What happens ?....Scottish Independence.

[Leman]

Sod off Jocks!

[toxicpixie]

Can't go independent of the City of London? Just wall it off, cut off the power, let them fight it out without screwing the rest of us...

If the Scots vote sensibly and leave, I welcome the chance we might have for an independent Peoples Republic of Birmingham

[Leman]

Sod off Alec, you power crazed numpty.

[Leman]

Better apart in my opinion - tightwads, lousy weather, midges, men in skirts  . Bet the Spanish, Belgians and Italians will be dead pleased to welcome an independent Scotland into the EU. Now why did we unite in the first place? Oh yeah, the nascent Scottish Empire went belly up in the West Indies and they needed bailing out. Now of course they have all that oil, so ...... see yah.

[Matt J]

I already rule my own independent Mercian Kingdom, shame its only 13ft by 7ft 

edit (sorry that should be Kingdom's)

[GordonY]

Why did we unite in the first place?

Oh yeah your pox-ridden House of Tudor died out and our good king James the Sixth, suddenly became James the First.

A stupid decision thats taken us about 400 years to rectify.

Mind you if it goes anything like last tiime, winning wont be nearly enough, I mean we won then all of a sudden not voting becomes a NO vote, just shows how desperate the English government is to keep this nation of spongers and scroungers in the Union.

By the way that last little gem has irked me for quite a few years.

[Leon]

I've got no dog in this fight at all, I'll wait and see what the result of the vote is and see what effect is has on us as a business, if any.  One thing that concerns me, is if independence comes along, I hope Scotland will be able to stay in the EU, otherwise it's going to get very tricky for us to come to the Scottish shows!  Having to take a passport and faff about with all the VAT / no-VAT / declarations at the border would mean I can't just go to sleep in the van like normal!

One extra note though, this is obviously an issue with strong viewpoints on both sides, so if we can make sure to keep things civil please.

[sebigboss79]

I've got no dog in this fight at all, I'll wait and see what the result of the vote is and see what effect is has on us as a business, if any.  One thing that concerns me, is if independence comes along, I hope Scotland will be able to stay in the EU, otherwise it's going to get very tricky for us to come to the Scottish shows!  Having to take a passport and faff about with all the VAT / no-VAT / declarations at the border would mean I can't just go to sleep in the van like normal!

One extra note though, this is obviously an issue with strong viewpoints on both sides, so if we can make sure to keep things civil please.

You may always open a branch north of the border. Employ a few illegal immigrants from England  ( ), dodge taxes and claim how bad the climate for doing business has become.

Should however independence hinder me getting your goods I shall personally invade and claim half of England for Scotland. While I am at it, anyone have any idea where to pillage and burn in the area of, say Nottingham Lenton?

[Leman]

Oh, of course, James VI, the man who rushed to save his mum from having her head cut off. Anyway that was not the union of Scvotland and the rest of the UK. That happened in 1707 when the investment in the West Indies went belly up and the rest of the UK had to step in and sort out the mess. Don't expect it a second time! And as I've already said, I hope you get your independence then you can turn your drab, grey, rainy, vitriol on someone else. Byeee.

[GordonY]

The government wont allow us to leave, or the Welsh, its the last wee buts of an empire that was squandered to feed Churchill's ego.

[FierceKitty]

Having a Scots grandfather, I hope independence might mean I qualify for a real passport at last.

[Leman]

That'll be the Nicaraguan passport then.

[Leman]

This Scottish independence thing is such tosh. The Scots came from Ireland, Wallace was a minor Saxon noble living in Scotland, which was really the land of the Caledonians, Picts and northern Britons; and if it's good enough for the immigrant Scots from Ireland to claim it all, then what about the immigrant Islesmen from  Scandinavia. Maybe we should be looking at an independent Norseland? The silliness of it all is emphasised by statements like "my grandfather came from Scotland." Precisely; it's extremely difficult to find anyone on this island who is pure anything. However, if you have such a loathing for those of us who are of the same island stock but happen to live south of the Tweed then goodbye and good luck and once you've got your so-called independence in these days of the global economy and multinationals you can stop your bloody moaning and cheer up!

[sebigboss79]

This Scottish independence thing is such tosh. The Scots came from Ireland, Wallace was a minor Saxon noble living in Scotland, which was really the land of the Caledonians, Picts and northern Britons; and if it's good enough for the immigrant Scots from Ireland to claim it all, then what about the immigrant Islesmen from  Scandinavia. Maybe we should be looking at an independent Norseland? The silliness of it all is emphasised by statements like "my grandfather came from Scotland." Precisely; it's extremely difficult to find anyone on this island who is pure anything. However, if you have such a loathing for those of us who are of the same island stock but happen to live south of the Tweed then goodbye and good luck and once you've got your so-called independence in these days of the global economy and multinationals you can stop your bloody moaning and cheer up!

The only loathing righ now comes from you actually.

I am German and I am for independence. You are right it is all or nothing and failure/ glory is up to Scotland then.

Concerning global economy I wonder why some "south of the Tweed" are so desparate to alienate the rest of Europ by being pricks?

And to correct another misconception: Most Scots do not give a toss whether you are English, German, Chilean or Scottish. If Scotland wants to be independent then they are as much entitled to it as the Iraquis and Afghanis we bombed to liberty. AFTER a vote pro independence Scotland CAN ask the Queen if she is up to be head of state of yet another country. We will also negotiate for a currency union. Whether it is with the Bank of England, the ECB or the State Bank of Uganda is a secondary issue. Croatia is using the Euro without consent of the ECB, Andorra after more than 10 years finally has consent to do the same.

Whether you or Osborne/Alexander like it, Scotland WILL use the pound, end of story. If Osbourne/Alexander in their wisdom tries to run down the currency to teach Scotland a lesson then go ahead. It is your economy you are screwing.

To make the independence debate a little easier for you, how about the rest of the forum is taking turns telling you what to do and what not in total disregard what you actually want. You may wonder why we should be entitled to do so, well that is easy, we are more than you. If that is OK for you I shall organise the daily torture of your free will, at your expense of course or you may reconsider your position about who should be the master of their own house.

[Ithoriel]

Actually there's a decent chance Wallace was of Welsh descent, but yes we're all mongrels of one sort of another.

Personally I'd rather see a United States of Europe than an independent Scotland but I fail to see why those living in Scotland should have any less right to self-determination than anywhere else and don't currently expect to find myself in a cattle truck heading south after the vote, whichever way it goes.

I don't believe this is about loathing those in the rest of the UK so much as a realisation that we see the world differently from our southern neighbours - hence having twice as many giant pandas in Scotland as Conservative MPs at a time when the Torys are the largest of the minority parties at Westminster.

Have to say the Scots I know are a pretty cheerful bunch, the red-headed calvinist in his kilt and bunnet sharing his one room croft with his highland cow as he ate salted porridge is a stereotype I thought we might have shaken off by now.

Here's tae us!
Wh'a like us?
Gie few!
An' they're a' deid!

Lang may yer lum reek DP!