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

Fantastic idea. Except I would have to take a pay cut of about 98% of my household income as there are no jobs up there of the quality that my DH and I do down here. And that is the problem.

Fannyfifer, that has always been the main thing for me too. I hate Trident and would like to see it scrapped. But I wouldn't be any happier to see it parked in anyone else's back garden.

The democracy argument is another strong one. But there is no real democracy anywhere for any national government while the bankers and huge multinationals have so much power over government policy. An independent Scotland would be bending over backwards to attract investment, and would be even more at their mercy. You want green belt? Have mine - I'm not using it.

I'll be voting NO because I cannot stand how politicised the education system has become under Curriculum for Excellence (anything but!). Even the VERY SCOTTISH teaching staff at my kids school say it is 'highly political' and that it will become 'more so' if Independence is brought in. Don't brainwash my children Mr Salmond!

Please note I also cannot abide Cameron and that large swathes of the UK (England included) did not vote for him either. Cameron does not represent 'English Govornment' for me, but elitist, domineering, bullying idiots. Not the same thing.

Alex Salmond desires the utmost best for himself, sadly, just like all Tories, many Labour (the Party died with the death of John Smith, imo), and sadly Clegg too.

Independence isn't just for Christmas. Both Cameron and Salmond will be long gone within a few years of the Referendum.

I don't think you can base your decision on who's in power now. If you vote yes, you're not voting for a party or a person, but to become a new country. Not the same thing!

Another thing - don't let yourself be bribed, either by Danny Alexander as in the OP or by the SNP offering free nursery places or whatever. What the govt giveth it can also taketh and willeth, as soon as it can.

Vote on whether or not you want to be a new country.

Sorry to be so bossy. Off to bed now (me, that is - not yous)!

This is not about the SNP, nor is it about Alex Salmond. Anyone who thinks either of those have any relevance is myopic in the extreme.

This is about self determination, escaping from an undemocratic governance, and reaching a position where we can realistically aspire to emulate the successes of similar European countries.

Nobody can give facts about what will happen after a Yes vote. Westminster will not enter into prenegotiation for one reason only and that's because they know that they can fuel their scaremongering campaign to keep Scotland under their control with uncertainty. It certainly seems to be working going by the posts on this thread. I find it pretty insulting that they think so little of the electorate. I'm not surprised though.

The white paper produced by the Scottish government actually contains a fair bit of detail on what's possible and not possible under independent rule. Of course it's 700 pages of detail so most people rely on the media to feed them information.

The BBC is notoriously biased in its reporting - the Standard Life hooha is a perfect example of it. While the BBC reporters were bleating on about how they were going to leave in the event of a yes vote, a quick check of their actual press statement revealed that they'd opened a couple of arms in England in response to concerns from some customers. That's it. All spun and twisted to present a potentially alarming story.

A good chunk of my colleagues and clients are Yes voters. Some of our students took themselves off to an independence debate the other week. Young people who were previously disengaged are realisng that for the first time in their lives they have a chance of their vote actually changing things in this country. Until now we've had to accept that having a vote gives us no power.

The sad reality is that if the Scottish people don't exhibit the bravery and vision needed to take control of their own country, then we'll be doomed to be used and abused by Westminster governments - a Scotland under a Tory-UKIP coalition would have me looking to emigrate and that's no joke. Our current society is played by inequality and deprivation. It doesn't have to be this way. We're lucky to have this huge wonderful opportunity in our lifetime.

Which are the successes of similar European countries that you are talking about?

Again, it is extremely unlikely we would not be allowed in the EU

Spain cannot allow Scotland to join the EU without risking a huge crisis of its own. Catalonia is at the moment organising it's own referendum which Madrid's government has stated to be illegal (incidentally most Catalans think David Cameron is great for allowing Scotland this vote at all) and the Basque region has always hankered after independence. Both these regions bring in most of Spain's wealth, so whilst the UK would be financially ok were Scotland to leave, Spain could quite possibly crumble.

I'm English, but would be entitled to Scottish nationality in the event of a yes vote (dad born there!), and currently live in Basque region, so this debate has been much discussed amongst my friends and I. Scots are voting without any knowledge of the conditions of independence, which is far from an ideal set up.

Schoolchoice why do you think there are no jobs of that quality in Scotland?

Who would be entitled to Scottish nationality, Umlauf? Everyone who is living here, or only those born here? Scots born here but living in the rest of the UK?

Looking forward to border crossings. Not.

My Dad looked it up, and according to his findings if you were born in Scotland or have one parent born in scotland you would be entitled to Scottish nationality. I'm not sure how they stand on residence though.

Thanks.

Tbh, it's probably irrelevant what the govt say now, though, because a few years down the line the next lot could just change it. But then that's the same for all legislation.

Cashew, I don't feel I am fuelling uncertainty. I don't need to - the future is uncertain, either way!

I agree about the scaremongering, though - on both sides. Who says the Tories are going to win the next elections?

Voting yes, in the hope that we can build something positive north of the border (and in the suspicion that the coalition bullies will not treat us kindly if there is an overwhelming 'no' vote). I wish the referendum was a decade away, to give our party system time to mature - and Salmond time to retire :-) But it's now. I was undecided, the unpleasant tone of much of the political and media rhetoric from England, and the generally positive yes campaigning, have swayed me.

What's interesting about this referendum is that people who would normally vote for the party they think will make them better off financially simply can't this time, as no-one knows what the economic situation will be. So everyone is forced to think about the common good, and human nature, and history and philosophy, and what sort of country we want to live in. That's all good, imo.

Anyone resident in Scotland at time of Independence will be entitled to Scottish citizenship.

On the borders thing, there is a free border between rep of Ireland & Northern Ireland with no border checks.
Would just be the same of course.

Hope so.

There will be a Scottish constitution drawn up which will protect things for the future like NHS, welfare etc.
UK has no such protection currently.

Unless England want to build & fund it, doubt it though as pretty costly & pretty ridiculous.
No border checkpoint to get into Scotland, would be up to England if they want to have one to go there.

Totally agree, every mention of border checkpoints comes from scaremongers. Scotland isn't about Braveheart, haggis and sheep but it suits the no camp to make out it is.

So everyone is forced to think about the common good, and human nature, and history and philosophy, and what sort of country we want to live in. That's all good, imo

I completely agree. Its really exciting to see this many people engaging with politics outside of the political parties; canvassing, street stalls, town hall meetings...

I would be sad to see Scotland go. I hope that Scots don't live to regret independence if they vote for it though - seems like they might get some nasty surprises. There seems to be an awful lot of wishful thinking in the yes camp.

Fanny because the only places in the uk where there are jobs of that quality is London.

Fanny because the only places in the uk where there are jobs of that quality is London

Does quality equal salary/bonus in this example? If so you are probably right.

However, Scotland generally has lower rates of unemployment than rUK