Scottish Independence

[rich47]

What unbelievable scaremongering by that numpty Ed Milliband today when he suggested that if Scotland were independent a Scottish woman who becomes ill in Liverpool would not be treated because she was a foreigner. Would a French woman be treated, or a German woman or an English woman becoming ill in Glasgow? This is absolutely the deepest of the depths to which political spin can plumb. Which right thinking citizen could possibly be swayed by such arrant nonsense?

[jim360]

It's posts like baz's that make me think it's a good thing that the rest of the UK isn't voting on Scottish independence. Imagine the uproar if the Scottish vote had returned "No", but the rest of the UK voted to kick the Scots out!

[Wharton]

modeller - You've obviously never been at a Scottish funeral :-)

[youngmafbog]

Agree totally with Baz's posts.

Scotsmen in Scotland aer great but come down here and they whinge and whine about how good scotland is and how crap england is; but still live here.

Scotsmen are like piles, always much better when they go back up again.

As for Milliband, isnt he correct? Why is everyone assuming Scotland would get automatic entry to teh EU? Whilst they are not in the EU - no benefit.

And when we leave the EU if they have weaseled in then no benefit again !

[Wharton]

St Peter says, "God, why have you favoured this small country Scotland so much, with such wonderful scenery, whisky, golf, beautiful women and all the rest?"
God says, "Wait till you see the neighbours I give them."

[anotheoldgit]

Time the English had a referendum on whether or not we want Scotland as part of the UK.

[Wharton]

aog - Will all the non-English living there be allowed a vote?

[rich47]

Hi emmie lomg time no "speak" How are you? how is the butler keeping.
Good to hear from you. By the way only people on the electoral register will be eligible to vote and you cannot be registered in two places.
Rich

[Baldric]

That's a shame rich, ^^^^ you're missing out, you would get my vote!
;-)

[anotheoldgit]

Wharton

/// aog - Will all the non-English living there be allowed a vote? ///

You have introduced a very interesting point there, i wonder if non-Scots living in Scotland will be allowed a vote in their forthcoming referendum?

[Wharton]

aog - Read rich47 above^

[anotheoldgit]

Wharton

aog - Read rich47 above^

Sorry missed that, then surely that answers your 13-18 question to me

[New Judge]

The argument about whether the whole of the UK should be entitled to have a say on Scottish independence is being viewed from the wrong angle.

Should a member of a club wish to leave, of course the other members have no right to force him to remain. However, should the club wish to expel a member then all the members should be consulted. With Scottish independence it is the first scenario that is being determined (the member wishing to leave). However, since some elements in Scotland have shown such disdain for the UK it might be time to ask the rest of the country whether they really want the Scots to remain. So I would suggest that , at the same time the Scots vote whether they want to leave the Union, all of the Union should be asked if they want the Scots to retain their membership.

Of course it is slightly more complex than that because Scotland is not an independent nation state and has no more right to demand independence than does Cornwall or Liverpool. But the two questions (and the potential electorate) are completely different.

[LazyGun]

@NJ Well, you can hold your referendum of the rest of the "club" on whether to boot Scotland out - for being boorish, or for having the temerity to question whether they might be better outwith the club no less!, but I doubt you would win that one either.

What Scotland are doing is no different to what you Euro-sceptics want regarding the UK membership of Europe - a referendum on independence. Difficult to see how anyone can complain about it really.

[Quizmonster]

Those who have expressed views about oil on this thread should click http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20042070 and scroll down to the map. I don't think that Scotland's residents will vote for independence next year but, if they do, the map shows pretty accurately the sea areas that would 'belong' to Scotland and England separately.
The oil and gas in the English part...ie the southern North Sea...are dwindling fast, whereas the Scottish part to the north is where new discoveries are still being made. Cameron was up in Aberdeen a few months ago 'celebrating' one.
Note that England, having no coastline abutting it, would have no element whatsoever of the North Atlantic region.

[rich47]

NewJudge is pontificating on something of which he has an obviously limited grasp of the historical context.
Scotland (as an independent nation state) joined with England in 1707 to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. When this entity joined the European Union all citizens of Scotland became citizens of Europe.
When independence is regained in 2016 the United Kingdom will cease to exist.
Those that argue that Scotland would need to re apply to join the EU, or UN or the Commonwealth etc should surely apply the same logic to the rump left behind, viz the United Kingdom of England Wales and Northern Ireland (although Wales is a principality and Northern Ireland is a province) and insist that they too must reapply for membership of these illustrious bodies. To compare Scotland with Cornwall or Liverpool is fatuous nonsense. Get yourself a history book.

[sandyRoe]

If the world and her sister can be treated already I fail to see why a Scottish woman wouldn't receive treated if she needed it.

[emmie]

rich, you know your history, please note the reason why Scotland joined England in 1707. They were bankrupt, and as we all know for the most part we have been better together than we ever were apart.

[emmie]

for those who don't know

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darien_scheme

[Wharton]

emmie - Can you provide a link describing the anti-union riots which took place in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dumfries etc involving the ordinary folk? The Darien Company was made up of noblemen, lairds, merchants and sundry other chancers.

[emmie]

much more complex than i can type, but it was not just the wealthy who got involved.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/civil_war_revolution/scotland_darien_01.shtml