of our total budget. From figures in 2019, Scotland continued to outspend other UK countries, except for Northern Island. (My relatives and friends in England are astonished that we get free prescriptions).

Those putting their hopes on taxes from Oil & Gas don't realise that we have ageing/depleted oil fields that are getting more difficult and expensive to work. The average age of our oil rigs is 29 years compared to 4 years in some countries. New North Sea fields require significant investment, but there are other parts of the world where the returns are higher, plus there are issues regarding the use of fossil fuels.

Regarding whisky, Japan is now producing award winning whisky, and Korean soju is the world's most consumed spirit, so the growth market for Scottish whisky is not assured.

If you already know all this OP and still feel the same about independence, then use your head a bit more. The people I have spoken to who are in favour of independence admit it's a heart over head thing because they know that independence will mean higher taxes and they are willing to accept the sacrifice.

I do want Scotland to go independent yes as there will then be more money for England and Wales. Scotland gets more per capita in state spending than England and Wales does and as a South Wales resident I would like that money to be spent on our deprived areas, not Scotland's.

Over half of Scottish employment relies in some way on Westminster and it would be good to get lots of those jobs for ourselves too.

The Scots clearly don't want to be part of the UK and that's fine. I don't know why the Government doesn't give them another referendum asap so we can crack on with it, as Scottish independence will be good for them and good for us too.

The Scot’s clearly do want to still be part of the UK. That’s what all the polling tells us!

we’re not stupid!

Absolutely but as other links on the thread show they don't tell full story. However, if we are such a massive financial drain then surely Westminster will jump at the chance to offload us this time?

Me, I voted Yes last time but still not sure how I would vote again. I do know last time was horrible to live through, the media did a fine job of convincing the people of England that Scots hate their guys, or at least enforcing the myth that we do. The resulting vitriol was awful.

That makes no logical sense.

Independence is the best shot we have of getting someone other than SNP voted in!

Yes, and it will!!

@antelopevalley Scotland can't just rejoin the EU. To do so 1st we would need to create a new currency and central bank (we don't have either) then we would need to reach the economic requirements to join the euro (as all new EU members must adopt the euro) after that we would need to then change our currency to the euro. The financial turmoil that just setting up our own currency let alone changing currency twice will make it impossible for Scotland to meet the financial requirements for joining the euro for decades.
Most Scottish people don't want independence nor did we vote for the SNP infact they are a minority government that is being propped up by the greens (no directly elected MSPs all in by proportional representation).
If you think things are so good up here compared to England you clearly haven't got a child in school or tried to use the NHS, or even realised that under nichola Stergons government you have no right to single sex spaces or care even asking to have a biologically female rape councilor will have you branded a hateful transphobic bigot. Not to mention the fact that if you don't affirm your child's self declared trans identity (against all medical advice) which is actively promoted in Scottish schools from age 4 the school will change your child's name and sex at school behind your back and report you to social services (has been done multiple times already).
Scotland is under the control of a dangerous power hungry dictator by the name of nichola Stergeon who is rapidly turning our once proud country into a failed state. Look at the drugs death rates (the worst in the EU) or the alcohol related deaths or the fact that hamza yousef (sp) has had to put the army on notice to help with the NHS.
Quite frankly your talking out of your backside and clearly have no clue about what's going on up here.
Also if you are English why do you believe that you would have the right to reside in an independent Scotland without having to apply for a visa or permanent residency?

The EU wants contributors not takers. Scotland joining as an independent nation would take out a lot more than it could put in - therefore I doubt the EU would be that keen. It lost a huge amount of money when the UK left, its not likely to want to spend out more for very little if not zero return 🤷‍♀️

I'd miss you but the Scottish do seem to be more progressive, liberal and open minded so I think you deserve better. I'm a Scot who has lived in England most of my life and now has homes in both. This statement is completely untrue. You're mistaking outward friendliness for open mindedness.

The sooner Scotland gets away from the shitshow that is the UK, the better, and sooner or later it is going to happen.

So many people bleating on about fairness -> Scotland didn't vote to leave the EU, was that fair? Scotland hasn't voted tory since the 50s and yet we are being dragged down with the rest of the UK by the most incompetent shower of wankers in living memory, is that fair?

Fundamentally I live in a country where my democratic choices are overridden by the votes of people who don't even live here. That's the crux of the matter.

And, for the hard of thinking, an independent Scotland doesn't necessarily mean an SNP government. In fact, it's more than likely that they would lose a significant amount of power if independence did happen.

I would say that not paying for their free prescriptions and university education would probably balance that out 🤷‍♀️

Could I just check, what tax does the UK get from Scottish whisky?

Cause a heck of a lot of Indy supporters seem to think there is something called export tax, which there isn’t.

Really? we are paying them billions in future payments for years to come.
The UKs contribution to the EU budget was actually quite small and tiny in comparison to the GDP of the bloc.

Of course Scotland should (if they want) choose independence, they have great natural resources & would do really well.

I find refusing a vote very strange, the longer the Govt deny, the more likely Scotland will want to break away.

ILoveXmasChocsInNov, the SNP have been very clever positioning Scotland as more progressive, liberal and open minded than ruk. We're really not. Culturally, we're pretty much on par.