Nicola Sturgeon Says Independence Is In Reach For Scotland

[Bobbisox1]

Is this something she strives for and is a personal goal or do the Scots wish to break away from the Union ,we have I’m sure,many Scottish people on AB, I wonder what their thoughts are about ‘going it alone’

[davebro]

Yes - there was a documentary the other night about escalating drug problems (deaths) north of the border. Paradise it aint.

[New Judge]

//I think NJ has firm views on what it will mean. Has no axe to grind on whether it occurs or not.//

Spot on, OG. I've zero interest in whether they gain independence or not. It's of no interest to me whatsoever. I've been to Scotland a few times and will not be returning any time soon. I see no advantage in the "Union" for England though I can see quite a few if Scotland departs. But it's not something that troubles me terribly.

However, if, as Ms Sturgeon suggests, the price of (a proper) Brexit is the break up of the Union, then it's a price well worth paying. I have the same views if Northern Ireland decides to depart (though I think they know on which side their bread is buttered). Ms Sturgeon's diversions are amusing, so long as they don't get taken too seriously or detract from the main event.

[retrocop]

I think it would be pretty safe to say if not for English taxpayers bailing out the doooooomed RBS there would be no Scottish economy. The country would be bankrupt.
The EU, who some of the Scots, it would appear , are so happy to join were not exactly sympathetic to Scotland's plight either. Be careful what you wish for :-)

/Restructuring charges — have left the cost of shrinking the bank at £13bn, as RBS has sold businesses and slashed costs in an effort to stem losses. An estimated 90,000 jobs have gone from the business since 2008, when RBS had operations in 54 countries that spanned all areas of financing, from aircraft leasing to current accounts. As a penalty for the state aid required to keep the bank in business. the EU forced RBS to sell off businesses including commodity broker Sempra, the money transmission business WorldPay, insurer Direct Line and US bank Citizens. All these took thousands of staff with them. The EU also demanded RBS get rid of 300 UK branches. They were separated and RBS tried to sell them, but that effort has now been abandoned – at a cost of £2.5bn.//




https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/feb/24/90bn-in-bills-since-2008-how-did-rbs-get-here-financial-crisis-

[KARL]

Retrocop, elsewhere the crash was every bit as catastrophic as in the UK and nearly all of the banks were allowed to fail (the ones/few remaining solvent continue to this day), they were not rescued. The UK government chose to do things differently. The UK economy is still not out of the woods whereas the other economy is booming and the country continues to do better than the UK after the crash as it did before it.

[davebro]

Is it possible to remove that awful picture from the OP - it turns my stomach!

[webbo3]

I want to know what currency they will use.

[retrocop]

Before the Republic of Ireland surrendered to their Lords and Masters their currency was the Punt. ( Now the Euro).
Perhaps Nicola will name her new currency,should she get her dream come true,The Ponce.

[webbo3]

lol^ or the flounce.

[albaqwerty]

why on earth anyone would want to vote for a party who increased level of income tax to higher than the rest of the UK beats me.
Her and Salmond once said vote for us and we'll get rid of council tax.
Well, they were voted in an you'll never guess, wait for it, they didn't.
Shock, horror.

A year after minimum price for alcohol was introduced, did they brag about how many lives were saved? No, a few comments on how sales in off licences had decreased by 8%.

[Bobbisox1]

Alba I salute you as a Scot, I wasn’t having a go at Scottish people by posting this,simply gauging what they feel
Thanks

[edward d]

fandabbydosey
let's get the wall repaired.

[albaqwerty]

cor, thanks for bestie :-) (I'm surprised!!)

I do get rather het up at how deluded the snp are.
They are a minority government propped up by the greens who seem to be equally endowed with little grey cells.

[KARL]

Which currency ? The Euro would seem an obvious choice. If a good currency is one that keeps slipping in value they might however want to base theirs on something dodgy like the Pound or even carry on using it. And before uppity comments about getting permission are made, any currency can be and is used by anyone anywhere unless local/domestic law forbids it (e.g. currency restrictions ban you from using a foreign currency). I can and do use all sorts of currencies at will when agreeing transactions worldwide, as do plenty of others.

Those who vote for the SNP are, on balance, presumably satisfied that they provide the best option/outcome - there are years of experience to go by and the SNP is unquestionably Scotland's largest political party.

[Old_Geezer]

There are a few EU members that might be regretting adopting and thus tying their currency to the German Euro. But if governments don't learn from history ...

[KARL]

Correction: The Euro is not a German currency, that was the Mark which is now defunct. Also, WW2 ended decades ago and WW1 ended 100 years ago.

[New Judge]

//The Euro would seem an obvious choice.//

Really? You might like to examine the examine the experience of the PIIGS nations in relation to the euro, Karl. Greece has suffered youth unemployment of around 50%, Spain not too far behind. The financial crisis that will soon hit Italy (when the Euromaniacs finally run out of paper which they have been sticking over the cracks) will make a simple recession seem like a boom.

All of these problems (and many more) have come about due to the policy of introducing a single currency without a single fiscal policy and political control. Nations using the euro have no tools to deal with the ups and downs of their economy (principally exchange rates and interest rates). They are using a currency that was designed for Germany and have no adjusting mechanisms to use when their economies fall out of alignment. Your contention that the euro is not a German currency is arguable. It has allowed smaller nations to borrow money in a currency they cannot afford with which they were encouraged to buy German goods allowing Germany to run an 8% current account surplus year after year (the EU limit is 3%).

Scotland (or indeed any other country) would be absolutely crazy to adopt a currency that is the result of such a failed policy.

[jourdain2]

Well, I've said it before. I'm half Scottish (Mum) and no way do I want to be made to feel more of a foreigner by the Scottish side of my family (the more numerous side). This must apply to millions of Britons. Heck, I'm even a vague cousin of Billy Connolly.
Every year we have a holiday in Scotland, usually the Borders or the glorious Kingdom of Fife (this year in a cottage that used to be Sir Jimmy Shand's music room at Auchtermuchty) and I do not find enthusiasm for independence there. I think that Sturgeon is punching well above her weight.
I am proud of my Scottish heritage; I am proud of my Yorkshire Heritage and I am proud of my English heritage. I call myself British and I think that the vast majority of the inhabitants of this isle do the same, whilst retaining pride in their separate inheritances.
Hmm, that all looks a bit romantic - but it's what I feel.

[KARL]

Countries can and do have all sorts of problems whichever currency they use. Italy has a long history of socio-economic problems pre-dating the Euro by decades as does Greece - mostly to do with political instability, misguided policy gyrations, etc. To blame the Euro is disingenuous but I do realise it is an attractive scapegoat within and outside the Eurozone.

[Old_Geezer]

Oh it's German all right. They just don't admit it. Whose economy does it most benefit ?

[ToraToraTora]

The Euro is a classic case of cart before the horse. It was created as a political shoe horn to federalisation. They should have merged all the central banks and economies first, the currency should be the last thing. So now most countries have none of the normal levers of control they once had.