to think that if scotland and ireland where independent countries we can all pay at least half the amount of tax.

[bluegreysky]

in england we would all be better off as we wouldn't need to pay anywhere near as much tax, to support scotland and ireland's finacial dependence.

im sick of the way they bleat on about wanting to be there own country and independent.
and the scotish kids getting uni free, funded by us etc.

what do you think?

... and* when calculating public expnsiture per head, they also include a lot of the London?SOuth East infrastrucutre as part of the "national Benefits".

For example, we get no/little benefit form the Channel Tunnel, yet had to pay for it

If Scotland had been able to use its oil and set up an Oil reserve like Norway did/does, rather than bankrole the whole UK enconomy, then we woudn't have such a public sector dependent economy.

And if we are such a drain on resources, why make such a big deal about not wanting to break of the Union?

I think, and please correct me if I am wrong here, that we 'bankroll' the UK.

Manxmum - but are you part of the UK or just the British Isles?

Don't know if that was at me Manxmum, but RoI is not part of the UK....

I am often stunned that people here know so little about the country they live in. The United Kingdom is confused with the landmass of Great Britain. I have often heard people express surprise that there is a different currency in the republic of Ireland.

How is it possible that anyone can leave primary school knowing so little about their own homeland and neighbouring countries? It means they know next to nothing about the history of the UK and even less about its geography. Anyone capable of learning to read and write should understand at least that much.

I presume you mean Scotland and Northern Ireland, but why do you think England is supporting us. We pay our N.I and taxes as well.

British Isles, but not UK. Our fuel tax goes straight to the UK government and we get a small percentage returned.

Not aiming at anyone WS, just wanted to make my point!

I am presuming that Manxmaum comes from the Isle of Man!

I was just hearing to day that the big Finance Companies (can't remember the ane of the example I was given) are now pulling all their millions of debts due to the credit crunch into the City of London. That was they won't have to pay any corporation tax for years ( and years and years) to come

zero corporation tax here

i am scottish.

are we not welcome on here now

probably have to pay more, wouldn't england lose revenue from scotlands' oil?

i'm scottish too, pretty sad that someone has to create this kind of an argument just to get attention.
it's obviously working!!

but that's because it was set up that way, and has been unfair since the beginning. hands off our oil etc.
bluereyskies really seems to like a ruck, doesn't she? not a troll, just someone with permanent pmt and a loose grasp of irish history.

And perhaps we can invest the taxes we save in giving people like bluegreysky a better standard of education, perchance? Extra maths, geography and spelling homework for a start.

Oh yes, Scotland and Northern Ireland begged to be invaded, didn't they? Bog off.

Did WE not have to "try out" crappy poll tax before anyone else in the UK, like some kind of lab rats? I have never been anti- English but you could make me reconsider bluegreysky.

P.S At the Scottish university I attended, I was largely outnumbered by English students, many of whom felt our Scottish school qualifications were rubbish. It always amazed me they failed to see the irony of seeking out a Scottish higher education.

I am not Scottish - but at least the school system there does tend to give pupils a broader knowledge base. The English system seems to encourage pupils to think themselves educated when they know a very little about one or two subjects. Though, every primary school pupil should at least understand what country they live in and have some basic knowledge of its geography and history!

I was on a train last week and the people sitting beside me were talking about the band U2 and how they were disgusted with them for recording the song "Sunday, bloody Sunday". It was obvious they did not actually have any understanding what the song related to. With such astounding ignorance on the part of the general public here - I worry that parties like the BNP can spread whatever nonsense they like and be believed.

Gosh, yes, bluegreysky - let's give it a go. I mean, given that the Conservative Party doesn't have much of a say in Scotland, they must be super-keen to get rid of it, mustn't they? Seriously - READ SOME BOOKS.

YABU....and have no grasp of economics. Not that mine is any better, but what an overly simplistic view of the country. And why is wales spared your jingoistic rantings?

and also bear in mind that the scottish landscape was carved up by the English and that most landed gentry there are, erm, actually English by descent.

Wales, apparently, Knows Its Place, Daisy.

Oh bluegreysky you really are very naughty. You started a very controversial thread on CS's the other day and now you have my back up again. As a Scot of Irish decent married to an English/ Welsh chap, my gut tells me that if there are enough people with opinions like you, not only am I going to leave Scotland and move to Siberia, I will live in a cave so that I can avoid these small minded opinions. Boring.

Bluegreysky..please tell us you know the difference between the North and South of Ireland!!!!

While keeping in mind that parts of Donegal are further to the north than Northern Ireland...