SNP lay their stall out - vote for them next May, they will start negotiating to separate.

[RandomGeocache]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgknlj3vr76o

Because they have learned nothing from Brexit. I mean, it's sort of their raison d'etre, banging on about independence and it does resonate with some of their fans who believe that should Scotland separate, we'd all be loads richer. They do appear somewhat confused though - a majority in parliament is a mandate, the biggest number of MSPs is a mandate, a vote for "pro-indy" parties is a mandate.... Anyone would think they were either making it up as they go along, or hedging their bets.

Are we supposed to forget all about the incompetence, the failing NHS and education, the scandals and all the other fuck ups?

So if you don't want to separate, don't vote SNP or Green in May.

Iranian National Guard busy again by the looks of things.

Erasmus Exchange was predominantly one way, Europeans coming to uk institutions.
Hardly any Scottish students studied in Europe as part of their degree: all exclusively modern language students.

As I said in my post we tend to be very territorial.

I wonder what the Highlands would look like if the horrendous highland clearances had not happen. I’d imagine the connectivity and services would be much better:
with 30% of scotland’s population at the time living there, now it’s about 3.5%.
it was Scots (landlords) who did this to make way for their sheep and get rid of a population they probably felt they were losing control of.

yes there are a lot of chips on Scottish shoulders weighing us down and I’m fed up with the burden.

Scotland is one of the poorest countries…?!?! Nonsense.

Having said that its a lot poorer now for not having access to the EU’s match funding through LEADER etc.

What on earth are you bringing the highland clearances up for? I have noticed that it’s always the unionists that bring that up. Get over it: the past belongs in the past.

Pro-Indy folk are talking about what needs to be done in contemporary Scotland, ie legislation fit for a modern day country. It’s been proven time and time again that Westminster is not up to it. We were promised devolution-max, but we have even less powers now than we did 10 years ago (partly because of Brexit and partly because abuse Westminster wants full control and doesn’t want to share power).

So what if it was predominantly language students? Don’t we need people that master foreign languages and go on to teach them? Yes we most certainly do!

And do all language students go on to teach? No, because living abroad helps you to develop all kinds of skills, so they go on to have very varied careers.

And the EU students coming over here was very beneficial for us in Scotland - some fell in love with this country and settled here, bringing their skills and knowledge with them. We need motivated young people in Scotland, I can’t see the problem.

And do you speak for all Scots? What a load of tosh!

You are the one bringing up the clearances! I think most people in Scotland know that they live in a post-industrial, modern country. Yes we are aware of our rich heritage, but if Westminster made a better job of governing the country, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Time and time again they make a hash of things and are we supposed to sit here like it’s OK and just accept it? If the English would vote differently then outcomes for the whole country would be better but hey ho. Will they listen to us? No.

Democracy? With its Royal Family, House of Lords, miserable tabloid press, first past the post system…don’t make me laugh.

Another member of the Iranian National Guard seems to have joined us

The role the UK/British petroleum played in Iran is quite horrifying, so I’d really think twice about using that as an insult, if I were you…but whatever, feel free to insult me if I am touching a nerve.

No, I agree with you on that. I think that declaring ourselves to be a democratic country when our head of state cannot be elected or voted out - and even if somebody was desperate enough to assassinate the head of state (which I am 100% not suggesting or condoning of course), we would still end up with their son or daughter as the new HoS - is deceitful in the extreme.

However, in amongst all of what you rightly highlight, we do have some democratic process - which I personally am very much in favour of, as I abhor the alternative.

Maybe you feel differently? Maybe you would have preferred every adult in Scotland, or in NI, or in Gloucestershire, or on my own street to be randomly given 10 votes each whilst everybody else just gets 1 vote?

i do believe in democracy and the UK is generally fine and has loads of good points. I love many things about the UK and grew up with a dual identity - British and Scottish. However, the last couple of decades have been very disappointing politically, with Brexit really being the final straw.

I’ve no idea what you are referring to when you say perhaps I think people in your street should have 10 votes…? You just need to look at this thread to see what happens when there’s a mild discussion about a differing opinion on constitutional affairs - ridicule, shaming, putting words in others mouths. If this is the calibre of debate then no wonder people are drawn to another indyref.

