Local Elections, Scotland and Gordon Brown.

[Lonnie]

As you all know, May 3rd is the local elections, I have some quries on the Scottish issue, if i'm wrong on any of them please put me right. If Labour win, Scotland will stay part of the UK, however, if the SNP win, bringing about total independence, that surely is the end of the United Kingdom as an entity, if that happens, firstly, what happens to the grant they get from England?, Secondly, Gordon Browns Constituancy is in Scotland, so as a now foreign national, will he still legitimately be Prime Minister of England?.

[jenstar]

I very much doubt Scotland will become independent just because the SNP have the most MSPs. There would be a lot of thrashing out deals and frankly it might never happen at all.

[Lonnie]

Thats true jenstar, but there's a good possibility the SNP could win, in which casem they will definateley go independant and withdraw from the union, and its in that light, I asked the question. Thanks for your answer,

[jenstar]

No, I don't think it's definite at all.

[aristotle]

The Scottish parliament cannot decide to make Scotland independent. If the SNP win, they have said they would hold a referendum on the subject. Ultimately, it would be up to the British parliament in Westminster to decide whatever the result of that referendum.

[Lonnie]

I know if the SNP win, they'll hold a referendum, but lets just say i'm jumping the gun a bit, I think my questions still stand, even if its about three years away.

[jake-the-peg]

Scottish oil revenues for the next 6 years are estimated at �55 billion

With the current price of oil Scotland would be financially independent at least in the immediate future.

If Scotland became independant any Scot would probably have no problems constitutionally as they would have been born in the UK.

Note Irish nationals in the UK can still vote in our elections which is a far more anomalous situation!

[Lonnie]

As the majority of North Sea Oil is in English waters, I don't think that particular part of your answer holds up jake, but I have to admit, the rest does, especially as we have Ruth kelly in goverment, the grand daughter of an Irish terrorist.

[THECORBYLOON]

The SNP states "Over the past 30 years, the UK government has taken �200 billion in tax from North Sea Oil. Around 90% of the UK�s oil revenues come from the Scottish sector of the Continental Shelf."

Scotland gets no English money, the money is allocated by the UK government.