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

aroseforme yes totally agree - the situation with the curriculum It is so scary, and personally, I would like my children to actually study world history as well as Scottish history - the curriculum is so weighted towards Scotland that we run the risk of totally isolating children from important world history - my ds in secondary is now studying the Scottish wars of Independence for the third time yet has no idea why the USA is not in the Commonwealth, what the Commonwealth IS, or has any clue about WW1 but has studied WW2 TWICE - both times with a major Scottish slant. EVEN HIS HISTORY TEACHER COMMENTED ON THE 'links' they gave to make comparing and contrasting ancient societies with modern day Scotland, rather than just learning about history and looking at genuine, not contrived links. I remember studying in America many years and it was scary how insular the teaching and learning was then - apparently WW2 started in 1941, no one (history majors) knew about lend lease etc!!! I was shocked then and thought that could never happen back home, I was wrong.Aaahhhhh........

Sorry, rogue capitals and typos as on phone.

We didn't get taught any Scottish history at school, so much so that I didn't even know Glasgow had been bombed in WW2.
This was mid 90's and we were taught it all from an English perspective.

I was taught in the late 80s where there was a sensible balance between Scottish/British/ world history. We were definitely taught as much about Clydebank as we were about London, Coventry etc, and also about Scapa Flow, Rudolph Hess etc, but we also learned about other world events such as the Russian Revolution without having to link it to Scotland!!!

Fannyfifer neither the greens nor the ssp carry any weight though, they are both more unpopular the the lib dems... They don't really count IMO.

You said no other parties supported Independence.
They will have a lot to offer after the YES vote as Labour are finished.

There are no 'facts' about the future. The only thing that is certain is that things will change - whether we vote yes or no.

If you are more or less happy with the way things are, vote no. If you feel you have nothing to lose, vote yes.

Part of me is excited at the prospect of making a new country, but I don't think I am willing to take the risks. I have too much to lose. And I really don't fancy spending the rest of my life in the settling-in period that always follows when a country becomes independent.

Think that last post shows who is low on intelligence really.
Scottish votes have only made an actual difference to outcome of Westminster result twice, our vote doesn't count.

Not you Solo, previous post.

Spain will veto an independent Scotland from joining EU, because it will open the floodgates for Basque region to seek legal independence.

So there are no certainties - neither side can see into the future.

At the moment, we're just playing with ideas. It isn't going to happen, imo. Not one single poll shows the yes vote as winning, afaik.

I think most people realise that we can have our cake and eat it, and the best way to keep England on her toes is to vote no, but by a narrow margin, so the Westminster Govt is scared enough into giving us everything we want (DevoMax) so we never ask for independence again.

So it's win-win for the SNP, either way. With a no vote, they live to fight another day, covered in glory as the party that fought for independence. With a yes vote they would have to put their money where their mouth is, and that's not so easy. Plus they'll most likely be voted out at the election following the referendum (as, in history, often happens when the party that wins independence struggles with the nitty-gritty of managing the changes).

Not that I think they couldn't manage the changes, btw, as well as any other party.

Schoolchoices, in all this, the rest of the UK would lose a lot more than Scotland would, imo, if we were to gain our independence. For one thing, it would be a truly shameful indictment of the Coalition that the break up of the UK happened on their watch.

Personally, I think it would make things worse for everyone, so I'm a no voter. I'd hate to see the Union split up. United we stand, and all that. Plus, poor Wales without us! Poor N.Ireland! We can't just desert them.

Fanny all those Scottish labour and snp mps currently at Westminster would POOF! Vanish in a puff of smoke on Scottish independence giving the Tories a comfortable majority in Westminster with no need for the lib send to be in coalition.

In fact Cameron comes out of this smelling like roses either way. Scotland votes no - he's the hero who saved the union. Scotland votes yes - he becomes the leader of a majority government and the chances of him winning the next election go up enormously.

As I say, it's the only really galling thing about Scotland disappearing from the union.

Solo the uk would lose nothing that matters to the uk if Scotland were to become independent. It would just be a break with its shared history which some would find sad. But that's it, really.

Nah. Cameron's goose is cooked, either way.

I know one thing Scotland will def lose when we are Independent,Trident, fancy that parked next to one of your biggest cities?

I don't know of anyone in rl who is actually voting no. I've yet to meet anyone who actively wishes to remain in a country governed by people that very, very few of us voted for.

I have nothing against the English people but I cannot stand the English government. The sooner they are running a country I don't live in, the better. I have no desire to be governed by a man who actively encourages the discrimination of disabled citizens by means of reducing vital funds. I have no desire to be governed by someone who has, in many ways, incredibly little life experience or decent knowledge of politics.

I admit I am biased - I live in an area that was utterly destroyed in the 1980s and has never yet recovered. I also have very personal connections to the SNP, always have, and for that reason will always urge people to vote yes. I know that Alex Salmond desires nothing more than the absolute best for Scotland and I know that he willl do his absolute upmost to deliver on what he has promised.

Come September I shall be voting no for sure. I don't feel that Alex salmond knows really what will happen or what he's talking about, in my opinion he is just a power hungry man.

Trident parked in Portsmouth will have precisely the same effect on me as trident parked in scottishtoon ie none at all.

Love the idea of blindly putting your faith in Alec Salmond to know what's best, shouldnthavessaid. That's so admirably loyal. (See what I meant about intelligence fanny?!).

So u prefer to stick with Cameron?

Can vote whatever party you want after Independence. It's not about Salmond.

Not at all but as I don't have a vote in this referendum it is out of my hands isn't it?

Move up here, vote Yes and be rid of the Tories forever.