What happens ?....Scottish Independence.

[Fenton]

Just a question

Who does own the oil fields in the North Sea?...Is it Scotland or the UK?...If the UK would  Scotland have to pay for them

I have no idea of answer myself

[sebigboss79]

Most are owned by Scotland legally. But some went to England as England -against the existing border agreements- unitarily changed the accords.  I think even after this shambles it is 90/10 for Scotland.

That only is important AFTER independence and if I was the Scottish government I would demand status quo ante, not unitarily changed borders for ones convenience.

Currently they are owned by the UK (taxpayers).



Let's imagine Scotland could keep the money they raise in a total devolution (which is what SNP originally wanted). Why would there be a reason to split up the Union?

IF a Union works for all parties then it is indeed a case where we are better off together. The problem is Scotland is financially better off alone. If I was to argue the case I would want devolution BUT I would agree to send some surplus south and would expect a more mutually beneficial relationship.

A bit like the EU it is not really working for everybody and that is the problem. Red Tape and people filling their own pockets are a common problem. As a German I can state SNP has given Scottish taxpayers what they want and thus get support for their political agenda. Leave nationalism and independence aside for a moment and name a party other than the Greens that has presented a sustainable energy policy in Europe. Only SNP came forward (after the German Greens in the 80s).

I do not agree with everything they say and I am not a fan of Alex Salmond but I do see they have a point. Most importantly my argument is if people want to decide in their own house they should be entitled to it - with all consequences though.

[DanJ]

Most importantly my argument is if people want to decide in their own house they should be entitled to it - with all consequences though.

I actually agree with this, I'm just not sure that the politicians know exactly what they mean by an independant Scotland, it's certainly not been made clear sounth of the border.  The SNP say an independant Scotland would keep the Queen as head of state, keep sterling as the currency (linked to the Endlish pound) and be part of the EU by default; while English politicians say not.  Personally I think an independant Scotland should be totaly independant, having the same relationship With England as France or Germany or Belgium has, anything else would be illogical and a political fudge, which probably means that's what will happen.

While I'm all for letting people decide their own future, where do you draw the line?  If the Highlands and Western Isles decide that their heritage and tradition means that they should be independant from Scotland, as was the case historically, should they be allowed to do so?  And what about the towns of the southern borders who look more towards Newcastle and Carlisle than Glasgow, could they move towards England?

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

What about Berwick? Country by itself?

[FierceKitty]

Haven't England and Wales both tried to disclaim ownership of Monmouth ever since they noticed it was the dullest dump in Europe?

[Hertsblue]

As far as Europe is concerned I can only echo a friend of mine: I signed up for the EEC - I didn't sign up for the EU.

[sebigboss79]

As far as Europe is concerned I can only echo a friend of mine: I signed up for the EEC - I didn't sign up for the EU.

To quote an idiom: In some days, some rain must fall.


If such was not the case you would all be worshipping me, sacrificing your piles of lead to my feet - one can dream, right?

[DanJ]

sacrificing your piles

I'm not sacrificing my piles to anyone!

[sebigboss79]

I'm not sacrificing my piles to anyone!

Burn you shall in hell . Without the blessing of the Dark lord thou shallst live. 

[Fenton]

I'm not sacrificing my piles to anyone!

Isnt there a cream now?

[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.