How is it now?

[wellhelloyou]

I've not lived in Scotland now for nearly three years. Really really want to move back but need to save up money/work out a lot of logical things for the family etc..

Can I ask, I've been watching the political situation from afar and wondered what the 'general' feeling is in Scotland these days? I'm not looking to open a heated BREXIT or Indyref post, more just interested in people's opinions if it's a bit of same as always or general feeling has changed since the GE? I know no-one can speak for 'everyone' but just interested to hear if you feel things have changed since I left nearly three years ago or just a case of same old same old.....

My OH thinks I'm mad to want to move back, especially with the political climate... I just love Scotland, it's my true home and despite everything going on I would just prefer to be back for many many reasons....

Do you mind me asking what it's like working for CoEC @happycamper11?

I was offered a part time temping role there quite a few years ago but ended up taking a role in Fife. Do you enjoy it? I've heard it's not a bad place to work. Which dept are you in?

I'm under children and families (schools). Currently in a school in a very deprived area and it's eye opening but the provision for the children is excellent. There is the usual eye rolling over council policies slowing things down but over all they are a reliable employer. Lots of long term and dedicated business managers and senior management team who are supportive. I think staff turnover is a good way to judge

I live more rurally happy camper, where there are very few buses, and no rail services, so lots will be affected by us. (Especially teachers - the school is the biggest employer in our small town by some way, and we already have teacher shortages)

I don't see how rural schools will be affected though. I for one don't even use the school car park neither do most of the staff at DC's school. Isn't this for congested city centres?

It’s up to the individual councils to choose, so yes, it may well not make a difference, but potentially it could.

it's a lovely place - I don't know if I'd move back if I could choose again though, with Scotland looking closely split on independence and a lot of high feelings on both sides, so I agree with your DH - if Scotland does go independent there will certainly be tough financial years ahead. We didn't realise the strength of nationalist feeling when we moved here, we've been here 10 years and the division doesn't go away. That said, countries you can move to with boring, safe politics these days are few and far between, you pick your poison!

What @MakeMineALargeProsecco said. We are all just getting on with our lives.

The parts of the NHS we use aren’t perfect but they are better than down south. Our kids get a great free education. Where we live is safe.

Yes, at least we don't have sodding commissioning in the NHS like down south (that in my view is the beginning of the end of the NHS).

I'd say it's much the same. My OH who has a good instinct for political feeling (predicted Brexit result, Trump election and BJ end up as PM about 3 years ago) reckons Brexit has put people off Scots independence. He was a yes vote last time but thinks the Brexit mess has just highlighted how complicated it would be.
Generally the Scottish economy has been doing okay, house prices increasing at faster rate then UK as a whole for example. Brexit may have a bigger impact here though post December 2020.

If you really want to live somewhere that has to count for a lot! None of us can predict the future.

My thoughts though -

In the UK have a stable Westminster majority for the next few years.
This will provide the SNP with plenty of fuel to add to their fires.

Things feel quiet at the moment however the party with the grassroots support and the discipline is the SNP.
The opponents of independence do not have a united front. They have no ongoing campaign that I have noticed. Individuals express concern to me but they have nowhere in the public sphere to coalesce.

When I heard figures in 2014 there were something like 60% of the population here who would go independent if it wasn't for money worries. Sadly can't link to that - I heard it on the radio I think! But it fits in with my experience. Not that many are actually PRO union.

A majority of young people I know seem to feel independence is the right idea too.

So on this basis I personally assume Scotland will continue to move to some form of separation despite the current appearance of stability.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to write your thoughts. Really intriguing and interesting read.

Possiblity feel more support for independence has increased as huge drop in Labour at last election ( as you'll be aware!) Who knows.
Massive drop in violent crime here where sadly it's gone the other way down South.
School attainment fund here where schools are given £ for each pupil who is on school meals, head spends as they wish to help raise attainment/ level playing field with more well off .
You'll never get an unqualified teacher employed as a teacher in Scotland whereas you do down south. My friend workstells me so many horror stories.