Hardly any kids are studying modern European languages.

I would recommend reading ‘and what do you do’ by Norman baker on our monarchy, very illuminating.
lots of independence supporters continually trot out Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites, wasn’t he royalty: the grandmother of the king was Scottish wasn’t she?
I do wonder if we really want a presidency like in USA.

House of Lords have been very good at amending and scrutinising the wishes of the house of parliament: holyrood is poorer for not having a second chamber.

I mention the highland clearances as a previous poster had.
Maybe many people in the central belt and urban areas aren’t aware that rural communities are feeling very under attack at the moment; many are comparing the super pylons, solar panels, wind turbines, dirty campers, tourism, closure of schools and nhs services (SNP love centralisation) to a modern day highland clearance.

"mansplainer" lol

Johnny Foreigner not your cuppa? No surprises there! 😂

I'm not a 'justifier' of anything, but Scotlands Education is (ordinarily) leagues ahead of the rest of the uk.

Its taken a dip recently but these things fluctuate.

These things fluctuate. Its still way better over the last 10-15 years.

Sources?

I come back to what I said before; Why give the Scottish a vote if they are then ignored.

Scotland is a country, London is a CITY! I cant believe you used that comparison! lol

The Uk is NOT a democracy.

Brexit was a lie and a massive fiscal act of self harm.

And Scotland separating from rUK wouldn’t be? Ffs

This is a forum called Scotsnet, which is mainly for Scottish women. No issues with foreigners, it’s just that your opinion is totally irrelevant.

Not for Scotland, no.

How do you know?

You dont know where I live or who I am.

I could be called Elizabeth and be from Plockton. 🤣😉

(I think you do have an issue with foreigners)

And do you call it mansplaining because you think a person is Male? Would it matter if a Female said the same thing? 😉

Respectfully, you have a chip on your shoulder.

Loads of English people commenting here too, if indeed it is a Scottish page. Do their opinions matter?

This is absolute nonsense.

I've never understood Scots who prefer to stay in the union but slag off their country as if it had nothing going for it.

I'd quite like the UK to continue, but not in its current form. I can also grasp that Scotland has a lot of assets, and contributes its fair share to the UK.

I can also see that the EU would be happy to have Scotland as it would any small country in Western Europe. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason for it not to be started on the process if it were independent. That doesn't mean I want it to.

Westminster doesn't serve any of the countries well, so I'd rather energies were focused on changing that. But if politicians continue to bury their heads in the sand, it wouldn't surprise me if Scotland eventually voted to leave.

Interesting post @CrimsonStoat
yes I do think those that want the union to continue can fall into the trap of appearing to be continually slagging off Scotland.

The nationalist movement driven by the SNP has really pushed the ‘wha’s like us’ and Scottish exceptionalism.

I feel since Nicola Sturgeon took over leadership and continues today with John swinney everything has to be the opposite or is better than the rest of the U.K.:
Covid measures, harder in Scotland,: net zero targets and electric car sales to be reached earlier than the rest of U.K., free prescriptions, free higher education, baby boxes…
if you dared question the reasoning or effectiveness of any SNP ideas and laws then you were/are not a true Scot, you are not valid.

we are told not to compare ourselves with others as a measure of our success in life, so why do nationalists continually compare. This is often misleading as we are not comparing the same conditions, parameters or baselines; I think the nationalists do this on purpose to obfuscate.
in independent Scotland there is no room for questions, no debate, no differing opinions.

Media analysis and criticism have been lacking on all the actions of the SNP and their government
and were used by lazy journalists and commentators as a good easy way to challenge and berate what was going on in Westminster.

I’m afraid that so much of this is wrong that I don’t know where to start!

If this is the case, may I ask you why you think the SNP have never provided detailed financial costings explaining (without suggesting uneconomical levels of increased borrowing) how Scotland will be financed post independence , all reviewed by reputable independent scrutineers/ peer reviewed? One would think that if Scotland would be so fabulously and obviously / demonstrably better off post independence that it would be a pretty sensible thing to do, no?

Or is it that the Scottish public are expected to take it on trust that the administration run by the party that embezzled its own party funds and showed not the slightest regard to principles of accounting or financial probity in doing so will be somehow able to run the country’s finances?