Powers Of An Independent Nation.......right Oh!

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/video/swinney-this-country-could-do-more-if-we-had-the-powers-of-a-normal-independent-nation-13130626

Sounds like someone has just watched braveheart for the 175th time! You won't be "independent" under the jackboot of the EUSSR me old china! Perlease!

[Old_Geezer]

Entry conditions are likely to be more oppressive even than those applied to the UK before escaping. That may change a few minds.

[Peter Pedant]

o god by the headline  you can see this will herald a sensible dicsussion...........next !

[mushroom25]

// We're here when you want clean water or somewhere to ship your most sullen agitators off to though. //

you could sell us a ferry or two to keep them in....

[andy-hughes]

I think the idea of independence is a romantic 'Braveheart' notion with no sound basis in reality, either practically or economically.

The Scottish people appear to have no real appetite for this pipe dream, so any party that wants to attract votes and kudos would be better leaving the notion where it was last seen -  in Mr Gibson's excellent fictional historical drama,  where history can be re-written for dramatic enhancement. 

[douglas9401]

You can have the two Clyde-built ones, mushroom, when they're ready of course but the Turkish ones we're keeping.

Can't build boats with rose-tinted history and Billy Connolly anecdotes.

[New Judge]

“Entry conditions are likely to be more oppressive even than those applied to the UK before escaping. That may change a few minds.”

There are two problems Mr Swinney faces with the fairy tale he is peddling to the Scots:

1. The idea of an independent Scotland is now dead and buried. The Scottish electorate has finally woken up to the news that the SNP had forgotten it had a country to run whilst it pursued its Rob Roy ambitions. Everything the SNP had responsibility for is a shambles.

2. Even if the Scots could be persuaded to vote for independence, there is the minor problem that the EU is most unlikely to welcome them with open arms (whatever noises they might make to the contrary). Scotland does not meet many of the entry criteria for EU membership. The most important (and seemingly insurmountable) problem is that members  must not run a deficit of more than 3% of its GDP.  Scotland’s deficit is around three times that figure. The current official EU candidate nations who must strive to comply with that rule before they are admitted may be a little miffed if Scotland is allowed to join without meeting the criteria.