Scotland moves a step closer to independence

Frogdog

The Scottish parliament is to debate their independence from Great Britain, with a referendum to be held in a few years:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25114249

All of this accomplished through political means (in recent terms at least). It's something I'd quite like to see actually and something I've wondered about as to why it hasn't come around sooner.

Could this be the "beginning of the end" for Great Britain as we know it?

Iwasfrozen

Thread title is misleading. This is not a step closer to independence.

errlloyd

Can't wait till Scotland is independent.

Then we won't be the most backward, alcoholic, loutish over-entitled burden to Europe anymore.

youreadthat

OP I don't think the plan is to end the island of Great Britain.

MadsL

Not a chance Scotland will vote for this, they may hate the English, but they are not stupid.

Karl Stein

The self-loathing is strong in this one.

errlloyd wrote: »

Can't wait till Scotland is independent.

Then we won't be the most backward, alcoholic, loutish over-entitled burden to Europe anymore.

Shure thing. We're an awful burden to those tens of billions worth of bonds we'll be paying back to no-loss bond holders.

SimonQuinlank

Not really much point in voting for independence if London is still controlling the purse strings currency wise.

They'd have to raise income tax by about 9% to make up for the shortfall of funding if this goes through too.

Can't see it happenning.

Though I'm sure a lot of Scottish people would love to tell Cameron and his arrogant cronies where they can shove their bedroom taxes and such.

SharpshooterTom

Odds:

NO 1/8
YES 5/1

Not looking good for the pro-independance vote is it?

http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/british-politics/scottish-independence/referendum-outcome

sin_city

Shud have down this when the oil was found in North sea

MadsL

SimonQuinlank wrote: »

Though I'm sure a lot of Scottish people would love to tell Cameron and his arrogant cronies where they can shove their bedroom taxes and such.

Where is Cameron's family from again?

Davidius

Scottish Independence is too interesting to actually happen.

KTRIC

Regardless of their status of independence or not short of laying high explosive along Hadrians Wall they're going to be still part of Great Britain.

Sir Humphrey Appleby

At the moment it appears highly unlikely that the Scottish will vote for Independence.

Fratton Fred

If the Scots really want independence, they should get the referendum held across the entire UK.

No one wants Scottish independence more than the English.

razorblunt

They won't get the Yes vote, too many businesses and jobs affected.

This coming from your man on the ground.

AnonoBoy

Buckfast, Deep-Fried Mars Bars and Glasgow Handshakes for all!

Sunnyisland

Here is the speech of William Wallace from "Braveheart":

"I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen,
here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to fight as free men. And
free man you are! What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?"
"Two thousand against ten?" - the veteran shouted. "No! We will
run - and live!"
"Yes!" Wallace shouted back. "Fight and you may die. Run and you
will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now,
would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for
one chance, just one cahnce, to come back here as young men and tell
our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take
our freedom!"


If SNP keep showing reruns of the film it should boost there chances :P

AnonoBoy

realies wrote: »

Here is the speech of William Wallace from "Braveheart":

"I am William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen,
here in defiance of tyranny! You have come to fight as free men. And
free man you are! What will you do without freedom? Will you fight?"
"Two thousand against ten?" - the veteran shouted. "No! We will
run - and live!"
"Yes!" Wallace shouted back. "Fight and you may die. Run and you
will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now,
would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for
one chance, just one cahnce, to come back here as young men and tell
our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take
our freedom!"

Of course in real life that speech went more like this.

"See you? See you? YOU'RE FACKIN' DEAD MAN! I'M GONNA KILL YOOOUUUU!"

Plug

How can the rep of Ireland survive on it's own (just about) and not Scotland? Id lov to see Scotland independent.

Duckworth_Luas

Some interesting comments from a selection of pro-union Scots across a vast range of topics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmGjiokfQ2A

iDave

The EU also said they wouldn't have automatic entry and would have to apply from scratch so that's another stumbling block.

preston johnny

Who's this Dom bloke the Scottish want freed in Braveheart?

super_furry

It's no surprise really that this is all happening under a Tory government. They stand to gain a hell of a lot if Scotland declares independence. There are zero votes for them north of the border and if Scotland goes, the proportion of Parliament seats they have will jump up.

moxin

SimonQuinlank wrote: »

Not really much point in voting for independence if London is still controlling the purse strings currency wise.

They'd have to raise income tax by about 9% to make up for the shortfall of funding if this goes through too.

Can't see it happenning.

Though I'm sure a lot of Scottish people would love to tell Cameron and his arrogant cronies where they can shove their bedroom taxes and such.

BS of the highest order.

Try reading the BBC analysis(yes BBC), the economic argument is there for independence. Scotland could be viable after all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24866266

If oil revenues are included in GDP figures, Scotland is shown to generate more per head of population than the UK as a whole. For Scotland, it is £26,424 per head compared with £22,336 per head for the UK, according to Scottish government estimates.

If you do not include oil and gas revenues then there is little difference in the figures - GDP per head in Scotland was £20,571 in 2011 and for the UK it was £20,873.

From the polls, its quite obvious the economic argument needs to be pushed by the Yes side more, its the only thing holding the Yes side back. Voters have no problem with independence if they are re-assured that it won't affect their pockets.

SEPT 23 1989

Hardly "independence" now is it?

Fratton Fred

moxin wrote: »

BS of the highest order.

