It's Like A Teenager Leaving Home....

[ToraToraTora]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24437333
I have to pay for my own what?!

[emmie]

i have read that twice and still not sure i understand. They are saying essentially you have an independent Scottish armed forces, but the cost would fall to the taxpayer, how about all the Scots who serve in England and all the English who serve in Scotland or Scottish regiments, am i missing the point, plot...

[ToraToraTora]

I think there will be some separation of what we now have and Scotland will have their own forces at their own cost.

[Gromit]

Why does Scotland need a military?

Do without one and spend more on its people.

No that Scottish Independence will ever happen.

[ToraToraTora]

Great idea Gromit then England can invade......hang on!

[Old_Geezer]

Wouldn't be the first time a country decided "warmongering" military spending could be better spent on services to the people, and then got caught out desperately trying to build a force when a conflict looked imminent. I don't know how the finances would work out, but for sure there would be a separation of expenses along with all the other splits.

[factor-fiction]

Maybe the Scots know that if they were ever attacked, England/Wales/NI would probably help out. It's called 'freeloading'

[ToraToraTora]

Fair enough OG, I suppose even gromit has a lockable front door.

[Gromit]

Spending on Military 2013

United States = $682billion
Canada = $22billion

While Scotland has a friendly neighbour who spends a lot on the military, it can quite happily hide behind that neighbour, as Canada do.

[emmie]

our military won't want to be split along ethnic lines, after all that is what they are advocating, English, Scots, what about those who have Scottish/English blood, family, or are descended from English, or from Scots, have they really thought this through.

[AB Editor]

"The Scottish government proposes a £2.5bn defence force if there is a "yes" vote next September."

The UK currently spends £46(-ish) billion - so they're proposing something quite small and proportionate.

[Old_Geezer]

I guess if the French accept any nationality onto their Foreign Legion, we could still have a foreign legion in the UK full of outsiders like the Scots :-)

[emmie]

won't they have to erect a border gate to get into Scotland, will we have to use our passports to go there.

[ClaryS]

' so they're proposing something quite small and proportionate. '

Probably a few busloads of Glasgow supporters in kilts patrolling Hadrian Wall

[emmie]

our military is a British fighting force, not Scotland, Wales, Ireland, England, it will stay that way, and besides i don't think they will get their independence and even if they do, how would having a Scottish armed forces help them if they are invaded and the rest don't help?

[modeller]

What would be Scotland's responsibilities be to the UN and all its agencies and to Nato . There are hundreds of organisations under the UK umbrella .
It will cost the Scots a fortune to join and run them separately. I think if I was starting a new business I would make sure I was on this side of the border.
The Scottish side of my family were/are all in Scottish regiments and served all over the world . I know they would not join a home based Scottish Dads Army. I certainly wouldn't.

[modeller]

I wonder how other countries will view Scottish currency. I experienced problems with using/changing Scottish bank notes on the continent .

How much more of a problem will that be when they are a little independant country.

[youngmafbog]

Still dont get why it would cost the UK anything - apart from rebranding a couple of regiments.

If the sweaties dont want any defence then fine, but dont come whining to the UK if something goes wrong.

Where our expense will occur is setting up border controls to keep unwanted foreigners out (including the Scottish)

[maggiebee]

youngmafbog, what UK would that be?

[AB Editor]

"youngmafbog, what UK would that be?"

The one the exists without Scotland. It's been very much agreed this is the case.

[boxtops]

The Scottish regiments have already been rebranded as part of the British military shakeup - names of ancestral regiments important to the Scots have been merged into a bland generic name.