Science3 mins ago
Nicola Sturgeon
Is she naive, inept, disillusioned or just plain stupid?
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At the moment, things are moving very quickly and it's not clear how far they'll go. Labour is disintegrating, so far several prominent leaders of Leave have basically come out and retracted the "£350 million a week" claim (IDS, Liam Fox, Daniel Hannan, Nigel Farage...), we still don't know where the Tory party is going, the campaign for a re-run of both of the last two major referenda we held is proceeding at a surprising pace, and there's another week for markets to react to all this.
With the UK tearing itself apart politically it's not totally unreasonable for the Scots to look to jump ship.
At the moment, things are moving very quickly and it's not clear how far they'll go. Labour is disintegrating, so far several prominent leaders of Leave have basically come out and retracted the "£350 million a week" claim (IDS, Liam Fox, Daniel Hannan, Nigel Farage...), we still don't know where the Tory party is going, the campaign for a re-run of both of the last two major referenda we held is proceeding at a surprising pace, and there's another week for markets to react to all this.
With the UK tearing itself apart politically it's not totally unreasonable for the Scots to look to jump ship.
Apart from the obvious lunatic reasoning, there is Scotland's share of the UK national debt. I have just been checking, and with the total population of 65 million and the Scots at 5.5 million, they represent about one eleventh of the total. The national debt stands at 1.6 trillion - to be honest, I don't even know what a trillion is - Jim may work it out, but it's a lot of moolah they would need cough up.
Ditto Northern Ireland.
Ditto Northern Ireland.
I do hope you aren't going to try to scare the Scots into staying in the UK? Because that's totally going to work...
For me the key question is direction. At the moment, England and Wales look like they are on the verge of moving in a direction that is not where I want to go. I'll be keeping a close eye on developments before deciding which way to go on Scottish Independence. I'd hope to keep the UK together as far as possible, I think that's what's best despite the result on Thursday, but it's remarkable how quickly things are spiralling out of control at the moment south of the border.
For me the key question is direction. At the moment, England and Wales look like they are on the verge of moving in a direction that is not where I want to go. I'll be keeping a close eye on developments before deciding which way to go on Scottish Independence. I'd hope to keep the UK together as far as possible, I think that's what's best despite the result on Thursday, but it's remarkable how quickly things are spiralling out of control at the moment south of the border.
Let’s examine this rationally.
Should Scotland gain independence they can certainly continue to use the Pound. There is nothing to stop any nation using another’s as currency. Of course, whether they will have sufficient ongoing income to obtain more pounds once their initial holding has run out is open to debate.
However, if (and it’s a very, very big if indeed) they gain EU membership:
(a) They will have to adopt the euro (there are no opt outs for new members)
(b) They will have to join the Schengen area if it still exists(ditto)
(c) The question of whether there will be a border between the UK and an independent Scotland is not a decision for them to make.
With relation to (c) if Scotland does become a Schengen signatory I cannot see how the UK can fail to impose border controls.
Ms Sturgeon seems to be under the impression that Scotland will be welcomed to the EU with some sort of “reserved rights” as having been a (small) constituent part of a former member nation. I think she may find that it does not quite work like that and the five current EU candidate nations may feel justifiably aggrieved should Scotland jump the queue. They will also be somewhat miffed if Scotland is afforded privileges that are not open to them. She also seems to fail to grasp that the main reason the EU wanted the UK in its fold was because of the wealth and business created principally by England. This is not trumpet blowing because I am English, but a plain fact. Although the EU seems to welcome all and sundry to its clutches somewhat regardless of their prospects, they may be reluctant to give priority to an area that generates far less than half the wealth of London.
The Scots would be wise to bear all this in mind when they cast their votes, should they be granted a second referendum. Furthermore, Ms Sturgeon needs to heed the fact that, although all areas of Scotland voted to remain in the EU, almost 40% of those who voted said they wanted to leave. Presumably that same 40% would not be too happy to be part of a UK that left only to find themselves in a Scotland that wishes to rejoin.
As I said yesterday, it is hard to understand why Scotland seeks independence from the UK but is more than willing to throw its lot in with a broken, shrinking institution of which they would form but a tiny part. But, as they say, there’s now’t so queer as folk and Scottish Nationalism has never been too renowned for its clarity of thought..
Should Scotland gain independence they can certainly continue to use the Pound. There is nothing to stop any nation using another’s as currency. Of course, whether they will have sufficient ongoing income to obtain more pounds once their initial holding has run out is open to debate.
However, if (and it’s a very, very big if indeed) they gain EU membership:
(a) They will have to adopt the euro (there are no opt outs for new members)
(b) They will have to join the Schengen area if it still exists(ditto)
(c) The question of whether there will be a border between the UK and an independent Scotland is not a decision for them to make.
With relation to (c) if Scotland does become a Schengen signatory I cannot see how the UK can fail to impose border controls.
Ms Sturgeon seems to be under the impression that Scotland will be welcomed to the EU with some sort of “reserved rights” as having been a (small) constituent part of a former member nation. I think she may find that it does not quite work like that and the five current EU candidate nations may feel justifiably aggrieved should Scotland jump the queue. They will also be somewhat miffed if Scotland is afforded privileges that are not open to them. She also seems to fail to grasp that the main reason the EU wanted the UK in its fold was because of the wealth and business created principally by England. This is not trumpet blowing because I am English, but a plain fact. Although the EU seems to welcome all and sundry to its clutches somewhat regardless of their prospects, they may be reluctant to give priority to an area that generates far less than half the wealth of London.
The Scots would be wise to bear all this in mind when they cast their votes, should they be granted a second referendum. Furthermore, Ms Sturgeon needs to heed the fact that, although all areas of Scotland voted to remain in the EU, almost 40% of those who voted said they wanted to leave. Presumably that same 40% would not be too happy to be part of a UK that left only to find themselves in a Scotland that wishes to rejoin.
As I said yesterday, it is hard to understand why Scotland seeks independence from the UK but is more than willing to throw its lot in with a broken, shrinking institution of which they would form but a tiny part. But, as they say, there’s now’t so queer as folk and Scottish Nationalism has never been too renowned for its clarity of thought..
New Judge......Well stated: The woman should belong to the 'Raving Luny Party'....!
I am ashamed to think she would ever lead an independant Scotland. I wish our eloctorate would read your comments before deciding on a second Indy/Ref.
As a Scot I do hope we see sense before making a disaster decision to leave the UK. Likewise N.Ireland....
I am ashamed to think she would ever lead an independant Scotland. I wish our eloctorate would read your comments before deciding on a second Indy/Ref.
As a Scot I do hope we see sense before making a disaster decision to leave the UK. Likewise N.Ireland....
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