To wonder if differences between Scotland and rUK are generally known?

[weescotlass]

I see lots of posts about UK and British issues, that seem to refer to England only.

Is it generally understood that Scotland was a separate country pre 1707 and already had its own legal and education system in place, which were retained on the creation of the United Kingdom?

Therefore house buying, school exams, wills, divorce, university degrees, criminal law, policing etc have real distinct differences.

Are people who use the term UK not aware of the differences when refering/advising on something that affects England only?

Genuinely interested and not meaning to cause an argument. I find the differences really interesting, things like inheritance law when people ask about wills, or issues when a buyer pulls out of buying a house. I don't want to comment on new/current controversial legislation!

Plus wildcamping is legal I think? That's tricker in England too

Also, in England you have to be resident for 14 days before your wedding, making it harder for people to come to England for destination weddings. It also applies to British nationals if they have been living abroad. There is no residency requirement in Scotland. I know this as I got married in the UK when I lived in Hong Kong and didn’t have enough holiday entitlement to spend 2 weeks in England before my wedding and still have a honeymoon afterwards! So I got married in Scotland instead.

Scottish juries consist of 15 members whereas in England, Wales and Northern Ireland they consist of 12.

Yes a minister/registrar/humanist celebrant can marry you up a mountain, on a a beach or wherever (no registry office service required). I'm the past it was very common to have a (religious) wedding in a hotel or manse, rather than a church.

What's the law on humanist weddings in England - are they legal in their own right or does there have to be a registry office as well?

We'd better not get on to religion or we'll be here for days on Church of Scotland/Free Church and various break away denominations 😂

I think I only know much about the differences because of having visited Scotland the number of times I have over the last 30 or so years. Had I not, I expect I would not know a lot of them. It has made me careful to express things as applying to England or England and Wales only where it applies.

Unless it’s been mentioned already we have a much lower drink driving limit…it’s basically “just dinnae” (22mcg as opposed to 35mcg)

Yep one drink and you are over the limit. So just dinnae.

If it makes you feel any better I live in a Commonwealth country, and never thought like that - even as a child.

Age of criminal responsibility is 12 in Scotland compared with 10 in ruk

Even then 12-16 year olds will go to the children's panel instead of court and that's soon to rise to 18.

Scots can marry at 16. Ruk is 18 unless they travel to Scotland. Hence Gretna Green.

Scottish young people can vote at 16 in council elections and for the Scottish parliament.

What's the law on humanist weddings in England - are they legal in their own right or does there have to be a registry office as well?

I think you still need the registry wedding too at the moment although they have been discussing making humanist ones legal recently.

We had our humanist wedding almost 6 years ago in Dundee and the number of people in wedding groups telling me it wouldn't be legal was crazy. Our celebrant has married people in all sorts of places too, I'm sure shortly before ours she had one on a beach in NE Scotland. I don't know if I would have wanted to take that risk with the weather. Could have been blown away.

Americans are people from the United States of America. North Americans are people from any country in North America. South Americans are people from any country in South America, and Central Americans are people from any country in Central America.

I mean, what else would you call people from the US? States-ians? Canadians or Brazilians can be “Americas” when they’ve got “America” in the name of their countries.

I haven't caught up with the whole thread but Scottish folks going any further South than Yorkshire run the risk of being treated like a criminal when they try to pay for something with a Scottish bank note.

I remember being in a pub down south and the manager having a hissy fit at the barmaid as there was 'funny money' in his till and fingers were pointed in our direction🙄.

If you are as old as me, you'll maybe remember shop keepers holding notes up to the light to check the security features, I used to stand at the till and copy them when they handed over my change 🤣

Honestly, I just assume everyone on here is in London. It’s only when someone will comment, ‘are you in England/Scotland’ then I remember that people obviously live outside of London.

For me, it’s just what I’m used too and where I’ve always lived. When I lived in Kent for a year, I just assumed everyone else on the internet was in Kent also! It sounds so silly written down but my brain doesn’t think about these sort of things properly unless I actually stop for a second.

I try not to give advice on things for these specific reasons. Imagine giving someone advice on laws based in England and you’re giving them the wrong info!

Scottish notes aren't legal tender anywhere in the UK, including Scotland!

There's too much assumption that what happens in England = happens in the rest of the UK's 3 nations too.
It bugs. A lot!

Scottish person here - I genuinely don't know how any society can function without (ha!) the word outwith???!

Another one for James the 7th and 2nd (and 8th and 3rd to up the controversy level. Keep those water jugs off the table at Buckingham Palace now...)

When we pass through Gateshead, everyone in the car points out "The Angel of the North of England" - to give it it's geographically correct term. Obviously in a UK context it's actually " The Angel of the East".

Pardon?

Partdon?

@Heather37231 resident in UK rather than just England?

I ask as I got married in England but live in Scotland ...... imagining my marriage is null and void after 18 years 😂

wild camping is legal but some areas you need a permit to camp.

Debit cards aren't legal tender anywhere in the UK. It only means someone can demand payment of debt by legal tender instead.

It is usually obvious when a poster is Scottish by their writing style, much more so than Northern Irish or Welsh. It is easier if the OP actually clarifies when asked though. In reminded of the idiot in Canada talking about Italian inheritance from a steo mother, who wouldn't even clarify what country her dad actually died in, only wanted advice to waste her inheritance on lawyers and destroy remaining sibling relationships.

Good question! I can’t remember, must be UK but good luck with that!

I don’t have a prob with Scottish bank notes but that’s in the civilised south of England 😂

I really had no idea until I read shuggie Bain I learned about role of religion in Scotland. I feel clueless