Discuss your views of the Scottish Referendum with the UK government NOW CLOSED

[MichelleMumsnet]

With fewer than 200 days to go until the Scottish referendum, UK Government has produced the latest edition, in a series of information packs, focussing on money and the economy in the context of the independence debate.

Read more: Scottish independence referendum: Money and the economy.

UK Government wants to find out what Mumsnetters' views are of the Scottish referendum coming up in September. When it comes to the prospect of Scotland going it alone and possible impacts on the economy, like changes in currency and taxes, what are your views? Whether you're Scottish or not we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Danny Alexander, Chief Secretary to the Treasury says, "As part of the UK the Scottish economy is growing, inflation is down and more people are in work. By remaining part of the UK, Scottish industry and jobs will be protected by the generous freeze on duties on spirits and the £3bn tax break for oil and gas industries we announced at the Budget, as well as the big cuts in income tax helping 2 million Scottish workers.

This new pack sets out some key facts people in Scotland need to know before the referendum in September. I urge everyone to read up on the facts and understand the true benefits being part of the United Kingdom brings to Scotland."

Mumsnet will be hosting various content and activity in the run up to the referendum from all sides of the debate, so do keep a look out for these in the coming months.

Thanks,

MNHQ

www.shetnews.co.uk/features/scottish-independence-debate/8290-independence-wading-through-the-arguments

Just come across this piece which seems pretty on topic!

Interesting article, randompants.

I would disagree with her on this point though: To suggest that the referendum debate is about anything other than democracy is a fallacy.

We already live in a democracy. We have a system of government which entitles everyone over 18 (not in prison) the chance to elect their own representatives.

We do have to think about democracy, leadership, political voice, representation etc, but we've also got to think about the bigger picture. What are we sacrificing?

My reasons are voting 'no' is that I believe Scotland would be sacrificing too much to reach its ideal. I understand and I really would like to believe all of the emotional argument, but I want the security of the UK.

What kind of security, Santana ? Do you mean in economic terms? Or defence? Or something else?

We will take our share of the debt, because we'll be in a currency union and use the £. If the three main WM parties stick with their lie that that is impossible, and cut their own throats and trash the rUK economy by refusing CU, (for whatever bizarre reason, there may be money to be made by their pals, I suppose) we cannot take that share. We can hardly be expected to carry on paying for assets we don't own.

However, after we vote yes, they will back down; and they won't veto EU membership either. There seems to be a curious assumption that while iScotland will be cast out, rUK (which will also be a new country) will just carry on as per usual. There is no precedent for this, and no basis for that assumption, so certainly no basis to assume they'll have the right to any veto.

It's just another threat. Now, that positive case for the union?

The three main political parties have ruled out a currency union. UK opinion polls are highly against it. It would a monumentally embarrassing climb down after all of the UK government's published research on the matter. Furthermore, I highly dislike risking my future on a game of chicken.

Westminster is really not 'cutting its throat', nor trashing the economy. The rUK does twice as much business with the USA as it does Scotland. Should they use the dollar? Why haven't they adopted the Euro, because that's four times as much of rUK business?

Why wouldn't RUK carry on as usual?

There are many countries who will be watching this very closely- Spain, with Catalonia, Italy with Venice (about 25 arrests have just been made over Venice's online Indy poll), and the others constantly mentioned.

The positive case for a no vote?

1. The pound. Guaranteed.
2. Being part of a larger economy, which can absorb all of the fluctuations of the world markets.
3. An integrated fiscal system.
4. I like being British! I loved the Olympics and I was glued to the Royal Wedding. I read the SoVeryBritish twitter page and cry laughing.
5. Being part if the UK gives us a better world platform, for example, the EU opt outs.

Now, my DD is currently trying to do a rolly polly off the sofa, so I must run!

The three main political parties will swallow their embarrasment, or send rUK to the dogs. It's a massive bluff, perpetrated by Darling; have a look at today's Sunday Herald.

Why would the rUK go to the dogs? The majority of rUK trade is not with Scotland, and Scotland takes more out than it puts into the tax pot. And they still trade with euro and dollar countries perfectly fine, as someone has pointed out.

I am undecided but I'm not convinced by the bluffing argument.

Today's Herald- the memos? Hmm, it's not particularly good, but I don't think it's a sign of a bluff. Look at the Scotland Analysis. It's not in rUK's interest.

The three main political parties will swallow their embarrassment, or send rUK to the dogs

And you talk about scaremongering! Have you any actual figures to back this up, which don't come from yesscotland, businessforscotland,wingsoverscotland etc?

People have given a number of positive reasons for staying in the UK throughout the thread. YESsers can't just stand back chanting 'positive?' when great swathes of their campaign is based on very fundamental negatives!

I fully expect the aspirations for an independent Scotland to be just that, but you can't wail 'oh, the negativity' at anyone who dares to offer a criticism of the terms offered, or who identifies anything that may be sacrificed if we are no longer part of the UK.

