Are you in favour of Scotland leaving the UK?

[LadyMaryCreepyCrawley]

Lucky bastards!

I don't want to see Scottish independence. It would lead to the rest of the UK leaning further to the right, and I don't think I could hack that.

So, for purely selfish reasons, please don't go Scotland! (clings to Scotland's ankle, sobbing).

I am pleased its only going to be one question. A 'more power for Scotland' question is just cherry picking. Looking at the Barrett formula stuff and just the basics that the infrastructure must be expensive I don't see how Scotland can manage without subsidy. There are just not enough people paying enough in. However, they are I believe factoring in the revenue from oil which again isn't right. UK money has been invested in getting the oil out of the ground so for Scotland to claim 'it's ours' is again wholly unfair. Add in their share of national debt and I am not sure it's a good plan

Scottish money has been invested in a lot of what would e English enterprises too, though...

My friend made that illustration on Flickr!

all the 'oh it's so OBVIOUS that scotland can't survive without subsidy' lot, what are you basing this on? have you read the Andrew Hughes Hallett stuff? apparently when you take into account all the taxes that scots pay directly to london (road tax etc) we REALLY, REALLY do cover our costs. REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY, using sums and maths and stuff, rather than just gut feeling.

But its like a marriage and just by walking out, it doesn't mean that there won't be a divvy up of the marital assets AND the liabilities

Completely agree.

It is wrong to pretend that a nation of c. 5 million people, with a vast heavy industry heritage (I am thinking of Glasgow, Dundee and much of the central belt) could eb anythign like Denmark in a couple fo years time

Scotland is blessed with 25% of the EU's offshore wind and tidal energy potential and this can translate into jobs and investment in the years ahead. Offshore wind alone could bring an estimated £30 billion of inward investment into Scotland and could support up to 28,000 directly related jobs and a further 20,000 indirect jobs in Scotland by 2020.
www.yesscotland.net/offshore_renewables

That is just one example.

Would those living from cradle to grave on benefits be willing to work to build this new country

This is a huge issue. Three generations of the same family being unemployed is not really acceptable. Problem is, welfare is currently a reserved matter so the Scottish Government can really only tinker around the edges.

This problem has been a long time in the making, and will be a long time in the fixing, but I think it is better done by the Scottish Government, than by a one-size-fits-all approach from Westminster.

Aaaaaawwwww. That makes me sad - don't go Scotland! Don't leave us!!

The Barrett formula excludes oil and gas revenue.

Scots will have to stop speaking English too if they leave the UK. We can veto their use of the language, they will all have to learn Gaelic quickly.

cozy

It's up to the Scots. I am English and I have no strong feelings about Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland - if they want to tag along for historical reasons, that's fine, but if they don't more fool them, just go ahead and go it alone.

maybe we'll get the auld alliance up and running again, Bonsoir, and arrange to you to be deported back to your homeland?

I fear most elected MPs share your ambivalence about the home nations outside of England.

Isn't there a part of Glasgow where life expectancy is only 54? What will Scotlands life expectancy be if it is a seperate country?

what's your point, cozy?

m.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/08/glasgow-city-where-die-young?cat=uk&type=article

Yup, it's definitely a problem, and apparently a uniquely Scottish one. It won't be fixed by cutting benefits that's for sure.

I would hope that an independent Scotland, as it would then be able to handle its own welfare, could begin to slowly address the problem in a way that Westminster can't.

I haven't decided yet but I'm veering to staying within the union, though that may change.
I have to hear all the facts on both sides.
I do think that the creation of a Scottish Parliament is the best thing that ever happened to Scotland.
I agree with another poster upthread that said we have different values, there is only one Tory MP in Wesminster, so it doesn't seem right that the Tory party can make decisions for Scotland.
I'm not anti English, my ex is from Yorkshire and my brother has lived in England with his English wife for over 25 years, I've spent loads of lovely holidays down south.

the idea that scottish people are automatically anti-english is ludicrous to the point of embarrassing. i really hope i don't have to spend the next two years prefacing every comment on this referendum with 'some of my best friends are english'...

I agree, especially as I am for independence, though technically English... So does that mean I must hate myself? ((gazes thoughtfully at navel))

SOMBFAE, but...

actually i don't know what i think about it yet. it does seem like the anti argument is just 'you scots are too shit to do this by yourself', which i instinctively doubt is true.

SOMBFAE?

SOMBFAE... it'll catch on, i swear. someofmybestfriendsareenglish.

Oops you need to get mn to add it to their acronyms lost.

Can I use IAE but...? (I Am English)

completely agree Aitch, the negativity is awful.
I have made a decision, but if I hadn't yet I think the tone of the Union campaign may have repelled me so much that I'd be voting yes almost by elimination.

I agree Aitch.
But there are always people on these threads that seem to take it personally that Scotland are voting for independence, and always start Scottish baiting.
I've never yet seen a debate on this subject that ends up well, so I sometimes feel I have to get it in first that I'm not anti English, hence mentioning my family.