Try reading the BBC analysis(yes BBC), the economic argument is there for independence. Scotland could be viable after all.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24866266


From the polls, its quite obvious the economic argument needs to be pushed by the Yes side more, its the only thing holding the Yes side back. Voters have no problem with independence if they are re-assured that it won't affect their pockets.

According to Scottish government estimates.

The Scottish government wouldn't be the SNP by any chance,.would it?

FTA69

Fratton Fred wrote: »

If the Scots really want independence, they should get the referendum held across the entire UK.

No one wants Scottish independence more than the English.

The average English person may be somewhat amenable towards it. The British establishment, on the other hand, won't be too keen on giving away strategically-significant territory, losing their domestic supply of energy and also losing their nuclear bases.

Temptamperu

I lived in scotland for a few years, none of the people i knew (27-39 year olds) didnt want an independant country. I thought they where mad.

Madam

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Buckfast, Deep-Fried Mars Bars and Glasgow Handshakes for all!

What is a Glasgow handshake - surely you mean a Glasgow kiss?

I will be voting yes to independence. Do I think we have a chance? Not really but it may be a close run thing. Scotland imo has just become too used to being run by the English and I think many will be afraid to take the giant leap into full independence. But the road to the eventual outcome is going to be interesting to say the least:)

justforlaugh

MadsL wrote: »

Not a chance Scotland will vote for this, they may hate the English, but they are not stupid.

Scottish people do not hate the English, English politicians yes for a reason. Try spending some time in the real world instead reading too much internet.

mike65

It could be a step away from independence if the vote is rejected as there will not be another vote for a generation.

Fratton Fred

Madam wrote: »

What is a Glasgow handshake - surely you mean a Glasgow kiss?

I will be voting yes to independence. Do I think we have a chance? Not really but it may be a close run thing. Scotland imo has just become too used to being run by the English and I think many will be afraid to take the giant leap into full independence. But the road to the eventual outcome is going to be interesting to say the least:)

Would that be English people like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown?

listermint

Where all living on the streets in dublin

Madam

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Would that be English people like Tony Blair and Gordon Brown?

OK I'll amend that comment.

'Politicians who are Unionists' Suit you sir?

Fratton Fred

Madam wrote: »

OK I'll amend that comment.

'Politicians who are Unionists' Suit you sir?

Any chance you'll be taking George Galloway with you when you leave?

Madam

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Any chance you'll be taking George Galloway with you when you leave?

No thank you - I do think he is of the Unionist persuasion though.

'When you leave'?:)

justforlaugh

alex salmond is a joke,

he's want to keep the queen, the pounds, the bbc and keep many other things the same. So nothing will really changed for the Scottish people other than more power for scottish politicians

Fratton Fred

justforlaugh wrote: »

alex salmond is a joke,

he's want to keep the queen, the pounds, the bbc and keep many other things the same. So nothing will really changed for the Scottish people other than more power for scottish politicians

In other words,.no change.for anyone, but Alex gets a very important job out of it.

Fratton Fred

Madam wrote: »

No thank you - I do think he is of the Unionist persuasion though.

'When you leave'?:)

I was being optimistic :-)

AnonoBoy

Madam wrote: »

What is a Glasgow handshake - surely you mean a Glasgow kiss?

Surely I don't.

If you live in Scotland I can't believe you've never heard it also referred to as a Glasgow Handshake.

moxin

Fratton Fred wrote: »

According to Scottish government estimates.

The Scottish government wouldn't be the SNP by any chance,.would it?

Sounds like you don't trust the Scottish govt yet the BBC do and the BBC ain't exactly pro-independence ya know.

Madam

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Surely I don't.

If you live in Scotland I can't believe you've never heard it also referred to as a Glasgow Handshake.

Nope, I have always heard of it as a Glasgow Kiss(a headbutt).

Fratton Fred

moxin wrote: »

Sounds like you don't trust the Scottish govt yet the BBC do and the BBC ain't exactly pro-independence ya know.

I quoted from the BBC article.

The Scottish government are politicians, they will lie and make false promises to get what they want.

MonstaMash

Fratton Fred wrote: »

The Scottish government are politicians, they will lie and make false promises to get what they want.

Just like all politicians, regardless of nationality :eek:

Tabnabs

Madam wrote: »

Nope, I have always heard of it as a Glasgow Kiss(a headbutt).

Have you eaten Glasgow caviare?

moxin

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I quoted from the BBC article.

The Scottish government are politicians, they will lie and make false promises to get what they want.

And yet the BBC trust the Scottish govt to quote them.

AnonoBoy

Madam wrote: »

Nope, I have always heard of it as a Glasgow Kiss(a headbutt).

Maybe you're younger than me or something. It's a phrase I'm familiar with since the 80s.

Madam

Tabnabs wrote: »

Have you eaten Glasgow caviare?

Don't like the sound of that - what is it?

Madam

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Maybe you're younger than me or something. It's a phrase I'm familiar with since the 80s.

I'm saying I don't think the phrase would be used by a Glaswegian, maybe an Edinburgh saying?

Tabnabs

Madam wrote: »

Don't like the sound of that - what is it?

http://s2.hubimg.com/u/3275629_f520.jpg

They love it, the weirdos.

(That and sh1t-wacker soup)...

Dublin Red Devil

IN A NUTSHELL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBC0mLFz91o