If one good thing is coming out of this debate, it is the focus on electoral reform. I have been a member of ERS for years and I would highly recommend their report on Scottish democracy. ( www.electoral-reform.org.uk/democracy-max/ ).

I know I keep repeating it, but whether we use the £ or not is not really the issue...the issue will be in the conditions placed on that deal!

I know I keep repeating it, but whether we use the £ or not is not really the issue...the issue will be in the conditions placed on that deal!

Completely agree. In the event of a yes vote everything is up for negotiation, both sides have some pretty powerful levers.

No CU would be bad for rUK because, with current credit rating already having been downgraded, rUK's acceptance of 100% of the debt while losing 10% of it's economy can only lead to further downgrading. This in turn would lead to higher borrowing costs (watch your mortgages, credit card interest rates soar) and a downward spiral will ensue. Professor Muscatelli, writing in the Financial Times points out further disadvantages to rUK; extra transaction costs for businesses, reducing economic growth... He sums it up as "economic vandalism".

As for The Sunday Herald's story re CU not being evidence of a bluff, how about Professor Leslie Young's devastating critique of the Treasury letter that purports to set out the reasons for Osborne et al's stance that "there will be no CU"? (And I can't wait to see Part B of that Report, which doesn't seem to have been published yet.)

These people are lying to you, to your face. Why on earth would you continue to trust them with our future, our children's future?

These people are lying to you, to your face. Why on earth would you continue to trust them with our future, our children's future?

As are the SNP in their white paper. You can see the problem can't you...

I'm not going to vote. Don't see the point. All we will end up with is more of the same anyway. Different cheeks of the same arse.

I've spoken to very, very few people who are not voting. Thank goodness. This is really not just any other election.

I'm not going to vote. Don't see the point. All we will end up with is more of the same anyway. Different cheeks of the same arse

Please do vote! This referendum is going to be incredibly close, and cheesy as it sounds every vote does count! And if we get a yes vote then your vote will always count in elections and Scotland will get the government it votes for rather than the government the SE England votes for (admittedly it may not be the government you or I want).

These people are lying to you, to your face. Why on earth would you continue to trust them with our future, our children's future?

As are the SNP in their white paper. You can see the problem can't you...

Where are the lies in the White Paper? I genuinely don't remember any? There is a lot of opinion and wishes and cherry picking of facts but I don't remember any lies.

My problem is that there are too many answers left unanswered.

Silly me.. I meant too many questions left unanswered.

My problem is that there are too many answers left unanswered

Yup. There are no certainties. All one can do is voraciously read whatever one can, from every source and make a choice based on balance of probabilities. Its pretty terrifying whichever way you choose to jump.

Trouble is, How do we know what we read is true. Politicians cannot be trusted that's for sure. It scares me. All this is causing a deep split in our country. I had to delete a friend from FB recently because she was getting far too hot headed and letting this debate cloud our friendship. I had to do it because she was being nasty towards my hubby who happens to be English. She found it offensive that he could vote. It is ripping this country apart.

Seriously? There has been loads and loads of discussion about this amongst my facebook friends, some of it fairly heated, but nothing that nasty. Haven't seen anything like that on the Yes Scotland or Better Together facebook pages either. But maybe they're moderated out. I think I would suggest that it is your 'friend' who's very strange. This is not at all reflective of the country as a whole.

ImogenJH I do sympathise. My sister is rabidly 'yes' and is always trying to goad me. She suspects I do not agree with her, but I refuse to be drawn in and state how I plan to vote, as I do not want a family argument. So every time I see her, it is 'goad, goad, niggle, niggle'. I just have to ignore her and rise above.

I do not like divisions, I would prefer us all to get along and respect each others differences. I just hope that the decision reached in September is respected and then we can let it go. Whatever side does not get its way will have to be grown up and accept the decision as the will of the people, or it really will just cause more strife.

No, I wouldn't insinuate for a second that it is representative of Scotland as a whole. Although various sites attract different sorts of debate. I stopped reading 'The Scotsman' comments lately because it was becoming just plain nasty.

Lies in the White Paper? Proof, please, from unbiased sources?

Do you really not see how serious this is? All three main political parties in WM lied, barefaced, repeatedly, about the issue that they themselves have identified as one of the most important, if not even the most important, in this Referendum debate. On top of lying to us about our oil and gas industry for 40 years - see the 1974 McCrone Report - and decrying us as "subsidy junkies", all the while squandering the wealth that could have raised hundreds of thousands of UK children out of poverty over the past decades, lining the pockets of their wealthy pals... And you want more of the same? My flabber is truly gasted.

Another thing for me. I live over the border in Scotland. My hubby works in England. You could say he is a International commuter.

Please, somebody explain the total confusion and chaos that could reign in our lives should a currency union not happen. We would have to head south of the border I'm sure.

Although various sites attract different sorts of debate. I stopped reading 'The Scotsman' comments lately because it was becoming just plain nasty

God yes! Avoid avoid avoid the comments sections off all news sites - it seems to attract the scariest fundamentalists from both sides, and someone always shouts, "Nazis!" about 10 posts in.