*Sorry trying to type whilst feeding a bubs!
Anyway yeah lots of horror stories from down South - people employed as teachers with no qualifications and never written a lesson plan! Don't think parents are aware as it's not publicised or maybe don't mind? My friend's head of dept and shocked after moving to London from Scotland.
NHS is performing much much better here compared to England and Wales which I feel you also care about with a lot of wee ones as if they're anything like mine, injuries/ A and E visits are frequent !
Welcome back (hopefully) :)

Also , did you say you have three children? As long as the SNP stay in power, you'll be saving about £90k in education fees if they decide to go to university here.
England's an amazing country too, just has a government which wrong priorities.

Why do the SNATS compare the situation with England? I'm Scottish and staying here to vote for my dream of getting rid of the SNP followed by getting rid of Holyrood.

I don't care what the situation is in England I care about the shithole SNATS are making of my country.

There are teacher shortages - it’s not all great under the SNP.
Yes, there aren’t tuition fees, but there is a reduction in places for Scottish students as they need the money from paying students.
I agree the comparisons with England aren’t helpful - the population here is much less so you would expect the NHS to cope better.

I thought the original poster was potentially moving from England? Apologies if I picked that up wrong.

Also there's no reduction in places for Scots students due to paying students taking their place.
A Scots student would never miss out on a place simply because it's gone to a fee paying student instead. It is capped just like any course as you could never just have everyone on it and of course it allows free tuition however the number of Scots attending uni is at a near record high.
There's not really nationwide teacher shortages anymore. In terms of covering if off sick, yes, but not long term.

*Really not trying to start a 'love/hate SNP' convo - just mentioned them as they may not stay in power so may not have free education in the future. :)

There are conequences of not charging any form of tuition fees as a large income stream isn't available and there are caps on funded places at university. The Scottish Parliament Information Centre provides a good breakdown on 'The Price of Free Education in Scotland.'

The section 'Unintended consequences?' is exacty what happened to a member of my family 4 years ago. There final school results were far lower than what was predicted, they still met the basic uni requirements but couldn't get a funded place. Their parents were willing to pay the tuition fees but they were not permitted to do so. In the meantime they appealed their school results which were subsequently reviewed and changed to the high marks they were originally predicted. The original marks released to them were low passes/fails and the reviewed marks were high A/B level grades. Massive difference!

However, this family member really hadn't wanted to wait for the results of the appeal to see if they could reapply for a place in Scotland, so subsequently went to an English univeristy instead.

Basically there are pros and cons of any education system, just approach it as cynacily as you would do anything else.

If their results were lower they wouldn't have got any place. So if they were from outwith Scotland likely they would've been knocked back too.

It's right that you couldn't just say then- well I'll throw money at it and expect acceptance on a course with poor grades.

If they weren't As or B's they must've been Cs or Ds if dramatically lower? and most universities would not accept this straight off. Strange what happened if changed - must've been error in certificate being sent out to wrong person or something?!

Looked at that website- I know it says uncapped places for non Scottish but surely that's not reality as each course takes certain amount of pupils!

Most of this article requires you to log in or register but you can read the pertinent beginning.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/01/01/15000-scots-miss-university-place-snp-government-cap-criticised/

Of course places for scottish students are capped. The universities are a business and they can't run that business on less than £2k per year per student. It's simple economics. Scottish students are losing out on spaces at university because of the SNP caps.

Obviously the SNP supporters are doing what they are supposed to be doing which is pushing the agenda at every opportunity. I don't know how all my family and friends vote, the only people that want to tell you who they support and obviously tell you why you are wrong and just "don't understand"/"are brainwashed", are SNP supporters.

There is an element of echo chamber about it and some of the current memes going around from SNP support sites are getting more and more ludicrous.

Anyway, don't want to get overly political, just saying that things and situations aren't always the way they appear and the non SNP supporters are a lot less vocal but at the end of the day, their vote counts just the same.

Agree Wax. You are spot on with the points you make.😀

My first degree's a 2:1 economics degree from GU and I've got a diploma from CISI but as I'm unable to understand 'basic economics' as well as being 'brain washed';

over and meet out from me!

Hope everything works out well for original poster regardless of what she decides.

I'm hoping to move back home soon too, so I shall read everyone's comments with interest. I've been away since 2005.